Society for the History of Psychology news and notes

This historical note describes the book Primer in critical personalism: A framework for reviving psychological inquiry and for grounding a socio-cultural ethos by James T. Lamiell. The overriding purpose of this book is to introduce psychologists, other social scientists, and thoughtful laypersons to that comprehensive system of thought developed by the German philosopher and psychologist William Stern (1871-1938) under the name "critical personalism." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Donald K. Freedheim (1932-2023)

Memorializes Donald K. Freedheim (1932-2023). Freedheim was a renowned child psychologist, respected professor, American Psychological Association (APA) leader, and gifted editor. He was widely known for his pioneering contributions to professional psychology and his gentle wisdom in personal interactions. He served as the founding director of the Schubert Center for Child Development at Case Western and on the boards of a number of youth-oriented nonprofits. His leadership in the Division of Psychotherapy (now Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy) entailed a term as president (1988) and initiation of several pioneering projects in concert with APA. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Patriotic Women: Chemistry and Gender in the Eighteenth-Century Spanish World

During the second half of the eighteenth century, Western countries witnessed an explosion of societies and publishing initiatives aimed at creating and disseminating what contemporaries called useful knowledge. These "economic societies," "societies of friends of the country," or "societies of improvers" sought to improve their local communities through the scientific management of natural and social resources. This article analyses the opportunities that this movement of patriots opened up for women in chemistry, who went from being "exceptional women" to representing themselves as female "friends of the country." This article shows the different ways in which these women "friends of the country" negotiated their authorship, agency, and public visibility in order to maintain gender conventions and the importance of their kinship networks. It also illustrates the other side of the coin: how women's contributions also benefited male scientific societies, which gained visibility and secured the social position of their members in enlightened circles.

Self-help for learned journals: Scientific societies and the commerce of publishing in the 1950s

In the decades after the Second World War, learned society publishers struggled to cope with the expanding output of scientific research and the increased involvement of commercial publishers in the business of publishing research journals. Could learned society journals survive economically in the postwar world, against this competition? Or was the emergence of a sales-based commercial model of publishing - in contrast to the traditional model of subsidized journal publishing - an opportunity to transform the often-fragile finances of learned societies? But there was also an existential threat: if commercial firms could successfully publish scientific journals, were learned society publishers no longer needed? This paper investigates how British learned society publishers adjusted to the new economic realities of the postwar world, through an investigation of the activities organized by the Royal Society of London and the Nuffield Foundation, culminating in the 1963 report Self-Help for Learned Journals. It reveals the postwar decades as the time when scientific research became something to be commodified and sold to libraries, rather than circulated as part of a scholarly mission. It will be essential reading for all those campaigning to transition academic publishing - including learned society publishing - away from the sales-based model once again.

A different kind of Nierenstein reaction. The Chemical Society's mistreatment of Maximilian Nierenstein

Between 1920 and 1922, the University of Bristol biochemist, Maximilian Nierenstein, published four papers in a series exploring the structure of catechin in the Journal of the Chemical Society. The Society then abruptly refused to accept any more of his papers on catechin, or any other subject. It provided him with no reasons for the embargo until 1925. It then transpired that Nierenstein was boycotted because it was deemed that he had not responded adequately to criticisms of his work made by his rival in catechin research, the German natural products chemist, Karl Freudenberg. It was not until 1929 that, as a result of a petition by a group of his former Bristol pupils and friends, that Nierenstein was again permitted to publish in the Society's journal. The paper explores the Chemical Society's treatment of Nierenstein in detail, sheds new light on his career and his reaction to the Society's unprecedented boycott, examines some of the structural chemistry involved in the disputes, and discusses whether Nierenstein's research deserves the label of 'bad science'.

Reflections on the HUPO Human Proteome Project, the Flagship Project of the Human Proteome Organization, at 10 Years

We celebrate the 10th anniversary of the launch of the HUPO Human Proteome Project (HPP) and its major milestone of confident detection of at least one protein from each of 90% of the predicted protein-coding genes, based on the output of the entire proteomics community. The Human Genome Project reached a similar decadal milestone 20 years ago. The HPP has engaged proteomics teams around the world, strongly influenced data-sharing, enhanced quality assurance, and issued stringent guidelines for claims of detecting previously "missing proteins." This invited perspective complements papers on "A High-Stringency Blueprint of the Human Proteome" and "The Human Proteome Reaches a Major Milestone" in special issues of Nature Communications and Journal of Proteome Research, respectively, released in conjunction with the October 2020 virtual HUPO Congress and its celebration of the 10th anniversary of the HUPO HPP.

