Monitor on Psychology - March 2012 - (Page 31)

group that got the story prompt, this percentage dropped to 4 percent. How do the story-editing strategies you’ve described differ from what goes on in psychotherapy? Story editing is well known to psychotherapists; indeed, it is what good therapists do. Various therapeutic techniques approach it a little differently, but I think the goal is the same. But the kind of story editing I discuss differs from psychotherapy. For one thing, most of the interventions social psychologists have devised are used with general populations, not just those who have reached the point where they’re seeking mental-health services. We try to catch people when they are at a narrative fork in the road, so that they can be directed down the healthier path before their problems become severe. Also, the storyediting techniques I discuss address a wide range of behaviors in addition to personal adjustment problems. They have been used to close the achievement gap in education, reduce stereotyping and prejudice, and to get young people to drink less. Parents can also use these techniques to help their kids develop healthy narratives. How are such findings changing the field? This is an exciting time in social psychology. Since its inception, the field has focused largely on developing basic knowledge about human cognition, motivation, affect and behavior, primarily by conducting laboratory studies. More and more, however, social psychologists are translating this basic theoretical knowledge into interventions that have powerful effects in the real world. Many of these interventions involve story editing, in that they change people’s self-views in ways that have long-term beneficial consequences. We need to keep doing the basic research, but it is exciting to see many of these findings turned into interventions that work. n Kirsten Weir is a writer in Minneapolis. Travel Benefits for you… Make the most of your APA membership. APA offers specialized products and services for you, most at reduced rates for members. Let APA help connect you to the best travel benefits for you. Alamo 1-800-462-5266 ID 7013856 www.alamo.com/offer/apa Hertz 1-800-654-2200 CDP# 166639 http://www.apa.org/member ship/car-rental.aspx Auto Europe 1-800-650-6222 (U.S.) 1-800-223-5555 (Canada) APA ID: 99006004 www.autoeurope.com/aff/apa The Wyndham Hotel Group 1-877-670-7088 Discount Key Code: 60384 http://www.apa.org/member ship/hotels.aspx; www.evrentals.com/apa; www.extraholidays.com www.twitter.com/ APAbenefits Avis 1-800-331-1212 BCD# B774600 www.avis.com/apa Budget 1-800-527-0700 BCD# Z802700 www.budget.com/apa For more information on all APA benefits visit: http://www.apa.org/membership/discounts.aspx M a rc h 2 0 1 2 • M o n i to r o n p s yc h o l o g y 31 http://www.apa.org/membership/car-rental.aspx http://www.alamo.com/offer/apa http://www.apa.org/membership/car-rental.aspx http://www.autoeurope.com/aff/apa http://www.apa.org/membership/hotels.aspx http://www.apa.org/membership/hotels.aspx http://www.evrentals.com/apa http://www.extraholidays.com http://www.avis.com/apa http://www.twitter.com/APAbenefits http://www.twitter.com/APAbenefits http://www.twitter.com/APAbenefits http://www.budget.com/apa http://www.apa.org/membership/discounts.aspx http://www.apa.org/membership/discounts.aspx

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - March 2012

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012
Letters
President’s column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court rejects eyewitness protections
New member benefit: prevention screenings
A psychodynamic treatment for PTSD shows promise for soldiers
Was ‘Little Albert’ ill during the famed conditioning study?
New research identifies ways to improve eyewitness identifications
In Brief
‘Our health at risk’
Perspective on Practice
APA endorses higher education guidelines
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Help for struggling veterans
Driving out cancer disparities
In the Public Interest
SCIENCE WATCH
Practice, virtually
The legal and ethical issues of virtual therapy
Psychologist PROFILE
EARLY CAREER PSYCHOLOGY
Bringing life into focus
Pay attention to me
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Division Spotlight
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012