The Official Newsletter of the Society for Personality and OGUE Social Psychology DIAL Volume 24, No. 2 Fall, 2009 Fall, 2009 Co-Editors: Hart Blanton & Diane Quinn

Inside the Current Looking Forward to Las Vegas Issue: The 2010 SPSP conference conferences will be held dur- allow everyone to view the Committee Re- will be held in Las Vegas, ing the day on Thursday, posters and have a casual ports: Nevada on January 28 – 30, January 28. The actual con- lunch with friends and col- 2010. We’ll be housed at the vention activities will begin leagues on the floor of the Convention 1, 4 famous Riviera hotel, located on Thursday with SPSP spacious exhibition halls. right on “The Strip,” with Award Presentations, a Presi- Publication 1, 31 easy access to all that Vegas dential symposium, and a Graduate Student 20, 21 has to offer. This is SPSP’s welcome reception. On Friday A Re-Cap on the Program Diversity & Climate 26 first convention center/casino and Saturday, the program Selection Process combination site, but we’re will continue with a host of Training 14 In addition to the two co- hoping for record turnout at excellent symposia, poster chairs, the Program Commit- Executive 16, 21 the sessions! Expect high sessions, invited addresses, tee consisted of nine mem- APA 30, 31 temperatures in the 55-65° F publisher exhibits, and special bers, representing a broad range, with evening lows just events. As in past years, the range of expertise in personal- 10,000 Hours 2 above freezing. cost of lunches is included in ity and social psychology: BlairJohnson Similar to previous years, the conference registration David Amodio, several excellent pre- fee. This distinctive feature of our meeting is intended to Continued on p. 4 Travel Section: 6-9 Brett Pelham Marc Kiviniemi SPSP Publication Committee– Leaf Van Boven Mid-Year Report, 2009 NSF News & 10, 11, Awards 13 by Randy Larsen our profession. [ Diane: I of June 30, 2009). The wrote this paragraph saying what impact factor of PSPB has SPSP’s publications continue a great job we’re doing with the stabilized at a high level Article Titles 12 to flourish. The first issue of newsletter – think Randy will (rising to 2.24, in 2008, Judith Hall Dialogue under the new edi- notice? -Hart] ranking PSPB #7 out of 47 torial team of Hart Blanton In terms of Personality journals in Social Psychol- SISP: Faculty & 18,19, and Diane Quinn came out on and Social Psychology Bul- ogy). PSPB is on very Student Views 23 time and was well-received letin Shinobu Kitayama has solid footing and in good by members earlier this year. now been editor for a full hands. The issue you are holding in year. Shinobu has two senior Comings & Goings 22-23 your hands right now marks At the SPSP mid-year associate editors, and nine executive committee meet- the completion of their first associate editors. There are year at the helm of our pro- ing, there was some discus- Society Awards 24-26 104 consulting editors on the sion of publishing more fessional newsletter, and they editorial board. PSPB set a continue in the tradition of papers that draw on broad- record in 2008 with 665 new ened participant popula- providing us with a FAN- submissions. That high sub- Announcements 27, 32 tions (i.e., studies done on TASTIC newsletter, filled mission rate continues, with with timely news and EX- participants other than col- 310 new submissions through lege students). The impe- Dear Me! 28-29 TREMELY INTERESTING the first half of 2009. Edito- tus for this discussion is the and INCREDIBLY ENTER- rial lag time continues to be TAINING ARTICLES about Abstract Fun 29 impressive (at 8.4 weeks as Continued on p. 31 2 GUE DIALO From Misery to Mastery in 10,000 Hours: “Calvin, Go Do Something You Hate…Being Miserable Builds Character!”

Ericcson, Roring, & Nandagopal, 2007). everyone admired my writing through By Blair T. Johnson, Univer- Meta-experts’ studies of musical skill my undergraduate years, and I even pub- sity of Connecticut acquisition, for example, show that time lished a solo-authored paper before en- spent in deliberate practice is a far better tering graduate school (Johnson, 1983).

predictor of musical skill than time spent In retrospect, as Kruger and Dunning’s In the first frame of one of my favor- playing for enjoyment. The same pattern (1999) work implies, praise about a di- ite instances of Bill Watterman’s comic appears in studies of chess playing. mension from those who lack expertise strip, Calvin and Hobbes, Calvin’s par- Sorry to say, but it implies that if we are on it would seem poor predictors of ac- ents are talking: Calvin’s dad has lost his merely enjoying the activity without tual expertise. glasses and he asks Calvin’s mother if engaging in DPs, we might be maintain- she has seen them. In the next frame, When Alice H. Eagly became my ing the skill, but we are not actually im- major professor reality abruptly Calvin appears, mocking his father, with proving it, any affect we experience ap- combed rather than mussed hair, wear- changed. We met to discuss the first pears to be unrelated to skill increases. draft of a manuscript I’d given her and I ing his dad’s glasses, he says, “Calvin, Apparently, the enjoyment comes from saw that the margins were filled chock- go do something you hate… being mis- making gains with our skills, not in gain- erable builds character!” In the last full with pencil, and (horrors!) most of ing the skills themselves. In short, one the remarks were related to grammar and frame, his mother laughs uncontrollably must challenge or be challenged for in a chair while his dad looks completely style! I was so shocked that for several quite a long time to develop pure exper- minutes I didn’t understand what she flummoxed. tise. Looks like we should all expect to was telling me. It dawned on me that my It’s the kind of encouragement we all endure quite a bit of misery if we truly writing needed work and what purpose need sometimes, suggesting that all the want mastery. Time to join a monastery, do mentors serve if not to mentor? And misery we’ve endured “doing something me thinks. (And by the way, if you are what role do mentees have but to con- we hate” actually pays off somehow, enjoying this piece, that’s a sure sign centrate on their DPs? Practice, practice, even if it is not in building character that you are learning nothing. Get back practice. Over a long enough time, you (maybe instead it builds characters?). to work!) really do develop expertise and then, in And maybe the current quest to gain I once attended a lecture by famed persistently plying your trade with expertise in some valued domain will author Kurt Vonnegut. Because his nov- greater fluency, accomplishments accu- pay off, if we just do enough work. els reveled in dark humor, I was sur- mulate. Anyone can become a good Popularized by such works as Outliers prised that the lecture was so inspira- writer or a good scientist with enough (Gladwell, 2008), there may just be tional. He encouraged young authors to practice and persistence. Draft, re-draft, some truth to it as well: A spate of recent write novels, even though he was pessi- repeat. (I’ve profited from it again and research suggests that if someone wants mistic about anyone’s chances to make a again, to the point where I am convinced to be an expert in a domain of any com- decent living at it. He said that unless that, with the possible exception of the plexity, then he or she had better spend they write novels literature would suffer, current essay, I am much smarter in print 10,000 hours practicing the domain. It is and who knows? One or two young au- than in person!) Johann Sebastian Bach not just working by rote, but deliberate thors might actually make it. To those is reputed to have once said, “I have practice (DP) improving rough spots, who were intimidated by his own done well. Anyone who works equally focusing on aspects that one hasn’t quite “lucky” success, he remarked that they as hard will do equally as well." Success yet grasped. Thus, practice doesn’t count were seeing the end product, not the = Bach = Beethoven = Brahms ≥ 10k unless it is focused on problem-solving, painful process of drafting and re- hours of DP (plus a lot of work). progressively better refinement, and drafting that he endured to produce his The peer-review process is an exten- ultimately enhancement of internal rep- books. It seems that dark humor had its sion of the writing process with its own resentations for planning, evaluating and roots at least in part in Vonnegut’s mis- miseries. It’s no wonder that the first monitoring how one mentally represents ery, but of course his readers loved the articles are the hardest to write but that the sequences (Chaffin, Imreh, & Craw- products and they miss him now that with practice they come easier, because ford, 2002). As my daughter’s violin Kurt himself is a wisp of undifferenti- reviewers use their considerable mastery teacher says, “You’re not practicing ated nothingness, to use one of his lines. (they’re experts, aren’t they?) to critique unless you’re practicing it right!” No All of us who have engaged the publi- the work and as the process repeats, one pain, no gain. cation process can relate to its miseries. I not only develops the article itself but Most of these same “meta- had taken the “hard” English classes also develops related skill sets for doing experts” (viz., experts about experts) through my high school years and fan- better science and for anticipating crit- maintain that enjoyment of the activity cied myself a fine writer; I suppose I ics’ reactions. Ideally, a published scien- pretty much means that it is not DP at imagined that the 10k of DPs was al- tific article represents mastery ex- work, instead it’s mere play (e.g., ready under my belt. Indeed, it seemed pressed, perhaps over several domains 3 GUE DIALO

(knowledge of the domain in question, ingly meta-analytic, a few years ago I of Bach. scientific method, one’s discipline per had the experience of authoring an arti- But wait: Maybe I’ll need to eat and se, writing). It makes you wonder how cle based on a survey of a difficult-to- sleep a bit, so perhaps 16 hours-a-day of often classic discoveries were made reach population, HIV-positive Roma- DP would be a bit more manageable, prior to mastery, naïvely, and then de- nian adolescents. It was some of the and now 10k works out to be a bit less veloped into legitimate publications be- most difficult writing I have yet done, as than 2 years. (See Figure 1’s logarithmic cause of review feedback that demanded I had become too used to thinking of learning curve.) Come to think of it, I more DPs. Submit, re-submit, repeat. study results as study units rather than may need to keep my day job and re- And keep the faith! individual people. I got the job done, but main civil to my family, so maybe even Of course, mastery pursuits are highly it took more work than it should have, 16 hours-a-day is a bit steep, and be- hydraulic: There are massive side effects and it was not very pleasurable. As they sides, meta-experts say that spaced for the completely obsessed mastery say: Use or lose it. learning is ideal, so maybe the 2-year seeker, who will have no time for any Seriously, 10,000 hours of deliberate plan is impossible even for the com- other mastery pursuit or for other aspects practice sounded like quite a lot to me, pletely obsessed. And then there are of life. Unrelated skills and domains of especially given the misery factor, so I physical constraints: My wrists have a life atrophy away. (Can you say, gave it some thought. Let’s say I wanted tendinitis problem that flares up with “increasingly one dimensional”? to master playing the piano. Let’s make repetitive motions… Darn it: Mastering “Increasingly dysfunctional”?) Meta- Bach’s Goldberg Variations the mastery the piano anytime soon appears quite a experts agree that unless skills and goal: I need to play this piece at profes- bit beyond my ken. knowledge are used and expressed, they sional speed with accuracy (and ok, I Truth told, I do disturb a piano on begin to die and require some extra DPs want to play it with feeling, too!). At 24 occasion but, to date, I have only put in to resurrect. As an example, after a long hours a day, I’ll reach 10k hours in about about 4,000 time pursuing research that is increas- 417 days, a bit over a year, which is a lot Continued on p. 5 4 GUE DIALO Looking Forward to Las Vegas (continued from page 1)

