As a consequence of somatic changes patients may suffer profound, indirect, and direct psychological effects in addition to the more direct biological ones. In order to prepare patients for living with new circumstances and feelings created by illness, intervention stragegies should address somatopsychic effects as well as others. (Author)

An argument is presented showing that the postulation of psychological capabilities that are jointly necessary to and specific to other capabilities involves strong theoretical commitments that have not generally been recognized. Examples are drawn from language development and evolution. (SS)

Concludes that sociobiology is of some use in explaining microlevel (social) psychological phenomena (although social variables must always be considered at the same time) but is of negligible importance in explaining macrolevel phenomena. Available from Behavioral Science, Systems Science Publications, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY…

Lauretta Bender's experiences as a bright child struggling with specific learning problems and her subsequent work in language disorders are described. Her recognition of the biological nature of a group of learning disorders for which there was no clinical evidence of structural damage to the central nervous system is emphasized. (JDD)

Discusses John McCrone's book "The Ape That Spoke: Language and the Evolution of the Human Mind," highlighting the origins of language and the evolution of habits of thought. (SR)

Lytton responds to two critical commentaries in this issue by restating the reasons why it is useful to try to disentangle child effects from parent effects. Argues that 10 convergent lines of research provide evidence that the child's tendencies are stronger contributors to conduct disorder than are parental influences. (RH)

Twice during the neonatal period, the behavioral organization of 42 newborns was assessed by the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS), and the newborns' cortisol response to the NBAS procedure was determined. Newborns with low orientation showed a higher increase in cortisol during the NABS than newborns with high orientation. (MDM)

Explores the role of biological causation in the development of behavioral outcomes. Genes and other biological structures constitute complex behavior, but the behavior of complex organisms cannot be derived from the biogenetic units of which it is composed. (SLD)

Used the classical twin design with 390 pairs of twins to study the influence of genetic factors on the large phenotypic variation in inspection time (IT) and whether the well-established IT-IQ association could be explained by a common genetic factor. Findings provide potentially important information for the biological bases of the…

In a sample of established working- and middle-class families with school-aged children (N= 307 wives and 307 husbands), neither husbands nor wives testosterone showed a direct connection with marital quality. In contrast, the association between husbands' testosterone and positive and negative marital quality (as evaluated by both spouses) was…

Certain symptoms in disturbed or problematic children are believed to be the result of experiential difficulties. Other symptoms are attributed to biological factors, only to be remedied by medications. It is argued here that all psychological symptoms--even those as severe as delusions and hallucinations--have meaning and are directly related to…

The good, bad and ugly gifts from the mother earth are highlighted. Olive oil, rice seedling blight, and Borrelia burgdorferi, respectively are the good, bad and ugly gifts from the mother earth.

The goal of synergistic psychology is to synthesize different psychological theories into an explanation of how social, cognitive and biological factors interact in human behavior. Synergism refers to the mutually co-operating action of separate substances which taken together produce an effect greater than that of any component taken alone. The…

This manual provides information needed to meet specific standards for certification as a pesticide applicator. The text discusses methods to prevent the introduction and/or spread of pests and diseases through application of suppression, control and eradication. (CS)