Much of psychological science and knowledge is significantly relevant to social justice, defined here as the goal to decrease human suffering and to promote human values of equality and justice. A commitment to social justice has evolved as a more important value in the last few decades for psychology, including for the American Psychological…

Over 21% of children in the United States today are poor, and the income gap between our nation's richest and poorest children has widened dramatically over time. This article considers children's self-regulation as a key mediating mechanism through which poverty has deleterious consequences for their later life outcomes. Evidence from field…

The authors respond to both the general and specific concerns raised in Fischer, Stein, and Heikkinen's commentary on their article (Steinberg, Cauffman, Woolard, Graham, & Banich), in which they drew on studies of adolescent development to justify the American Psychological Association's positions in two Supreme Court cases involving the…

Each year, the American Psychological Association's Policy and Planning Board takes the pulse of the Association and the discipline as a whole and writes a report that represents the Board's best appraisal of a fundamental policy. Our main objective, however, is not simply to assess the current situation but to look forward on behalf of the…

In its policy rationale for evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP), the APA Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice (see record 2006-05893-001) claims to have constituted itself with "scientists and practitioners from a wide range of perspectives and traditions, reflecting the diverse perspectives within the field" (p. 273). We…

Discusses the role of psychologists and other social scientists in public policy and decision making. Describes four centers devoted to child and family policy established by the Bush Foundation. Includes several personal observations about the relationships between professionals, decision makers, and policy implementation. (EVL)

Discusses guidelines for professional practice and related policy development by the American Psychological Association's (APA) Board of Professional Affairs over the past decade, explaining that the APA policy distinguishes two types of guidelines for professional practice: treatment guidelines (providing specific recommendations about treatments…

In August 2001, the American Psychological Association (APA) Council of Representatives approved as APA policy the "Criteria for Practice Guideline Development and Evaluation" (APA, 2002b), developed by the Board of Professional Affairs Committee on Professional Practice and Standards (COPPS). The present document was developed in response to a…

Stresses that the psychological community should be involved in shaping public policy for children, youth, and families who will be adversely affected by proposed Federal budget cuts in social programs. Summarizes issues discussed in the articles that follow in the same volume. (MJL)

Social scientists need to become more concerned with the study of dangerous behaviors and practices in our society, especially in light of the disproportionate injury and harm suffered by socially disadvantaged groups. (Author)

Psychologists have participated actively in the recent transformation of policy regarding domestic violence. Expert witnesses have provided testimony rebutting myths that prevented battered women who killed their abusers from receiving fair trials. Psychologists' testimony on the battered women's perceptions of danger is now commonly accepted. (KH)

Despite passage of laws regarding sex equity in education, full equity has yet to be attained. Psychologists have identified educational inequities and have provided educators with research-based programs, practices, and policies. But more research is needed to guide cost-effective policy formation and to identify the subtler forms of inequity.…

This report addresses the challenges that the American Psychological Association (APA) must face before attaining a perfect vision. It is divided into three sections: (a) meeting the needs of psychology and psychologists in the 21st century; (b) psychology and health care, working toward a true integration of biological, psychological, social, and…

Focuses on two problems stated to be central to sexism in psychotherapeutic practice in women : (1) the question of values in psychotherapy and (2) the therapist's knowledge of psychological processes in women. Discusses the results of a survey of 2,000 women in four divisions of the American Psychological Association using an open-ended…

"Psychology's progress during the last quarter century is reviewed and its potential for significant scientific advances in the future assessed. Some reasons underlying the public's current mistrust are considered; one of these is the tendency for some psychologists to become advocates for particular public policies and/or to misrepresent the…