Applying Psychological Science, Benefiting Society
By Karen A. Roberto, PhD (Member, APA Committee on Aging) Mrs. A was in her early 70s and lived independently until she was severely injured in a car accident. Unable to live alone upon her release from the hospital she stayed with her daughter who settled her in an extra room in her cold basement. […]
By Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, PhD Are you overwhelmed by the host of stimulating digital toys and games intricately designed to build better brains for the new world order? As the recent Joan Ganz Coony report noted, there are so many “educational” e-products that it is hard to know which are truly […]
By Clinton W. Anderson, PhD (Associate Executive Director, APA Public Interest Directorate) Deaths and injuries from firearms pose a substantial risk to public health. Firearms are involved in more than 50% of suicides and 70% of homicides. There are more than 30,000 firearm fatalities each year and more than 80,000 non-fatal firearm injuries requiring emergency medical […]
By Efua Andoh (APA Public Interest Directorate Communications Staff) The horrific shootings in Isla Vista, California on May 23 have given rise to a complex conversation on social media. The shooter’s disturbing YouTube videos and manifesto contained racist and misogynist rants revealing an attitude of male sexual entitlement and white male supremacy. Shockingly, after they came […]
By Kimberly Hiroto, PhD (Member, APA Committee on Aging) We’re bombarded these days with information about how to prevent aging. Since when did aging become our enemy? Like any part of one’s demographics, age has its upsides and downsides, but somehow it’s permissible to explicitly state our dislike of getting older while similar statements about […]
By Gwendolyn Puryear Keita, PhD (Executive Director, Public Interest Directorate, American Psychological Association) The world is justifiably horrified at the abduction and trafficking of nearly 300 schoolgirls by the terrorist group Boko Haram in Chibok, Nigeria. It is critical that the world understand the psychological impact of this terrorist act on the girls and their […]
By Alfiee Breland-Noble, PhD, MHSc (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Center) Karyn Washington’s unfortunate and untimely passing offers an opportunity for us to reflect on African American women, depression and suicide. In early April 2014, Ms. Karyn Washington took her life after what appears to be a long standing battle with depression. This […]
The American Psychological Association was pleased to have Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, as a witness March 25, 2014 at a hearing of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Below is a shortened version of Dr. Evans’ full testimony, with full video of the hearing on the Committee’s […]
By Edna M. Esnil, PsyD (Member, APA Committee on Women in Psychology) Have you ever felt overwhelmed when you have to confront a stressful task or situation? As a practitioner, I work a lot with clients who are stressed and overwhelmed. I experience stress too. On both a professional and a personal level this is […]
By Roberta Downing, PhD (Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer, APA Public Interest Directorate – Government Relations Office) Have you ever wondered if you’re being discriminated against in your pay? Would you even know if you were? This week marks Equal Pay Day, which highlights how far into the next year that a woman would have […]
Psychology Benefits Society 