Gold medal award for life achievement in the practice of psychology: Lillian Comas-Díaz

From teaching public school in Puerto Rico, to community mental health services in Massachusetts and Connecticut, to Yale faculty and clinic director, to cofounding Division 45 and subsequently bringing the journal Cultural Diversity and Mental Health to American Psychological Association to promote ethnocultural psychology academic research and practice, Lillian Comas-Díaz exemplifies improving mental health through ideas and action. Her pioneering theoretical and practical contributions inspire both our and future generations to a higher standard of psychology: They encompass multiple and diverse psychotherapies, feminism and gender studies, diversity, social justice, spirituality, substance abuse, humanism, liberation psychology, cultural competence/cross-cultural interactions, and multiculturalism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC). Ten Years of the International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium: Progress and Next Steps

In June 2009 a small group of investigators met at the annual Movement Disorders Society meeting in Paris. The explicit goal of this meeting was to discuss a potential research alliance focused on the genetics of Parkinson disease (PD). The outcome of this informal meeting was the creation of the International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC), a group focused on collaborative genetics research, enabled by trust, sharing, and as little paperwork as possible. The IPDGC has grown considerably since its inception, including over 100 scientists from around the World. The focus has also grown, to include clinical and functional investigation of PD at scale. Most recently, the IPDGC has expanded to initiate major research efforts in East Asia and Africa, and has prioritized collaborations with ongoing major efforts in India and South America. Here we summarize the efforts of the IPDGC thus far and place these in the context of a decade of progress in PD genomics. We also discuss the future direction of IPDGC and our stated research priorities for the next decade.

The mutagenesis moonshot: The propitious beginnings of the environmental mutagenesis and genomics society

A mutagenesis moonshot addressing the influence of the environment on our genetic wellbeing was launched just 2 months before astronauts landed on the moon. Its impetus included the discovery that X-rays (Muller HJ. [1927]: Science 64:84-87) and chemicals (Auerbach and Robson. [1946]: Nature 157:302) were germ-cell mutagens, the introduction of a growing number of untested chemicals into the environment after World War II, and an increasing awareness of the role of environmental pollution on human health. Due to mounting concern from influential scientists that germ-cell mutagens might be ubiquitous in the environment, Alexander Hollaender and colleagues founded in 1969 the Environmental Mutagen Society (EMS), now the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS); Frits Sobels founded the European EMS in 1970. As Fred de Serres noted, such societies were necessary because protecting populations from environmental mutagens could not be addressed by existing scientific societies, and new multidisciplinary alliances were required to spearhead this movement. The nascent EMS gathered policy makers and scientists from government, industry, and academia who became advocates for laws requiring genetic toxicity testing of pesticides and drugs and helped implement those laws. They created an electronic database of the mutagenesis literature; established a peer-reviewed journal; promoted basic and applied research in DNA repair and mutagenesis; and established training programs that expanded the science worldwide. Despite these successes, one objective remains unfulfilled: identification of human germ-cell mutagens. After 50 years, the voyage continues, and a vibrant EMGS is needed to bring the mission to its intended target of protecting populations from genetic hazards. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:8-24, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ethnopharmacology - A journal, a definition and a society

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Historical development of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, the International Society of Ethnopharmacology, and the first definition of ethnopharmacology.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To present the background to, and the people involved, in the foundation of the journal and the society.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Personal recollections, archival documents and photographs.

RESULTS

A concise review of the early years of the JEP and the ISE, and the development of the first definition of ethnopharmacology.

CONCLUSIONS

The definition of ethnopharmacology as an interdisciplinary science, and its establishment as a journal and a society was timely, filled a need, and opened up publication and meeting possibilities for scientists from various academic fields. Most important has been, and continues to be, the bridges created between people from all cultures and all countries.

Poland syndrome before Alfred Poland: the oldest medical description (Paris, France, 1803)

Here, we present a description of Poland syndrome from the second session of the Anatomical Society (Paris, France) on 11 December 1803 of congenital mammary absence and muscular atrophy on the right side. This case report predates the first official description of the disease published by Alfred Poland in Guy's Hospital Reports (London, 1841). Consequently, perhaps would it be necessary to do justice to its French discoverer, and to name from now on this nosological entity the "syndrome of Marandel"?