Veronica Benet-Martinez, Lorne and agree with us that increasing the in planning this year’s program. Campbell, Melissa Ferguson, Mike number of symposia per session was First, we arranged posters by their Furr, Kate McLean, Stacey Sinclair, a better choice than having a lower keywords to allow similar posters to Jeanne Tsai, and Iven Van Mech- acceptance rate. be near each other. To prevent timing elen. conflicts for attendees and for pre- senters, we provided two or three The Program Committee also re- sessions for the heavily subscribed The submission portal for SPSP ceived 1,947 poster submissions, keywords. That way, attendees won’t 2010 underwent significant improve- again a record high. Nineteen post- miss all the posters on a given topic ments this year, thanks to extensive Masters graduate students from uni- if they happen to be unable to attend programming by Jeff Wilson of Tara versities across the United States a specific poster session. Second, we Miller Events. An automated process generously served as poster review- were able to take advantage of key- streamlined submissions and also ers. Each graduate student reviewed words in our scheduling of symposia. allowed heavy emphasis on key- approximately 100 poster submis- In particular, we arranged similar words in scheduling the program. sions, and the program co-chairs re- symposia to make attendance as con- We received 195 symposia submis- viewed their decisions as well. Addi- venient as possible. sions. This was the highest number tionally, all participants in rejected of submissions yet (173 were sub- symposium submissions were in- mitted for the 2009 meeting, 124 for vited to submit their talks as posters. The conference will also feature Fac- the 2007 meeting, and 83 for the The end result is that the conference ulty Mentor lunches on both days of 2005 meeting). Each symposium will include 2026 poster presenta- the meeting, as well as a Diversity submission was assigned to two dif- tions. Lunch on Friday. National Science ferent Program Committee members Foundation and National Cancer In- based on keywords and expertise. stitute will discuss funding opportu- Each submitter indicated two key- Highlights of this Year’s Program: nities on Friday morning. Look for words from a list, and we tried to In addition to a diverse set of fasci- other receptions and special events in make sure that at least one reviewer nating symposia and poster presenta- the program at the conference web and usually both reviewers were ex- tions, the program features addresses site. perts in that keyword area. Each by the winners of the Campbell and committee member received ap- Block awards, a Presidential address proximately 40-45 submissions to by Jennifer Crocker entitled “The Register Now review. We made final decisions social self: Egosystem or ecosys- Remember that the conference and based on a number of criteria, such tem?,”and an exciting Presidential hotel registration are now open (go as representing areas broadly, includ- symposium entitled “Transcending to http://www.spspmeeting.org/ for ing both senior and junior speakers, self-interest: Evolution, brains, and further information). We anticipate avoiding symposia that are very hormones.” The Program Committee high attendance, so make your reser- similar to ones in last year's pro- is also very excited about the Key- vations early. SPSP has an exclusive gram, and minimizing content over- note Session:“The Role of Genetics agreement with the Riviera for this lap in this year's program. As in re- in Personality and Social Psychol- meeting – the hotel is large enough cent years, we enforced the rule that ogy.” The four invited panelists— to accommodate everyone, and the any individual can only be a speaker Frances Champagne, Steve Cole, $99 room rate is tough to beat! in one symposium, the rule of having Robert Krueger, and Erik Turk- no discussants, and the rule of hav- heimer—showcase innovative and ing only 3-4 speakers per sympo- exciting paradigms for the study of We look forward to seeing you in sium. Our acceptance rate was ap- genetics. You may find that your Las Vegas, and welcome your com- proximately the same as last year, current conceptions about genetics ments about the convention and pro- around 40%, but this required in- are challenged by the panel’s in- gram. creasing the number of symposia in sights. We anticipate the speakers Monica Biernat, Convention Com- each session to 10 instead of 9. Our will draw a large crowd and spark a mittee Chair, Serena Chen & Will hope is that SPSP members will be lively discussion. Fleeson, 2010 Program Co-Chairs excited by the number and broad Finally, keywords played a large role range of symposia they can attend,

5 GUE DIALO From Misery to Mastery in 10,000 Hours (Continued from p. 3) hours, which by the 10k rule makes me Japan such renowned technical exper- tigating cool things and teaching others only 40% expert. (And I have to admit tise? And maybe it is why France re- about it. Literally, professors are hired that I enjoy it a bit more than the term nowned for its rich cultural life rather not just to generate knowledge, but also DP would dictate: Any “mastery” I ex- than its technical expertise? to profess what they know as masters of hibit is probably merely Type-I error, an Graduate training programs often con- their respective domains. Put more instantiation of the alpha rate! Well, then fer Master’s degrees to their students obliquely from a meta-expertise perspec- at least I am alpha at something .) At my after about 2 to 3 years of work, which tive, they are paid to profess under the laggardly pace, I will be lucky to hit roughly matches Figure 1’s “dedicated” influence (PUI) of their DPs to relative mastery before death relieves my mis- zone. Ironically enough, therefore, it novices who are on the path of misery to ery. Plus, if all I ever play are the Gold- would appear that to attain a Master’s mastery. bergs, it will only make me a master of degree truly indicates the possession of Still, note that intelligence and skills Goldberg’s and other music Golberg- mastery, 10k of DP. If so, we ought to are somewhat fluid and can be disrupted esque, forget playing anything by see that graduate students who are at by such things as environmental stress- Brahms, Prokofiev, or Mellits. Hmmm, least “dedicated” emerge as independent ors or even the time of day. Even the maybe it is time to start taking lessons scholars during their 3 rd year of study, best experts have moments of extreme and dispense with the self-training rou- less if they take the “completely ob- ineptitude: Mine routinely trip me up in tine? sessed” zone of the Figure or if they that stretch after lunch, or, more disrup- Work life is another domain where commenced graduate school with plenty tively, when experiencing jet lag or ill- mastery would seem key. If trainees of DP already under their belts (I pity ness. And of course one can think of only train during work hours, then it the fool who really starts at tabula acute stressors like alcohol or drug con- would seem mastery could be rare in- rasa !). It’s no wonder graduate record sumption, which might actually equate deed. In the U.S., factoring out week- examination scores are such poor predic- PUI with DUI: Don’t drink and profess! ends and holidays, a work year is some- tors of graduate performance: Obsession To follow Calvin, being miserable thing like 245 days, which at 8 hours per picks up so much of the variance! (while doing deliberate practice) may day works out to just under 2000 hours, The 10k rule would have more pro- build character. And the pursuit of mas- so it would take a trainee 5 years to gain found implications: If graduate students tery may well make you a character. complete mastery of a position. It would already attain mastery by the point of a Speaking of misery, I have a review to take less to the extent that the trainee Master’s degree, then why do we con- write! already had prior DP. (And, hmmm, it tinue to push our students toward doctor- would take more to the extent that the ates? Look at Bill Gates: If a Harvard References company expected some actual work out drop-out can become the richest person Chaffin, R., Imreh, G., Crawford, M. (2002). of the employee instead of pure train- in the world, then what good is further Practicing perfection: Memory and ing...) education beyond the point of mastery? piano performance. Mahweh, NJ: Other countries’ work weeks vary in Seems like mere window dressing. Put Erlbaum. informative ways. Given their generous all that hard-earned DP to work and pub- Ericcson, K. A., Roring, R. W., & Nanda- vacation allotments and frequent worker lish some articles! gopal, K. (2007). Giftedness and strikes, the French work something like evidence for reproducibly superior Meta-experts also tell us that there is performance: An account based on 200 days a year (and have only a 35- actually only a razor-thin margin (if that) hour work week), which sounds awfully the expert performance framework. between recognized experts and novices High Ability Studies, 18, 3-56. good, until you consider the implications who also have reached the 10k mark Gladwell, M. (2008). Outliers: The story of for mastery, let alone practicing one’s (e.g., Ericsson et al., 2007). It would success. New York: Little, Brown. trade. In France, a trainee starting from appear, therefore, that the 10k of DP zero DP, tabula rasa, will take a lag- marks a point of diminishing returns: Johnson, B. T. (1983). A dialogue on gardly 7 years to gain complete mastery, Fledgling scholars, don’t expect to be- epistemology between René Descartes and Henri Poincaré. 40% longer than in the U.S. In Japan, come significantly more expert once Dialogue, 25, 41-47. things are a little bit more obsessed: you’ve hit that 10k point. And hmmm, Work weeks tend to include half-days on doesn’t this rule also imply that publish- Kruger, J., & Dunning, D. (1999). Unskilled Saturday and often stretch 10 hours; ing in the best journals isn’t as hard as it and unaware of it: How difficulties in recognizing one’s own incompe- workers seldom take vacations, even is made out to be? Just do your 10k DP tence lead to inflated self- when incentives are offered for employ- duty and the world is your oyster. Just ees to take them. So, applying the 10k assessments. Journal of Personal- don’t expect to be ever-increasingly ex- ity and Social Psychology, 77, rule, a Japanese trainee could gain mas- pert, just ever-increasingly accom- tery in about 3.6 years, 29% shorter than 1121–1134. plished. in the U.S. and almost twice as fast as the French trainee. International differ- Most of us have trained as scholars so ences in GNP begin to make sense. that we can gain academic jobs and use Maybe these differences are what give our cumulative DPs to best effect, inves- 6 GUE DIALO TRAVEL SECTION In this month’s travel section, we are lucky to have contributions from three psychologists that have trav- eled outside of psychology departments (and, in one case, back again). The sheer range of potential jobs should give hope to all graduate students (and their families) who have ever wondered whether they will be employed post Ph.D. It is also nice to consider the range of contributions that personality and social psy- chologists make to broader research and education endeavors.

