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41991Volume 4, Issue1January 1991

About the Observer

The Observer is the online magazine of the Association for Psychological Science and covers matters affecting the research, academic, and applied disciplines of psychology. The magazine reports on issues of interest to psychologist scientists worldwide and disseminates information about the activities, policies, and scientific values of APS.

APS members receive a monthly Observer newsletter that covers the latest content in the magazine. Members also may access the online archive of Observer articles going back to 1988.

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    Disasters like Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut draw massive media coverage, trauma interventions, and financial donations to victims. But psychological research shows the efforts don’t always yield the intended benefits.

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  • Psychological Science: Inquiry and Implications

    As we all know, psychological science is not a new endeavor. It has, as our history book tell us, been around for at least 112 years, that is if Leipzig in 1879 is to be accepted as the founding place and date. Perhaps it is best to consider the founding date as an era — the period from 1880 to 1900 — to give Wundt, Ebbinghaus, James, and Thorndike proper recognition. The aims of the pioneering psychological scientists of the 19th century are those that guide us today. And our inquiry has built on the findings and theories of these pioneers. They wanted to know then, as we do now, the nature and bases of experience and behavior. Although I am willing to admit bias, I find it difficult (actually, impossible) to imagine a more interesting and intellectually challenging scientific task.