Gold medal award for life achievement in psychology in the public interest: Janet E. Helms

Janet E. Helms has made extraordinary contributions in the public interest as a scholar, mentor, and leader. Her scholarship has defined and reframed discourse on race, identity development, psychological assessment, social advocacy, and intergroup communications. Her groundbreaking work on racial identity transformed understandings of identity and culture. She has invited students to challenge their perspectives and has mentored over 50 doctoral students who now seek to advance her legacy. As the Augustus Long Professor and the Founding Director of the Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture (ISPRC) at Boston College, Dr. Helms has convened the internationally impactful Annual Diversity Challenge Conference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Gold medal award for life achievement in the science of psychology: Alan E. Kazdin

Alan E. Kazdin is recognized for his extensive and influential contributions to psychological science through exemplary research, influential clinical applications, and inspiring professional leadership. His research has brought innovation and rigor to the study of intervention for children's conduct problems. His Yale Parenting Center has put those interventions into action, demonstrating their realworld relevance. His leadership in founding and editing the major journals of clinical science, and his service as president of our major professional organizations, has spread his scientific and humane values throughout our discipline. The legendary Kazdin eloquence and wit, packed into every presentation, have inspired generations of psychologists, underscoring a legacy that is profound and enduring (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Turning 50: Past presidents reflect on what we have learned in our first half century

As part of our celebration of turning 50, the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (Division 29 of the American Psychological Association) asked its past presidents to comment on the most significant changes in and accomplishments of the division over the past half century. Although we have reviewed the division's history more specifically in the past (Canter, 1992; Williams, Barnett, & Canter, 2013), we thought it important to ask the past presidents to reflect on the role of our division within the profession and to consider our future as we reach this important birthday milestone. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Twenty-five years of education in psychology and psychology in education

This article is part of a special issue of the American Psychologist celebrating the American Psychological Association's (APA's) 125th anniversary. The article reviews the last quarter century (1991-2016) of accomplishments by psychology's education and training community and APA's Education Directorate. The purpose is to highlight key trends and developments over the past quarter century that illustrate ways the Directorate sought to advance education in psychology and psychology in education, as the Directorate's mission statement says. The focus of the Directorate has been on building a cooperative culture across psychology's broad education and training community. Specifically APA has (a) promoted quality education-from prekindergarten through lifelong learning, (b) encouraged accountability through guidelines and standards for education and training, and (c) supported the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge to enhance health, education, and well-being. After identifying challenges and progress, the article discusses the future of the field of psychology and the preparation of its workforce of tomorrow. (PsycINFO Database Record

Melanie Klein in Buenos Aires: Beginnings and developments

In the first decades of the 20th century, Freud was known and quoted in Latin America by an elite of enlightened minds. In the 1940s a convergence took place in Buenos Aires of European exiles with local pioneers, and thus the Argentine Psychoanalytical Association was founded in 1942. Since then psychoanalysis has grown steadily and has spread into hospitals and universities, influencing culture at large. The socioeconomic situation of that time permitted this phenomenon to develop, to the astonishment of observers. In this paper the authors study the strong influence of Kleinian thought during the first 30 years of this development. The original works of local thinkers constitute the intellectual capital that sustains the idea of an 'Argentine psychoanalytic school'. During the 1970s, both society and psychoanalysis endured deep and complex changes. Lacan's teachings gained support and Klein's influence began to decline. At present the Buenos Aires Kleinians keep working, while their relationship with Lacanians and other schools is calmer. Respectful discussions became thus possible, oriented to strictly scientific differences.

[In honour of Asclepius and Orpheus - ten years of activities on the popularization of connections between medicine and music]

Art is defined as the expression or application of the human creative skill and imagination, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. "Ars medica" and "Ars musica" represent two concepts which have been mutually intertwined since the ancient times. Through history, many extraordinary physicians have shown talent towards making and performing music. Guided by the passion for medicine and music, since 2006 the students from the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine have founded an informal group named "In honour of Asclepius and Orpheus" under the aegis of the Croatian Scientific Society for the History of Health Culture. The group organizes many musical activities such as concerts, musical recitals and events, among which are the most important - the traditional annual concert of Croatian medical students and the European Medical Students Orchestra and Choir project. Apart from Rijeka, they performed several times in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Pula, Karlovac, Krk, Opatija and Crikvenica. The members of this group plan their future work guided by the principles that motivate every physician-musician - art.