Life as a Professor and Life as a Pollster deans and department chairs, but for the could never, ever wait for the guy to get By Brett Pelham, Gallup most part what topic you study, and per- back with Mischel’s famous second haps even what courses you teach are up marshmallow. In my defense, I should to you. Further, you may have to work note that I grew up in extreme poverty. Comparing life as a professor of psy- 60 hours per week or more to get tenure, Thus, about as often as not in my early chology and life as a researcher and but you can always take Wednesday life, the well-meaning guy who prom- writer in a polling and consulting firm is afternoon off to wait in line at the De- ised to deliver the extra marshmallow a bit like comparing personality psychol- partment of Motor Vehicles. As a pro- usually got mugged or thrown in jail ogy and social psychology. In some fessor I always wrote my own surveys before he ever made it back. Of course, ways the two disciplines could not possi- and designed my own experiments, and my ability to delay gratification has bly be more different (consider the di- so I was free to study absolutely any- changed a lot since I was four or five vergent perspectives personality and thing I wanted. But this academic free- years old. Now I am much worse at it. social psychologists have about r = .30). dom comes at the great cost, for most For this reason, one of the delightful In other ways, though, the two disci- professors, of having very lim- lessons I’ve learned by working at plines could not possibly be more simi- ited resources. For example, my labora- Gallup is that research analysts can lar (consider our agreement in both tory research usually involved small come up with an idea for an interesting camps of psychology about the value of samples of perhaps 50-100 college stu- news article one morning, see if the data empiricism). The same is true, I think, of dents. That is, I almost never had access support it by lunchtime, and publish an a career as a professor in a traditional to representative samples of "real" article on the topic within a week. Of social-personality training program ver- Americans and pursuit of such groups course, the time lag from idea to publi- sus a career as a researcher, writer and would have required a large time com- cation in academics is on the order of data analyst at a research, polling and mitment from me (in terms of grant writ- months and/or years rather than days and consulting firm. For me that firm is ing to create a specialized data- weeks. Gallup, where I have now worked part- collecting infrastructure). At Gallup, or full-time for almost two years (after Application . Another difference be- researchers have now been doing a tween being a professor and being a working for almost 20 years in acade- nightly , representative telephone poll of mia). At a surface level, the two jobs pollster is a close, but distinct, cousin of 1,000 Americans since January 2, 2008. delay of gratification. In the academic sound very different, but there are many In less than two years, this means that similarities. One big similarity is that world most researchers hope their work Gallup has amassed a giant data set on may eventually change the way the both jobs emphasize empiricism as a the physical health, psychological well- way of uncovering the nature of reality. world works , even if only in a modest being, and personal financial views of way. Those who study stereotypes Another is that, in both jobs, leaders more than 600,000 Americans. In any hope that their employees’ work will would probably like to reduce them. given week Gallup has its finger on the Those who study happiness wouldn’t help make the world a better place. De- pulse of America. Opportunities to better spite these important similarities, there mind increasing it. However, even pro- understand health and well-being using fessors with a strong applied bent live are some substantial differences. Be- these data abound. For about four years, cause the human brain is wired to re- with the realization that there is a pretty Gallup has been conducting representa- tenuous link between basic research and spond to differences rather than to con- tive surveys of more than 95% of the stants, I will emphasize the differences immediate application. Further, most are earth’s population on a yearly basis. personally comfortable with that tenuous that first came to mind when I was asked This gargantuan World Poll now con- to compare the two. link. In fact, many personality and social sists of more than 500,000 respondents psychologists have become frustrated by Self-Determination. University pro- who live in 150 countries as different as the extreme emphasis on translation fessors have an enormous amount of Iceland and Ecuador. Needless to say, research that now seems to be a require- intellectual freedom. For example, at even the best funded professor would ment to procure external funding for any most universities, professors do not have never dream of being able to do studies kind of research. In contrast, in the a manager or supervisor of any conse- of this magnitude. world of enterprise, especially at a place quence. Of course, there are provosts, Delay of Gratification. As a child I like Gallup, ana- Continued on p. 9 7 GUE DIALO TRAVEL SECTION

Social/Personality Psychology and Public Health

By Marc T. Kiviniemi, work addressing how both the social and includes an epidemiologist, an MD spe- the physical environment influence cializing in maternal/child health, and a Department of Health Behavior, health behaviors and health outcomes, biostatistician. Although we all have a School of Public Health and social/behavioral science perspectives general interest in handwashing as a Health Professions, University at on understanding people’s health behav- preventive health behavior, we have Buffalo iors, and research and practice incorpo- almost no common ground in perspec- rating a lot of social psychological prin- tives and approaches. In many ways this Among the many places outside a ciples (social norms, self-efficacy, atti- is great fun – you get exposed to topics, Psychology Department where one tudes, social support, etc.). In fact, most disciplinary perspectives, and ways of might find a Social/Personality Psy- Masters of Public Health programs (the approaching problems that you simply chologist lurking is a school or program core practitioner degree in public health) wouldn’t get if all of your collaborators in Public Health. Many public health require a core course in the social and were psychologists. On the other hand, faculty include social/personality psy- behavioral sciences and many Schools explaining for the umpteenth time what chologists and public health is a natural of Public Health have a department fo- an attitude is and why you really do need home for those that have interests in cusing on social and behavioral science to include measures of attitudes, justify- health-related areas. What is life like for perspectives. ing that you actually can validly measure those of us who have migrated over to That said, the field is public health, social cognitive constructs, and so on the public health world, and how does not psychology. Although psychologi- can be a challenge. Related to this, a that life differ from life in traditional cal perspectives can be found in much consequence of the “team science” ap- psychology departments? My perspec- public health work, the core focus is on proach is that you’re often part of multi- tive on this is shaped by my own profes- health – a traditionally trained psy- ple research teams for multiple projects. sional experiences: after graduate chologist might find that at least some of Another key difference is that there is no school, I started my faculty life in a So- the research lacks “psychological meat” undergraduate subject pool in most pub- cial/Personality program in a traditional when compared to what would be em- lic health programs. Although tradition- Psychology Department. In July 2007 I phasized in traditional psychology pro- ally trained psychologists often feel con- started a position in the School of Public grams. Whether this is a positive or a fident that they can study “basic proc- Health and Health Professions at the negative depends on one’s perspective ess” using convenience samples pulled University at Buffalo, SUNY. (and, perhaps, on the day of the week). from their classrooms, researchers in What is Public Health? How Does a On the one hand, it is intellectually en- public health programs come from dif- Social Psychologist Fit In? riching to see the connections between ferent training and tend to be skeptical social/personality psychology and a on this point. As a result, our research Ever tried to explain to someone how broad other discipline. On the other, one norms tend to emphasize use of diverse, (and worse, why!) the various topic ar- sometimes has to fight to feign interest at-risk, “real-world” populations. Most eas in social/personality psychology fit in work that, although important from a research participants in public health together? By comparison to public health perspective, might lack the depth journals are community adults and this health, the range of things covered by and richness of social/personality per- one shift dramatically influences the social/personality psychology seems like spectives that one might prefer. logistics of conducting research. Among a neat, orderly whole. Public health other things, researchers typically have covers everything from understanding to pay participants from targeted popula- how environmental pollution impacts Research. Arguably, the modal re- tions, convince them to come to campus health outcomes to providing preventive search group in a traditional psychology for in-lab research, and deal with logis- care services for low income people to department is a single professor (or per- tics such as parking, public transporta- encouraging communities to be more haps two professors) working with some tion, and child care. This changes the physically active to…you name it -- if it combination of postdocs, graduate stu- calculus of running studies, as the stan- relates to health and health outcomes dents, and undergraduates. By contrast, dard costs of research (in terms of and can be considered and addressed at a the typical research team in public health money, time and sheer energy) are con- population-level, it is probably of inter- is based on a "team science" approach, siderably higher in a world without a est to researchers in a public health pro- and although there are still postdocs and subject pool. gram. graduate students, there are usually fac- ulty researchers from very diverse back- Research Funding. Every psycholo- For many of these topics, social/ gist in a research program faces the pres- personality psychologists have important grounds with expertise that is usually non-overlapping. For example, I’m cur- sure to publish or perish. On top of that, roles to play. Many important areas in in public health, there’s a strong inclina- public health seem very familiar to so- rently part of a research group (studying maternal handwashing behavior) that tion towards “get funding or perish”. cial/personality psychologists, including The core expec- Continued on p. 9 8 GUE DIALO TRAVEL SECTION The Professor and the Situation: How B-School and Psychology Cultures Shape Research Questions and Practice By Leaf Van Boven schools generally spend much of their time genuinely affected by the expectation that thinking and talking about different topics psychological scientists maintain an active Department of Psychology and Neu- than people in Psychology Departments. research laboratory—often with multiple roscience University of Colorado at The questions and ideas “in the air” are PhD students and a cadre of undergraduate Boulder often distinctly different between the two research assistants—that pursues multiple, cultures. broad questions that extend over the years. A fun thing to do after taking a trip is to I submit that social psychologists in Psy- I’ve found that one needn’t spend much read others’ reviews of similar trips. Did chology departments are encouraged— time in a B-school before naturally dis- they see the same sights as you? Did they with greater or lesser degrees of subtlety— cussing, say, the foundations of consumer share some of the same experiences? Or to establish research programs that lend financial behavior, leadership qualities that did they see and do different things? It themselves to multiple investigations, pub- are needed for the new economy, or the was with such a mindset that I read with lications, and external funding. This em- potential folly of Microsoft’s’ latest mar- interest Kathleen Vohs’ comments, phasis of programmatic research may ex- keting campaign. Nor does one need to “Traveling psychologist: Better Know a plain the differential publication rates spend much time in a Psychology Depart- Marketing Professor,” in the Spring 2009 among faculty working in Psychology ment before naturally discussing, say, the Dialogue. As a fellow traveler myself, I Departments and B-Schools—at least as nature of prejudice, the quality of emotion, agreed with many of Kathleen’s observa- much as the importance in Marketing, or the power of situations over persons. tions. which Kathleen mentioned, of publishing How can these two distinct realities not be Kathleen correctly highlighted a handful so? Academics in both contexts presuma- in “A” journals. of concrete, salient differences between bly think about the topics they teach, and The point of these musings is to high- Business Schools and Psychology Depart- we as academics in different programs light that the cultural differences between ments. On the one hand, “B-school” sala- presumably discuss topics of shared inter- B-Schools and Psychology Departments ries are higher (sometimes drastically), est with our colleagues. When one en- are greater and more substantial than the school-provided research funds are more counters colleagues in the faculty mail- salient discrepancies in salary and teach- plentiful (often eliminating the necessity of room who study formal models of dynamic ing. A colleague of mine who I respect applying for research grants), and teaching pricing or product positioning, the conver- and whose research I admire once re- duties are often “stacked” in a single aca- sations are bound to be different than when marked, “I’m a Social Psychologist who demic term. On the other hand, research one encounters colleagues who study brain just happens to work in a Business space and resources can be more limited in processes of recognition memory or the School”—the implication being that this B-schools, there are fewer PhD students, effectiveness of mindfulness meditation. person’s research interests and practices and teaching can be extremely demand- To be sure, professors in B-schools and were stable across situations, and he just ing—particularly at the MBA level Psychology Departments have many happened to earn more money, avoid grant (although, to be fair, several of my good shared topics of interest. But there are writing, and teach MBA’s. But that’s not friends have MBA’s, and they are genu- differences, too, and these differences are quite right. As Social Psychologists, we inely friendly people). All of this is true real. should appreciate that the cultures and enough. contexts of B-Schools and Psychology A related cultural difference concerns Departments can shape our attitudes, pref- But there’s an additional broad differ- the increasing emulation of Big Science in erences, and behavior. If we want to make ence between B-Schools and Psychology Psychology Departments. Some of this informed decisions about where and how Departments that merits discussion. The emulation reflects genuinely evolving in- we work, we Social Psychologists might difference is cultural. The culture in B- terests, as psychologists become more be mindful one of our field’s central mes- schools stems from the simple reality that substantively grounded in the biological sages and better appreciate the power of they are professional schools that—by and neurosciences. Some of this emula- design—seek to foster better business tion may simply reflect role modeling of the situation. practices and to train students to be better more “advanced” hard sciences, or Note : Leaf Van Boven was trained as a Social businesspeople. In contrast, the culture in “biologist envy.” Either way, Psychology Psychologist at Cornell University. After work- Psychology Departments—often, by de- departments’ movement toward more tra- ing two years as an Assistant Professor in the sign—tends to emphasize basic questions ditional science departments bring with it Marketing Division of the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, he about how the mind works and seeks to expectations about the size and longevity train students to be better researchers and became an Assistant Professor of Psychology at of research programs, and an increased the University of Colorado. He later worked as clinicians. These different emphases per- emphasis on external funding. This is not vade daily professional life: from the col- an Assistant Professor of Marketing and Behav- all good. Writing grants is a headache, and ioral Science for one year in the Johnson School leagues one encounters in the mailroom, to the contortions that psychologists put of Management at Cornell University before the material one covers in the classroom, themselves through to make their research returning, as an Associate Professor, to the to the topics incoming PhD students find “fundable” can be laughable. Still, they University of Colorado. Quite a lot travelling, interesting, to the topics colleagues look way psychologists think about research is indeed—too much, say rest of the Van Boven for in job candidates. Researchers in B- family! 9 GUE DIALO TRAVEL SECTION

Life as a Professor and Life as a Pollster (cont. from p. 6) lysts produce articles that are immediately and consulting firms. So for those (like me) sion by Obama.” By that, I mean that readers consumed by the public and world leaders who truly love research, it is possible to be of on-line news articles want the writer to cut alike, and it is always (not sometimes) ex- immersed in research almost 100% of the right to the chase, in a way that still seems pected that articles will have immediate, time, at least at a research-focused place such foreign to a guy who spent 20 years connect- actionable implications. At least some as Gallup. On the other hand for those (like ing things to Aristotle. Because it is much Gallup.com articles do seem to influence me) who truly love teaching, it is harder -- easier to learn than to unlearn, my socializa- policy makers, politicians and business lead- though not impossible -- to find teaching tion as a journalist is still a work in progress. ers almost immediately. When Obama gave a opportunities within most organizations. As Aristotle reputedly said, “Learning is not child's play; we cannot learn without pain." very well received speech in Egypt in early June of 2009, he seems to have based the And I thought the marshmallow thing was speech, to at least some degree, on Gallup Communication . Another big difference hard! between working in an ivory tower versus a survey research showing that the overwhelm- ing majority of Muslims worldwide admire brick office building is that news writing and America’s freedom and want non-Muslims to scientific writing are radically different. To To learn more about the Gallup World Poll respect their religion, including, for example, be sure clarity and precision are valued in or the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Poll, controversial freedoms such as a Muslim both worlds, but as Dan Gilbert once put it go to: when advising people about how to talk (or woman’s religious right to wear a veil. http://www.gallup.com/poll/101905/ write) about data, “Every study is part of a Gallup-Poll.aspx long story that begins with an idea by Aris- Edification . Perhaps the biggest differ- totle.” I would have to revise this heavily to or to: describe news writing, at least in my experi- ence between the university and the organi- http://www.well-beingindex.com/ zation is that there is little or no teaching or ence. I’d say that “Every news article is part committee work for researchers at polling of a short story that ends with a recent deci-

Social/Personality Psychology and Public Health (cont. from p. 7) tation is that you will have external funding There is also a greater diversity of back- work; and they have to learn how to think (especially funding from NIH or CDC) and, ground and prior knowledge; although by like a social scientist at the same time as in fact, in many programs some or all of your and large the students in one’s classes are they’re learning to think like a public health salary is directly tied to external research very bright and highly motivated, the vast scholar. support. Whereas most faculty working in majority of them have NO background in the psychology departments are in hard money social and behavioral sciences. This leads to lines (i.e., their salary and continued employ- a very interesting teaching situation -- there The Big Picture. At the end of the day, ment is not directly dependent on research is often a substantial disconnect between the being in a public health program has broad- funding) there is a more complex mix of students general ability and their course- ened rather than fundamentally changed who salary streams in public health programs. specific background and skills. On the other I am and what I do. I still identify as a so- Both within and across programs, some fac- hand, the high level of general ability and cial/personality psychologist (although now, ulty are in hard money positions, some are a motivation and the wide range of student depending on context, I may also identify mix of hard and soft money, and some are backgrounds and experiences creates a rich, myself as a public health professional, a spe- purely on soft money. Moreover, because intellectually engaging classroom environ- cialist in methods for decision making re- most public health programs don’t have un- ment. In addition, teaching loads are often search, or a cancer prevention researcher). dergraduates, there aren’t loads of teaching lower in public health programs (e.g., my I’m still interested in core social psychologi- assistant positions available, so grant funding institution’s standard load is 1:1) but that cal principles around decision making and is directly tied to being able to recruit and classroom teaching load is balanced by a self-regulation. The public health world, fund good graduate students. And finally, greater involvement in supervising non- though, has led me to broaden my scope to because there are no subject pools, it is diffi- classroom work (e.g., supervising field place- include a broader array of research topics, cult if not impossible to be a highly research ments and capstone integrative projects) as collaborators, and perspectives. The bottom active scholar in public health without ob- well as the greater focus on obtaining grants line – you can still be a social-personality taining research funding. and research work. Finally, although it seems psychologist, can still study the things that obvious, a key difference is that the students attracted you to psychology in the first place,

one works with (both in the classroom and in and can expand your horizons to situate your Teaching and Students. There are also key research activities) are not psychology stu- social/personality work in a richer interdisci- differences in teaching. The first is that, dents – they are likely to be more interested plinary context addressing a critical set of although some public health programs in- in the public health issue than in the nuances societal issues.


clude undergraduate degrees, by and large of the social psychological phenomena public health is a graduate-degree enterprise. you’re studying; they may not know what In fact, aside from the occasional guest lec- social/personality psychology is, much less ture I don’t teach undergraduates at all. the specialized theories involved in your 10 GUE DIALO News from the National Science Foundation

Social Psychology Program Updates used to support the proposals we already viewers perform a valuable service to the social psychology community and had in hand to enhance funding rates. we wish to publicly thank them for their