[Scientific conference Rijeka and its citizens in Medical History 2000-2016]

This paper presents the form and content of the sixteen scientific conferences "Rijeka and its Citizens in Medical History" ("Rijeka i Riječani u medicinskoj povjesnici") which were held in the period between 2000 and 2016 according to the archive data of the conference organizer Croatian Scientific Society for the History of Health Culture. It presents data about the beginning of science convention, some its organisational features and the number of participants. A total of 315 presentations, whose abstracts were published in individual conference's abstract books, were given at the sixteen conventions by 463 participants from Croatia and abroad. It is emphasized that the great number of the papers printed in extenso are published in the journal AMHA - Acta medico-historica Adriatica. Summarised quantity data on the number of presented papers, number of presenters and number of co-authored papers are given. Finally, a review of the significance of this convention within the regional, national and international aspect is given.

The fiftieth anniversary of the Croatian scientific society for the history of health culture

This paper presents the impressive activity of the Croatian Society for the History of Health Culture on the occasion of the half-century anniversary. The short overall historical review of the Society's history is given, and three particularly important projects are highlighted: the science conventions "Rijeka and its Citizens in Medical History" ("Rijeka i Riječani u medicinskoj povjesnici"), the scientific journal AMHA - Acta medico-historica Adriatica, and the special section called "In honour of Asclepius and Orpheus" ("Asklepiju i Orfeju u čast").

[On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Croatian scientific society for the history of health culture]

A group of intellectuals, predominantly lecturers from the Faculty of Medicine, founded in Rijeka on May 29, 1966 the branch of the Yugoslav Scientific Society for the History of Health Culture, which after the independence of Croatia in 1991 continues its work under the name Croatian Scientific Society for the History of Health Culture. Over the past 50 years, within activities of the Society more than 250 professional and scientific conferences have been held in Rijeka and other Croatian cities. In addition, a dozen of professional-scientific trips to neighbouring countries were organized. From the original activities are highlighted the science conventions with international participation "Rijeka and Its Citizens in Medical History", where, since 2001, have been regularly presented free topics from other regions. Another important activity is the international journal "AMHA - Acta medico-historica Adriatica", which has been published since 2003 with two issues per year. Today, this is an established journal present on Medline - PubMed Service, andindexed in several respectable international databases, which guarantees quality and enables access to the world's research community. In 2005, the accompanying "AMHA Library" was launched - a series of monographs devoted to the most important medical historians, scientific conferences dedicated to individual medical laureates, and similar subjects. Ten years ago, the Society's work has been refined by the activities of a group of medical students who, under the motto "In honour of Asclepius and Orpheus", strive to affirm the links between medicine and art. Of the many performances the most significant is the traditional humanitarian concert, attended by students from all faculties of medicine from Croatia and Ljubljana.

[Journal AMHA - Acta medico-historica Adriatica: 14 years of patient work on the scientific valorisation of the history of medicine]

In this paper the first 14 years of publication of scientific journal AMHA - Acta medico‑historica Adriatica (2002-2016) are presented and shortly analysed. This journal has undoubtedly become and remained the central activity of the Croatian Scientific Society for the History of Health Culture, which has rapidly become a globally esteemed journal of history of medicine. The beginning and the context of publishing the journal with the reference to scientific meeting "Rijeka and Its Citizens in Medical History" is presented, as well as the journal's profiling into distinguished international journal and its fast development in later years. The analysis shows the growth of journal's visibility through indexation in different international journal databases, the number and ratio of scientific articles and the variety of published material. Finally, a review of the potential future directions of development and the significance of this journal within the national, regional and international context is given.