The Social Psychology program had to work. bid a fond farewell to fellow program In the past year, the Social Psychology officer, Dr. E. Gil Clary. Gil returned to program received and considered pro- academia, taking a new post as the Direc- posals for 122 research projects, includ- What's on the Horizon for FY2010? tor of the Office of Assessment at Kutz- ing 8 CAREER proposals, and 8 RUI There are a number of broad-based, in- town University. Gil was at NSF as a (Research at Undergraduate Institutions) terdisciplinary opportunities for social rotator for the past year and had a signifi- proposals. There were a total of 31 re- psychology across NSF. Be on the look cant and valuable impact on the function- search grants awarded resulting in a out for future announcements in the fol- ing of the social psychology program. At funding rate of over 25%. Ten of those lowing areas. NSF, half of the program officers direct- 31 research grants were supported by ing disciplinary and interdisciplinary pro- ARRA funds. The additional ARRA CI-TEAM grams are rotators, coming to NSF for a and re-distributed HSD funds also al- This program has been revised with a year or two to learn about NSF, the pro- lowed the program to make more stan- fresh emphasis on broadening and diver- posal and review process, the role of sci- dard grants (i.e., the total funds for the sifying the population of individuals and ence in the federal context, and to take grants are provided to the PI all at once), institutions participating in cyberinfra- that knowledge and expertise back to their reducing our commitments for the next structure activities. Research supported universities. We encourage you to con- few fiscal years and thereby freeing up by this program, “Cyberinfrastructure sider applying as a rotator to NSF when more funds down the road. Training, Education, Advancement and an appropriate position is available – it is st Mentoring in Our 21 Century Work- a remarkable learning experience (and it force,” will leverage the necessary sys- is a great place to work!). As always, we This fiscal year, the Division of Behav- tems, tools, and services (i.e., CI) to en- will post newly announced positions of ioral and Cognitive Sciences held a able individuals, groups, and organiza- interest to the SPSP Listserve. “Committee of Visitors” (COV), which tions to advance research and education provides an external evaluation of the in ways that revolutionize who can par- quality and integrity of program opera- ticipate, what they can do, and how they After a flat budget for the social psychol- tions and management and the degree to do it. The call for proposals should be ogy program in FY08, FY09 saw growth which the awards supported advance the available after November 15, 2009 with in the program’s base budget. The Hu- progress of science. Each program in a proposal deadline in March 2010. Fur- man and Social Dynamics (HSD) priority the division had a three-person team to ther information can be found at http:// area ended in FY08, and some of those evaluate it, and we would like to thank www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp? funds were distributed to the core pro- the three individuals who graciously pims_id=12782&from=fund grams within the Directorate of Social, gave their time, energy, and insight to Behavioral, and Economics Sciences. As the process for our program – Dr. Keith a result, the program’s budget grew from Maddox (Tufts University), Dr. Irene Cyber-enabled Discovery and Innova- $5,927,300 to $6,378,300. In addition, Blair (University of Colorado – Boul- tion new funds were made available to allow der), and Dr. David Myers (Hope Col- standing disciplinary programs to support lege). If you would like to see their re- Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innova- the innovations and goals of the HSD port, go to http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/ tion (CDI) is NSF’s bold five-year initia- program, particularly in the areas of Com- activities/cov/sbe/2009/ tive to revolutionize science through plexity Science, Large-Scale Interdiscipli- bcs_cov_report.pdf . The Social Psy- innovations and advances in computa- nary Research, and Infrastructure (see the chology report begins on page 161 of the tional thinking. There are three thematic Dear Colleague Letter on this topic at document. areas: From Data to Knowledge, Under- http://www.nsf.gov/publications/ standing Complexity in Natural, Built, pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf09019 ). and Social Systems, and Building Vir- We also wish to recognize the consider- tual Organizations. Proposals are due in able efforts of those members of the February 2010. For more information, And finally, there was the unexpected but Social Psychology community who re- go to http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/cdi/. totally welcomed influx of American Re- viewed proposals in FY09. This in- covery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) cludes the members of the review panel funds. The Social Psychology program who meet twice a year to evaluate the Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Hu- benefitted from $3,361,313 additional scientific merit and broader impacts of man Systems funds. As you may know, NSF did not proposals, and several hundred ad hoc This cross-cutting program promotes hold any special competitions for the reviewers who similarly advise on indi- quantitative, interdisciplinary study of ARRA funds. Rather, the funds were vidual proposals. These anonymous re- complex interactions among human and 11 GUE DIALO natural systems at diverse spatial, tem- peer review. In most cases we will rec-
Brandon Schmeichel (Texas A&M poral, and organizational scales. Pro- ommend that investigators engage the University) – Distinguishing Impulse posal deadline is the third Tuesday in standard application process. However, Strength from Self-control Strength as November, annually. For further infor- we are sensitive to the possibility of Causes of Self-control Failure mation, see http://www.nsf.gov/funding/ highly unusual circumstances that lend
Richard Petty (Ohio State Univer- pgm_summ.jsp? themselves to important and timely re- sity) -- The Role of Confidence in Social pims_id=13681&org=NSF&sel_org=NS search, and we will remain available to Judgment (joint funds provided by the F&from=fund . discuss ideas you may have about either Decision, Risk, and Management Sci- of these mechanisms with you. ences program) Science of Science and Innovation Pol-
Scott Plous (Wesleyan University) - icy Contact Us - Using Social Networking to Advance The Science of Science and Innovation As always, we will strive to keep you Psychological research and teaching Policy solicitation, or SciSIP, promotes up-to-date on new developments at NSF,
Doug Kenrick (Arizona State Uni- the development of an evidence-based in particular new funding opportunities, versity) and Vladas Griskevicius platform from which policymakers and through postings on the SPSP Listserve. (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities) researchers can understand and improve Feel free to email or call us with your - Fundamental Goals and Decision Mak- the dynamics of the nation's scientific questions, concerns, and ideas. ing (joint funds provided by the Deci- and engineering enterprise. Past compe- sion, Risk, and Management Sciences Your program officers, titions have included three emphasis program) Amber and Kelli areas: Analytical Tools, Model Building,
Nilanjana Dasgupta (University of and Data Development and Augmenta- Amber Story ( [email protected] , 703-292- Massachusetts – Amherst) and David tion. Proposals are due by September 9, 7249) DeSteno (Northeastern University) -- annually. See http://www.nsf.gov/ Collaborative research: Investigating funding/pgm_summ.jsp? Kellina Craig-Henderson ([email protected] ), 703-292-7023) underlying mechanisms and behavioral pims_id=501084&org=NSF&sel_org=N consequences of emotion-induced im- SF&from=fund for further information. 2009 NSF Awards plicit prejudice A Note on Non-traditional Awards
Hazel Markus (Stanford University) Finally, we’d like to take this opportu- We would like to take this opportunity -- Choice as an Engine of Individualism: nity to highlight two new proposal cate- to recognize the distinguished achieve- When and Why is Choice Beneficial or gories that are available to you. ments of our colleagues who received Detrimental in Three Cultural Contexts grants from the Social Psychology pro-
Arthur Aron (SUNY Stony Brook) gram at the National Science Founda- – RAPID: Shared novel/challenging The Early-concept Grant for Exploratory tion in the past fiscal year. As you can Research (EAGER) is reserved for high- activities and relationship quality: Test- see by this list, the portfolio of scientific ing key theoretical mechanisms and risk/high-payoff research that is revolu- investments made by the Social Psy- tionary and radical in nature with a moderating variables in a large sample chology program is broad, inclusive, of returning combat soldiers budget up to $300,000 for 2 years; the and diverse. Abstracts for these and Grants for Rapid Response research other proposals funded by NSF can be
Akira Miyake (University of Colo- (RAPID) are intended to provide support found through the Awards Database at rado – Boulder), Joshua Correll for research that has a severe urgency http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ . (University of Chicago), and Bruce Bar- with regard to availability of or access to tholow (University of Missouri – Co- data. The latter includes quick-response lumbia) -- Collaborative Research: Indi- research on natural or anthropogenic
Carlos Navarrete (Michigan State vidual Differences in Executive Func- disasters and similar unanticipated University) -- CAREER: Intergroup Bias tions and Expressions of Racial Bias events with proposal budgets up to as a Gendered Phenomenon
Michael Robinson (North Dakota $200,000 for 1 year. Taken together,
Melissa Ferguson (Cornell Univer- State University – Fargo) – Developing these non-standard award mechanisms sity) – On Evaluative Readiness for Goal a Cognitive Control Theory of Emotion replace the former Small Grants for Ex- Pursuit: Testing Theoretical and Practi- Regulation Through the Lens of Hostil- ploratory Research (SGERs) program, cal Questions of Breadth, Mechanism, ity, Anger, and Aggression and both require communication with and Causal Impact on Behavior and approval by program officers.
Margo Monteith (Purdue Univer-
Marlene Sandstrom (Williams Col- sity) -- Implicit Stereotyping and Preju- We recognize the value of both of lege) -- RUI: Pluralistic Ignorance and dice: Strategies and Processes of Change these mechanisms for support for social School Bullying: Do Misperceptions of psychological research. Both mecha-
Lisa Neff (University of Texas – Classroom Norms Contribute to Peer nisms rarely involve external reviews, Austin) – Marriage in Context: External Harrassment? (joint funds provided by and so can be processed relatively Factors and Relationship Maintenance the Developmental and Learning Sci- quickly. At the same time, we also see ences program) Continued on p. 13 the value in NSF’s gold standard for 12 GUE DIALO Article Titles in Social-Personality Journals are Creative and Getting More So: And Like This Title, They Include More Subtitles and Declarative Sentences

By Judith A. Hall practices found in the “hard” sciences. linear trends across time. We all have encountered research with How might we make this identity claim in catchy, inventive titles (and see Table 1 our titles? One way is to be dry, long, and The Main Findings for some examples). This type of creativ- jargony, thereby being not at all cute. Another—beautifully simple—way is to Social-personality titles were more ity might seem to be of little consequence, inventive ( M = 3.23, SD = 2.04) than JEP: but an inventive title might serve an au- compose the title in the form of a declara- tive sentence , as is often done in prestig- G ( M = 1.64, SD = 1.08, p < .001), and thor well. It might suggest that the topic the social-personality journals showed a will be relevant and interesting, that the ious general science journals such as Sci- ence. In such a title, the main result is linear increase in the main title’s inven- writing style will be lucid and reader- tiveness, from a low of 2.93 in 1983 to a friendly, and that the author is clever and stated as a firm fact—no vagueness, no hedging or qualifying, no loose ends. An high of 3.92 in 2008 ( p < .001), whereas possibly high status within the field (as JEP:G showed no such trend. readers might assume only a high-status example, from Science , is “Use- author would be comfortable being un- Dependent Plasticity in Clock Neurons Social-personality journals were also conventional). Catchy titles may also Regulates Sleep Need in Drosophilia.” In more likely to publish articles with subti- serve a dissemination goal both inside and a recent issue of Science that I picked up, tles (59%) than JEP:G (49%, p < .001), outside of psychology, by drawing atten- the main research article had such a title, and this tendency in social-personality tion to the work. In the increasingly com- as did six of the 13 research reports. If the showed a similar linear increase, from a petitive marketplace for psychology jour- declarative sentence is generally believed low of 48% in 1988 to a high of 72% in nalism, an inviting title might determine to be the way “real” scientists do it, and if 2008 ( p < .001). There was no compara- whether one’s work is disseminated it conveys definitiveness and inspires ble trend in JEP:G. A plausible interpre- through the mass media. confidence in the reader, then surely a tation of these twin findings is that the psychologist might earn scientific credit use of subtitles allowed researchers to try But there may be a downside to being by adopting it, in the eyes of journalists to be both informative and creative. Con- cute. Ever since Senator William Prox- and peers alike. And, indeed, it was not sistent with this interpretation, in social- mire awarded his “Golden Fleece difficult to find declarative titles in recent personality journals more inventive main Awards” to research he considered trivial issues of our journals, also shown in Ta- titles were more likely to have a subtitle, r back in the 1970s, social-personality psy- ble 1. = .25, p < .001. Another interpretation is chologists have been sensitive about ap- A Study on Article Titles that the cuter the main title is, the more pearing lightweight, a fear that contrib- necessary it is to have a subtitle, so that uted to the so-called “crisis” in social With these musings in mind, I analyzed the reader can tell what the article is psychology. Our vulnerability in this re- the titles in four social-personality psy- about. gard has not gone away; in recent years, chology journals over a period of 25 politicians and watchdog groups have years. All titles in the years 1983, 1988, Though the use of the declarative sen- continued to hold social-personality re- 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008 were coded tence did not change in JEP:G, this usage search up for ridicule, even attempting to in the Journal of Personality and Social increased over time in social-personality rescind federal grants. Psychology (JPSP, n = 1110), Journal of journals, from lows of 2% in 1983 and less than 1% in 1988 to a high of 5% in There is some evidence of a similar Experimental Social Psychology (JESP, n = 337), Personality and Social Psychol- 2008, and with most of this increase hap- skepticism within our science. Sagi and pening at JPSP. Yechiam (2008) found that exceptionally ogy Bulletin (PSPB, n = 521), and Jour- amusing titles in the Psychological Bulle- nal of Personality (JP, n = 243). For If social-personality psychologists want tin and Psychological Review received comparison purposes, I also examined to be either (1) highly appealing and ac- fewer citations than non-amusing titles, one general experimental psychology cessible or (2) highly “scientific” in their even in a subsample of articles in which journal, the Journal of Experimental Psy- self-presentation, one would expect that the same person was an author of both chology: General (JEP:G, n = 159). Three being inventive and using the declarative types of titles. Though this finding could undergraduate coders recorded whether sentence would be inversely related. But have several interpretations, one is that an there was a subtitle and whether the main the opposite was true. In the social- amusing title undermines credibility, as title was a full declarative sentence. They personality journals these two practices does the use of humorous illustrations in also rated the main title on a single 1-9 were positively correlated, r = .16, p college textbooks (Bryant, Brown, Silber- scale of inventiveness, operationally de- < .001, while no such trend appeared in berg, & Elliott, 1981). fined as catchy, engaging, easy to read, JEP:G. The positive correlation in social- enjoyable, creative, and clever . In personality journals remained significant A compensatory goal, therefore, would ANOVAs that included journal and year, after partialing out year, meaning it was be for social-personality psychologists to I looked specifically at the contrast of the not an artifact of parallel temporal trends. do everything possible to be considered social-personality journals against the Perhaps this effect was observed because “real,” by aligning themselves with the general experimental journal and at the authors felt that the apparently competing 13 GUE DIALO goals of being clever and writing a Sci- shout out, “This is science!” and if so, ence -like title can be reconciled by do- does it do so even when the sentence is NSF Awards ing both at once (e.g., “Everybody Loves witty but empty of scientific substance? Me,” and “I Continue To Feel So Good Perhaps a future researcher will find (Continued from p. 9) About Us”). answers to these questions and it will be interesting to see the title of that report.
Daniel Wegner (Harvard Univer- sity) – Dimensions of Mind Perception

What to Make of These Trends?
William Klein (University of Pitts- There could be multiple reasons, good References burgh) – Understanding the Effects of and bad, for using declarative sentences Bryant, J., Brown, D., Silberberg, A., & Self-Affirmation and catchy titles. My goal is not to attack Elliott, S. (1981). Effects of hu-
Jennifer Richeson (Northwestern or defend either practice but to identify morous illustrations in college University) – Fostering Positive Interra- the trends so that we can open a conver- textbooks. Human Communica- cial Interactions sation on their possible consequences. I tion Research, 8 , 43-57.
Kevin Carlsmith (Colgate Univer- noted earlier that the effects of Sagi, I., & Yechiam, E. (2008). Amusing “cuteness” on scientific impact is not yet sity) – RUI: Psychological Motives Un- titles in scientific journals and derlying Attitudes toward Aggressive fully understood, but ours is an empirical article citation. Journal of Infor- profession and so who better than us to Interrogation (joint funds provided by mation Science, 34 , 680-687. determine the effect of our own profes- the Law and Social Science program) sional practices on the impact of our
Eddie Harmon-Jones (Texas A&M profession? It would be useful to know Judith A. Hall is a Professor of University) -- Approach Motivation, what attributions and associations read- Anger, and Positive Affects ers inside and outside the profession Psychology at Northeastern Uni-
Gerard Saucier (University of Ore- make about our titles. Des a non- versity. She thanks Talya Blatt, gon – Eugene) – Dynamics of Disposi- inventive title imply a dull author or a Tyler Rubin, and Ashley Adabahr tional Change competent author? Does a clever title for coding these 2,370 titles. suggest a brilliant author or a ditzy au-
David Sbarra (University of Ari- thor? Does the declarative-sentence title zona) – Romantic Breakups in Young Adulthood: Biopsychosocial Mecha- nisms of Recovery
Arie Kruglanski (University of Table 1 Maryland – College Park) – Multifinal- ity Without Awareness: Implicit Value Sample Titles from Recent Social-Personality Journals Maximizing in Dynamic Goal Environ- ments Highly inventive: Guess Who Might Be Coming to Dinner? Mirror and I In addition, the Social Psychology program jointly funded the following Moments of Weakness “Walking on Eggshells” proposals submitted to other pro- The Simple Life Not So Black and White grams, but which have significant po- tential impact on the field of social A Message in a Bottle Pearls in the Desert psychology: Liking Products by the Head of a Dog Suckers or Saviors?

Why Susie Sells Seashells By the Seashore Feel the Difference!
Michael Kaschak (Florida State How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the J’s Look Black in Anger University) – Social Power and Action (jointly funded with the Perception, Ac- tion, and Cognition program) Declarative sentence :
Sandra Graham (University of Cali- Interacting with Sexist Men Triggers Social Identity Threat Among Female fornia – Los Angeles) – Psychosocial Engineers Benefits of Ethnic Diversity in Urban Middle Schools (jointly funded with the Evaluative Conditioning May be Sensitive to Processing Goals Developmental and Learning Sciences Perceived Orientation of Attention Induces Valence Acquisition program) Sucrose Drinks Reduce Prejudice and Stereotyping Death Reminders Provoke Immediate Derogation of Extrinsic Goals, But Delayed Inflation 14 GUE DIALO Doubling down with the training committee: Updates and a look forward to Vegas

By Jamie Arndt, University of Committee is excited to be sponsor- spsppreconference.php Missouri & ing two events at the upcoming con- ference in Vegas (hence the lame Marti Hope Gonzales, University gambling allusion to “doubling Our second event is a symposium, of Minnesota down” in the title). entitled Giving them wings to fly: Advice for soon-to-be, new, and es- tablished faculty in the training of The SPSP Training Committee The first is a pre-conference, entitled graduate students. Armed with a would like to first express our collec- Bridge(s) Over Troubled Waters: Ph.D. and an academic appointment, tive appreciation to Terri Vescio Traditional and Non-Traditional personality and social psychologist (Pennsylvania State University), who Careers for Personality and Social are confronted with numerous chal- recently completed her term on the Psychologists, co-sponsored by the lenges surrounding the mentoring of Training Committee. Terri led the SPSP Graduate Student Committee. graduate students. These are impor- charge during some challenging tran- Dwindling support from state legis- tant issues, given that our students sitional years for the Committee, and latures, shrinking investments and represent the future of the field, yet her vision was inspiring to those of endowments, hiring freezes, and de- we’re often exposed only to the us who had the opportunity to serve lays in the retirement plans of senior strategies of our own mentors or of with her. At the same time, the Com- academics—to name but a few con- others in the departments where we mittee is incredibly fortunate to wel- sequences of the downturn in the earn our degrees; rarely is the prac- come Stacey Sinclair (Princeton Uni- U.S. economy—mean that graduate tice of mentoring featured in our versity) as the most recent member. students may be forced to consider own training. The Training Commit- alternatives to traditional career tra- tee is excited to present four distin- jectories. This pre-conference is de- guished mentors (Jennifer Crocker, Although Terri has completed her signed to provide attendees with in- David Funder, Thomas Gilovich, service, she continues to work with formation on both traditional (i.e., Jeff Greenberg) who will offer their the Training Committee to establish postdoctoral positions and tenure- views on key aspects of graduate an internet-based network of social track positions in research universi- mentoring. The symposium is in- and personality psychologists work- ties and four-year colleges) and non- tended to educate and inform not ing in applied professions. The intent traditional career options for person- only soon-to-be and new faculty, but of the network is to foster research, ality and social psychologists, in- also those who seek ways to improve training and communication between cluding academic appointments out- in the vital task of graduate mentor- graduate students in personality and/ side psychology departments, ap- ing. Please look for it in the confer- or social psychology and profession- pointments in universities outside the ence program! als working with government agen- U.S., and work in both the public cies, marketing firms, non-profits, and private sectors. A number of research firms, or consulting firms, distinguished personality and social The members of Training Committee or other professionals who are self- psychologists who have pursued are Jamie Arndt (Chair; University employed. We will soon begin to both traditional and non-traditional of Missouri), Marti Hope Gonzales recruit professionals to participate in career paths will speak of unique (University of Minnesota), Michael the applied network and will send challenges and opportunities, both Robinson (North Dakota State Uni- further information about suggesting inside and outside academia. The versity), and Stacey Sinclair contacts via the SPSP listserv. How- talks should be valuable for both jun- (Princeton University). Please visit ever, if there are names of people ior psychologists who face immedi- http:// who come readily to mind, please ate career challenges and for senior www.spsptrainingcommittee.org/ also feel free to contact Terri Vescio psychologists as they train the next index.php for more information on ([email protected] ) and Joshua Lenes generation of personality and social the Training Committee and contact ([email protected] ) immediately. psychologists. For more informa- any of us with questions or sugges- tion, please visit: http:// tions.

On other fronts, The SPSP Training www.spsptrainingcommittee.org/ 15 GUE DIALO

Multivariate Ad to be Inserted Here 16 GUE DIALO REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The SPSP Executive Committee (EC) the journal as editor, at the start of report on p. 30). Discussions at the EC held its bi-annual meeting following the 2010. The new brief reports journal (a focused on two primary concerns, posed SPSP convention in Toronto, on August joint venture by ARP , EAESP , SESP , at earlier EC meetings. One question of 9th and 10 th , 2009. The meeting was and SPSP ) has been a wild concern was the need to determine if headed by President Rich Petty and success. Vincent Yzerbyt and the women and minorities are provided an opportunity for officers and editorial team at Social Psychology and underrepresented in key positions in the committee chairs to report to Personality Science (SPPS) are now Society (editorial positions, committee members. Discussions focused on ways managing the highest rate of membership, etc.). A related concern to promote society goals by improving submissions in the first year of any was the need to determine the cause of experiences of members and raising journal launched by Sage! any potential limitations uncovered. As society visibility. Most of the a result, the committee discussed a wide Convention Committee discussions focused on committee range of methods that could be pursued reports, summarized in this issue of the After a successful meeting in Tampa, to gain traction on these issues, newsletter. Some additional highlights Florida, the committee has Las Vegas including an internal auditing of past of the meeting are as follows. 2009 in its sights (see committee report recruitment efforts, an online survey to on p. 1). The EC reluctantly approved a learn more about member experiences Membership and Treasurer’s slight increase in registration fees over Report . Membership statistics and and greater outreach by the EC to the previous year, based on strong data encourage greater participation by financial data show the society continues showing there will be increased to thrive. Membership in 2009 at the women and minorities. The EC production costs for this year’s encouraged the DCC in all such time of the meeting was approaching conference. These increases amount to 6,000, up by 400 from the previous year efforts. Another concern related to the $10 for grad students and $35 for full visibility of GASP (GLBT Alliance in (and that barrier has since been members. Discussion also focused on broken). As noted in the last issue of Social and Personality Psychology), its 2011 and 2012 conferences. The 2011 website, listerv and other activies. The Dialogue , the finances of the society conference will be in San Antonio, from remain solid in part due to enthusiasm EC discussed a range of solutions, January 27 – 29, and the committee including use of links in the main for Society publications and in part remains on schedule for scheduling of because of conservative investment society webpage, use of the society that event. EC members also gave the listserv, dissemination of information strategies put in place prior to the convention committee approval to work economic downturn. Perhaps the with conference packets and through with Tara Miller to explore and then conference activities. The EC biggest “news” in light of national develop a formal contract to locate the economic data is the lack of surprising encouraged all such efforts and 2012 conference in San Diego. approved an increase in funds to economic news within the Society. Training Committee promote GASP activities at the annual Publication Committee Report . Details conference in Las Vegas. on each Society publication can be As outlined in the training committee found in the Publication Committee report (p. 14), the committee has had an Graduate Student Committee Report . Report (starting on p.1). Discussion of active year organizing preconferences, Finally, the EC received the report from PSPB focused on a recommendation symposia, and an internet-based network the graduate student committee (GSC, from earlier EC meetings, that steps be for psychologists working in applied see p. 22) from the GSC President Aus- taken to broaden subject pool in PSPB to professions. Matters covered in the EC tin Lee Nichols (University of Florida). include samples from more diverse meeting included a decision to shift the The report of activities by current and samples. This concern will be a focus timing of the transition between chairs past members and memberst-at-large during Shinobu Kitayama’s editorial from summer to Spring to avoid a (Kathleen Fortune at the University of term, and interested members should leadership change when training Manitoba, Marina Milyavskaya at watch for his future editorial statements committee conference-planning McGill University, Nicole Noll at Tem- and an article in the next issue of activities are well under way. The ple University, Jennifer Pattershall at Dialogue . Judy Harackiewicz stays on committee also agreed that the prior University of Arkansas and Helen Lee as Senior Associate Editor, charged with committee chair, Terri Vescio, remain Lin at University of Houston) showed supervising the journal's able editorial on the training committee to work on the great involvement of the SPSP graduate assistant, Victoria Claas, who continues applied network but otherwise transition students promoting graduate mentoring her work with the journal. Good news off the committee. Finally, Michael D. and social and professional networking. on PSPR was also reported at the Robinson will be transitioning on to the The EC voted to increase their working meeting: Under Galen Bodenhausen’s committee. budget to promote these activities. editorial leadership, PSPR had an impact Diversity & Climate Committee . In its executive session, the EC dis- factor of 8.50 in 2008, making it the cussed several issues of relevance to the highest-ranked journal in social/ The Diversity and Climate Committee Society and discipline. The Society’s personality. This puts the journal in a (DCC), chaired by Nilanjana Dasgupta, very conservative investment strategy has been busy this year (as shown in the strong position as Mark Leary takes over Continued on p. 21 17 GUE DIALO