Mendelism: New Insights from Gregor Mendel's Lectures in Brno

Interpretation of Gregor Mendel's work has previously been based on study of his published paper "Experiments in Plant Hybridization." In contrast, the lectures that he gave preceding publication of this work have been largely neglected for more than 150 years. Here, we report on and interpret the content of Mendel's previous two lectures, as they were reported in a local newspaper. We comprehensively reference both the text of his paper and the historical background of his experiments. Our analysis shows that while Mendel had inherited the traditional research program on interspecific hybridization in plants, he introduced the novel method of ratio analysis for representing the variation of unit-characters among offspring of hybrids. His aim was to characterize and explain the developmental features of the distributional pattern of unit-characters in two series of hybrid experiments, using self-crosses and backcrosses with parents. In doing so, he not only answered the question of what the unit-characters were and the nature of their hierarchical classification, but also successfully inferred the numerical principle of unit-character transmission from generation to generation. He also established the nature of the composition and behaviors of reproductive cells from one generation to the next. Here we highlight the evidence from Mendel's lectures, clearly announcing that he had discovered the general law of cross-generation transmission of unit-characters through reproductive cells containing unit-factors. The recovered content of these previous lectures more accurately describes the work he performed with his garden peas than his published paper and shows how he first presented it in Brno. It is thus an invaluable resource for understanding the origin of the science of genetics.

[History of the Strasbourg Society of Biology]

The Society of Biology of Strasbourg (SBS) is a learned society that was created in 1919 based on the model of the Society of Biology of which it is a subsidiary. Like its Parisian colleague, SBS aims at diffusing and promoting scientific knowledge in biology. To achieve this goal, SBS initiated since its creation a dialogue interface between researchers in biology and physicians, and more recently with other scientific disciplines, industry and the civil society. At the dawn of its first century, the Society of Biology of Strasbourg must continue to reinvent itself to pursue its development and to fulfil its mission of sharing scientific knowledge. This work continues in strong collaboration with our partners that share with SBS the willingness to foster excellence in biological research in Strasbourg, its region and beyond.

[History of the Montpellier Society of Biology]

The provincial branch of Montpellier was officially created in April, 1956, that is to say if the gestation was long since the birth of the Society of Biology of Paris in 1848. During this long period, famous personalities of Montpellier in the field of biology and physiology came to Paris to present their work, published in the "Comptes Rendus des Séances de la Société de Biologie et de ses Filiales". Following its creation as a 1901 law public association, the provincial branch organized communication sessions, followed by thematic meetings on various topics, always in the spirit of Claude Bernard on the transversality of knowledge. Through the visit of a portrait gallery of famous personalities, the main lines of the life of this provincial branch of Montpellier will be presented.

What motion is: William Neile and the laws of motion

In 1668-1669 William Neile and John Wallis engaged in a protracted correspondence regarding the nature of motion. Neile was unhappy with the laws of motion that had been established by the Royal Society in three papers published in 1668, deeming them not explanations of motion at all, but mere descriptions. Neile insisted that science could not be informative without a discussion of causes, meaning that Wallis's purely kinematic account of collision could not be complete. Wallis, however, did not consider Neile's objections to his work to be serious. Rather than engage in a discussion of the proper place of natural philosophy in science, Wallis decided to show how Neile's preferred treatment of motion lead to absurd conclusions. This dispute is offered as a case study of dispute resolution within the early Royal Society.

Horticulture in Portugal 1850-1900: The role of science and public utility in shaping knowledge

In this paper, we address the emergence of horticultural practice, agents, spaces and institutions in the two urban settings of Lisbon and Porto, in Portugal, during the second half of the nineteenth century. We do so by following the networking activities of two players: the self-made horticulturist and entrepreneur José Marques Loureiro, who created, in Porto, a commercial horticultural establishment and founded the Journal of Practical Horticulture; and the agronomist Francisco Simões Margiochi, head of the gardens and green grounds department of the municipality, who created the first course on gardening and horticulture, and founded the Royal Horticultural Society, both in Lisbon. Their joint activities were aimed at establishing horticulture as an applied science and to cater simultaneously to an extended audience of citizens. They enable us to enrich the narratives on the emergence and development of horticulture in Europe by calling attention to the participation in circulatory extended networks of actors who are often absent from these accounts. Additionally, they allow a comparative assessment of the outcome of their actions at the national level, and to understand their results in terms consonant with recent historiographical trends on the co-construction of centres and peripheries.

ABBREVIATIONS

AML - Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa (Municipal Archive of Lisbon).; ANTT - Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo (National Archives at Torre do Tombo).; AHCPL - Arquivo Histórico da Casa Pia de Lisboa (Historical Archive of the Casa Pia of Lisbon).; JHP - Jornal de Horticultura Practica (Journal of Practical Horticulture). Online at: http://www.fc.up.pt/fa/?p=nav&f=html.fbib-Periodico-oa&item=378 ; BSNHP - Boletim da Sociedade Nacional de Horticultura de Portugal (Bulletin of the National Society of Horticulture of Portugal).