Noldus Ad to be Inserted Here 18 GUE DIALO “SISP 2009: They Came, They Saw, They Conquered” (View from the Faculty) By Eli J. Finkel and Derek D. and the Graduate School at Northwest- stone event was a formal farewell ban- Rucker ern. Furthermore, we were fortunate to quet, followed by a live and exclusive work with Laura Luchies, one of North- performance from one of Chicago’s Question: What do you call a social western’s prized graduate students and best-known bar musicians. The farewell animal that reunites in droves at the an- project planner extraordinaire. banquet concluded with a terrific slide- nual SPSP conference to reminisce ef- show—courtesy of SISP students Chris With financing and goodwill in fervescently about two weeks of dorm Crew, Jennifer Pattershall and Haylie place, we prepared to make Northwest- living, lousy food, and relentless course Gomez—that provided ample evidence ern the home of 80 students from around work? Answer: A SISP graduate! that SISP students had taken full (and sometimes embarrassing) advantage of Eli J. Finkel is Associate Professor SISP is, of course, our Society’s their social opportunities. (Don’t ask of Psychology at Northwestern Univer- biannual two-week Summer Institute in about the karaoke.) Social Psychology. The Institute, de- sity and Derek D. Rucker is Associate signed to educate graduate students and Professor of Marketing at Kellogg What was the experience like for the to help them develop long-term relation- School of Management. instructors? If there’s teaching in ships and collaborations, is the brain- heaven, it must feel something like this. child of Eliot Smith, Chick Judd, and the world for two weeks. Each student The students are diverse, sharp, and mo- Harry Reis. This trio was sufficiently attended one of five courses: (1) Bio- tivated. They have wide-ranging areas of inspired by the European Association of logical Basis of Social Behavior and interest and expertise. They speak up in Social Psychology’s own biannual sum- Personality (taught by Iris Mauss and class. They stretch the instructors in ex- mer institute that they submitted a grant Oliver Schultheiss), (2) Conflict and citing new directions. They continue proposal to the National Science Foun- Negotiation (Adam Galinsky and Mi- thinking about the material outside of dation in 2001 to fund a similar institute chael Morris), (3) Emotions in Group class, raising fascinating issues over through SPSP. The SISP steering com- and Intergroup Contexts (Ernestine lunch or drinks. Instructors concluded mittee (Sam Gosling, Tiffany Ito, Chick Gordijn and Eliot Smith), (4) Prejudice SISP with strong sense that the future of Judd, Carolyn Morf, Harry Reis, and and Stereotyping (Laurie Rudman and social psychology is in good hands. Eliot Smith) selects the host site, the Jack Dovidio), and (5) Relationship De- On this note, the steering committee courses, and the instructors. The Univer- velopment and Maintenance (Eli Finkel might someday invite you to teach a sity of Colorado at Boulder hosted the and Jeff Simpson). They also attend one course at SISP (and by “you” we speak first SISP in 2003, followed by the Uni- of three day-long workshops: (1) Ambu- to both current and future faculty mem- versity of Michigan in 2005 and the Uni- latory Assessment (Matthias Mehl), (2) bers). You’ll think of a million reasons versity of Texas at Austin in 2007. Item-Response Theory (Steve Reiss), and (3) Meta-Analysis (Blair Johnson). why you shouldn’t do it—too large a Although neither of us had the good commitment during the summer-time, fortune of attending SISP ourselves, we Although the courses and work- too much time away from the family, had experienced enough classical condi- shops marked the intensive academic etc. All of these are valid. But the re- tioning of SISP with words like aspects of SISP, formal academics was wards of teaching SISP are extraordi- “magical” and “wonderful” that we not the only function of the Institute. nary and invaluable. With 51 SISP in- knew it was something special. We were The students enjoyed a broad range of structors in the fold since 2003, there delighted to host the 2009 SISP at formal and informal social events, fos- appears to be no one who felt she or he Northwestern University. For those un- tering additional intellectual engagement could have used the time better doing acquainted with the territory, Northwest- and unrestrained revelry. The formal part something else. ern is situated on a picturesque, lake- of the social calendar included a bonfire In closing, SISP was an extraordi- front campus located in Evanston, IL and s’mores (a delicious novelty for nary event. It provided an opportunity (just north of Chicago). SISP 2009 en- some of our international students) on for students to broaden their training and joyed generous financial support from Lake Michigan, bar nights, a photo scav- to establish relationships that have could the National Science Foundation, the enger hunt to discover downtown Chi- well last their entire academic career and Kellogg School of Management, the cago, and a decadent evening of deep beyond. SISP is a priceless tool for nur- Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, dish (“Chicago-style”) pizza. The cap- turing the future of our field.
19 GUE DIALO SISP 2009: Collective Intelligence (View from the Students) By Margarita Krochik food on the lawn beside Swift Hall, we Surrounded by curious, open-minded, Imagine the perfect day in academe, walked through campus to the lakeside warm-hearted peers, we effortlessly ne- full of deep conversation, spontaneous bonfire, the path flanked by lush loom- gotiated work and play. We accepted, discovery, sharing, learning, and bond- ing trees. The view ahead was awe- relished, and nurtured our inner nerds. ing with an inspiring group of peers inspiring. As the setting sun painted the We found inspiration in the diversity of through the collaborative creation of sky brilliant shades of yellow, orange, extra-curriculars in the group, from ice- insight and knowledge. Last summer, and pink, the waters of Michigan Lake climbing to hula-hooping. We cracked this daydream became a reality for 80- lapped at the shore. We kindled the fire nerdy psychology jokes and broke into something graduate students for two and sparked conversation with our new hysterics on a daily basis. We belonged. entire weeks, thanks to SISP 2009. As Margarita Krochik is a Ph.D. stu- The instructors, too, were refreshingly our SISP sweatshirts understate, "We dent at NYU, with research interests down to earth. They drew energy from liked it (p < .01)," and we wished those in epistemic and relational influ- each other in class and pushed us to two magical weeks in Evanston would ences on political thought and be- think not only about the scope of the never end. havior. theories on the table but also the ways in It was hard to know what to expect which the processes in question operated companions. Night set in, and the Chi- from the experience in advance. I packed within our own minds and in our rela- cago skyline winked at us from afar, a non-Duchenne smile just in case. Soon tionships with others. They took time to foreshadowing adventure. I found myself wandering down the hall- talk to us about our research interests way of the dorm, my new home. An We spent the next two weeks im- and aspirations, socialized with us, and open door beckoned. Merely two min- mersed in an organic, flowing stream of sparkled with wit, silliness, and humor. utes after the start of my SISP experi- stimulating encounters and transforma- Introverts became extraverts in this ence, an in-depth exchange of ideas be- tive learning (and bonding) experiences. environment. By the end of the first tween two disoriented graduate students The propinquity effect worked its magic. week, we were ready for a boisterous transpired in all its glory. We discussed We didn’t shy away from psychological afternoon of scavenger hunting in Chi- compassion, information processing, and jargon the way we would with our non- cago with our randomly assigned sub- ideology as if we had collaborated psych friends. Awkward first interac- groups, named affectionately after social closely for years. tions quickly became relaxed, engaging, psychological theories, of course (e.g., absorbing. Relics from undergraduate Later that afternoon, I wandered onto Team Stereotype Threat). This gave us a life, like the “play furniture” in our dorm the street and immediately stumbled reason to run wild in Chicago and rooms and the lackluster dining hall upon two equally disoriented SISP ac- brought out our competitive sides, but it “food,” added an ironic touch. complices on their way to Alice Eagly’s also brought us closer to the city’s welcome address. We clung to each In our Conflict and Negotiation class, sights, sounds, and open-minded inhabi- other for moral support as we walked, the discomfort of being surrounded by tants. We engaged in creative problem- still unsure of what to expect from the unfamiliar faces dissolved as we arm- solving and self-disclosed all afternoon next two weeks. At the opening address, wrestled and stepped out of character to before reuniting for pizza. We celebrated tiny tears came to my eyes as Eagly cast role-play corporate executives and small with drinks and fireworks overlooking an illuminating light on the societal gen- business owners. "Life is a negotiation," the sparkling lights of the windy city. der gap with grace and honesty. The chanted Adam Galinsky and Michael The next day buzzed with stories from men in the audience seemed to be as Morris, the witty instructors, and already the night before. moved as the women, and I smiled in we were seeing the world through new At times it seemed like we could take no more stimulation, readings, anticipation of what was to come. eyes. Students from the other classes expressed similar sentiments. new ideas, After breaking the ice over barbecued engaging con- Continued on p. 21 20 GUE DIALO

Graduate Student Committee Report By Austin Lee Nichols GSC Poster: What Graduate Students released, and interested students should Want Faculty to Know refer to that email for instructions for

As graduate students, it is easy applying. It is hard to believe our term as to think others have it better than us. The Teaching Resources your Graduate Student Committee truth is, all graduate students have strug- (GSC) is over halfway complete. Over On our webpage (http:// gles getting manuscripts published, get- www.spsp.org/student/), the teaching the past seven months, we have been ting external funding, and getting their working hard to create and continue resources have been updated, providing advisors to see things the way they do. students with information on many as- events and services that will be of use to In this year’s poster, we present the re- pects of teaching. many students. In addition to planning sults of a survey asking graduate stu- several events for the upcoming SPSP dents about their experiences in grad Statistical Resources conference, we have committed time to school. We encourage you to attend, as Many students requested infor- expanding activities outside of the con- the results may shock you! mation on statistical techniques and ference. GSC Mentor Luncheon workshops. Therefore, we created a list SPSP Conference Events on our webpage that provides links to Continuing a recent tradition of GSC Co-sponsored Preconference: details and tips on many statistical pro- the GSC, this year’s conference will cedures. In addition, a portion of the Bridge(s) Over Troubled Waters: Tradi- include two mentoring luncheons, one tional and Non-Traditional Careers for page is devoted to workshops and semi- on Friday and one on Saturday. As in nars available for continued statistical Personality and Social Psychologists past years, leaders in the field will host education. With the recent decline in fund- tables on topics related to both profes- ing and, therefore, job opportunities, sional issues and research-related topics. Funding Opportunities graduate students have become increas- We are excited to announce this year’s We realized funding opportuni- ingly interested in employment outside luncheons will be in a room at the top of ties are listed in multiple locations and of research-intensive Psychology depart- the Riviera with outstanding views of are often difficult to dig through to find ments. Therefore, the SPSP Training and the Strip. Although tables have yet to be ones relevant to personality and social Graduate Student Committees have assigned, preregistration is required, so psychology research. We, therefore, teamed up to recruit leading social psy- you should keep an eye out for new in- created a comprehensive list of all rele- chologists working outside of traditional formation. vant funding opportunities. This list will Psychology departments to speak about GSC Poster Award be updated regularly to ensure the new- their experiences. During the preconfer- est opportunities are always available. ence, each speaker will address the simi- For the eighth year in a row, the Job Listings larities and differences between their job GSC is hosting awards throughout the and an R1 Psychology position, as well conference for the best posters in each In addition to providing links to as the pros and cons of each. In addition, session. Three winners in each session job websites, we compiled a list of jobs an open table lunch discussion and con- will receive a monetary reward, while available to personality and social psy- cluding panel discussion will allow am- the author of the top poster will addi- chologists. This page will also be up- ple time for you to ask any questions tionally receive Empirisoft hardware and dated regularly so new jobs are readily you have. For more information and to Software. We are doing things a little available. Any suggestions or additions register, go to http:// different this year, so be sure to read the regarding any of these listings or any www.spsptrainingcommittee.org/ details in the email. The deadline for other GSC event should be directed to spsppreconference.php. initial submission is December 1. [email protected]. GSC Symposium: A Graduate Stu- Non-conference Events GSC Elections dent’s Guide to External Funding GSC Outstanding Research Award Would you like to work with In today’s academic environ- Independent of the poster other graduate students, gain networking ment, seeking funding is no longer op- award, the ORA recognizes the best re- opportunities, and make a difference in tional. However, graduate students often search performed by graduate students the SPSP community? Then run for have difficulty figuring out where to regardless of its presentation at the con- office! The GSC is accepting nomina- look for funding, which opportunities ference. This year, the SPSP Travel tions and campaign statements for the are worthwhile, and how to be success- Award Committee has agreed to award 2010-2011 Graduate Student Commit- ful in obtaining funding. Therefore, this each winner a $500 travel award to de- tee. If you think you or someone you year’s GSC symposium focuses on these fray the cost of travel associated with the know should be the next GSC President key issues in an attempt to give graduate conference. In addition, winners will or Member-At-Large, now is the chance! students an opportunity to learn the ins have the opportunity to meet with a re- Undergraduates who wish to become and outs of funding before their career spected faculty member in the field. De- more involved are also eligible for elec- depends on it. tails regarding application were recently tion. The election period will start in 21 GUE DIALO

November, and the new Graduate Stu- student listserv, Darin continued to mod- GSC Seeks Reviewers dent Committee will take office on erate the list, a task he performed for the March 1, 2010. Please refer any stu- past 5 years. In addition, Camille, after The GSC seeks reviewers for both dents who might be interested! establishing the GSC newsletter, The our Outstanding Research Award FORUM, during her presidency seven Thanks to … and Student Poster Award compe- year ago, continued to format each issue titions. Duties range from review- Finally, the GSC would like to through our recent Fall FORUM. We are thank two past presidents that have vol- currently converting these responsibili- ing abstracts to judging poster unteered their time and help to serve the ties to the FORUM editors and appreci- presentations, and will be assigned GSC over the past few years. Despite a ate her past service and current help based on reviewer preference. formal commitment that ended years through this conversion. Darin and Please e-mail us at ago, Darin Challacombe and Camille Camille are excellent examples of dedi- Johnson have continued to provide their cated stewards of our field, and we thank [email protected] for more de- service to the various efforts of the GSC. them for all of their help throughout the tails about contributing. Until the recent conversion of the SPSP years.

SISP 2009: Collective Intelligence (Continued from p.19) versations, late night carousing, unin- dulge and recharge. It was hard to turn into the depths of SISP withdrawal. spiring dining hall fare, or sleep depriva- our attention to anything from our regu- tion, but somehow we found enough lar lives. Our treasured SISP experience chal- energy to keep it going. One unforgetta- ble evening, we lost our pride, channeled lenged, validated, and empowered us. It our favorite 80’s alter egos, and poured As we gathered on the last night for de- was an honor to receive such warm, gen- our hearts out to each other in song at a lectable dinner and celebrated the talent erous treatment from the NSF, North- hole-in-the-wall karaoke joint in an in- and spark that lived under a single roof western, the course instructors, and the spired bout of deindividuated musical for two weeks, the reality of parting be- organizers of SISP, who expertly nudged self-expression. They say they can still came hard to deny. Conversations every brilliant detail into place. We were hear our echoes when they pour out the drifted to SPSP, and we exchanged vows lucky to have been enriched by the ex- shots and play Ace of Base. to reunite in Vegas. It was hard to say perience, to have reaffirmed the impor- goodbye. Soon we would find ourselves tance of our work through each other, separated from our partners in crime and and to have created lasting bonds with By the middle of the second week, class turning to Facebook for help. We now the vibrant individuals who promise to frequently dissolved into hysterical, log in on a daily basis to catch up life define the future of social psychology. giddy abandon, and our attempts to di- and politics, deck each other’s walls


gest cafeteria food became futile as we with tacky psychology humor, and offer escaped to noodles or tapas bars to in- virtual hugs when one of us descends

Report from the Executive Committee (Continued from p. 16) has served it well in the past, particularly writing newspaper op-eds. In all, the EC meeting suggested that the state of the society is strong. The next over the last year, but the EC recom- EC meeting is scheduled to occur after mended looking into placing a small In addition, the EC heard a report from a portion of its funds in bond portfolios. the SPSP convention in Las Vegas and task force headed by Lisa Feldman Bar- members are encouraged to contact EC A task force will look into this issue. rett on scientific leadership. The EC has members with any concerns they wish to discussed the perception that personal- bring to the committee.

In addition, a task force headed by Jack ity/social psychology does not have as Dovidio and Jennifer Eberhardt gave an much representation as might seem ap- initial report on press relations and pub- propriate in scientific organizations, lic outreach. The task force is looking such as the National Academy of Sci- into such ideas as inviting reporters to ence, that set science priorities and com- our annual conference, as well as pro- ment on public policy. The task force is viding awards for exemplary reporting exploring ways to enhance the disci- on psychological science. The Society pline’s visibility and potential for leader- is considering offering training to fac- ship inside and outside these societies. ulty members in public outreach, such as 22 GUE DIALO Comings and Goings Each Fall Dialogue features a list of comings and goings — where have colleagues moved in the past year? This list includes only information that was sent to us, so we have surely missed some moves. Year of Ph.D. and Ph.D. granting institution appear in parentheses. Jonathan M. Adler (2009, Northwestern University) to F.W. Olin College of Engineering. Evan P. Apfelbaum (2009, Tufts University) to Northwestern University (Kellogg School of Management). Clarissa J. Arms-Chavez (2009, University of Texas at El Paso) to Auburn University Montgomery. Jay J. Van Bavel (2008, University of Toronto) from post-doc at The Ohio State University, to New York University. Craig Blatz (2008; University of Waterloo) from a postdoctoral fellowship at Simon Fraser University to University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Eliane M. Boucher (2009, Queen's University) to the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Kosha D. Bramesfeld (2006, Penn State) from visiting position at Saint Louis University to Maryville University. Amy L. Brown (2006, Miami University) from post-doc at the University at Buffalo to University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Christina M. Brown (2009, Miami University) to Saint Louis University. David A. Butz (2007, Florida State University) from post-doc at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, to Morehead State University. Tracy L. Caldwell (2005, University of Illinois at Chicago) from North Central College to Dominican University. Nicole M. Capezza (2009, Purdue University) to post-doc at Brown University. Stephenie R. Chaudoir (2009, University of Connecticut) to Bradley University. Robert B. Cialdini (1970, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill) from Regents' Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University to Regents' Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University. Jason K. Clark (2007, Purdue University), from University of Alabama, to University of Iowa. E. Gil Clary from National Science Foundation to Kutztown University. Alex Czopp (2004, University of Kentucky) from University of Toledo to Western Washington University. Kristy K. Dean (2006, Northwestern University) from California State University, San Bernardino, to Grand Valley State University. Natalie Dove (2004, Purdue University) from Illinois Wesleyan University to Eastern Michigan University. Paul W. Eastwick (2009, Northwestern University) to Texas A&M University. John E. Edlund (2008, Northern Illinois University) from a visiting position at Hamilton College to the Rochester Institute of Technology. Jamie Loran Franco-Zamudio (2009, University of California, Santa Cruz) from Doctoral Student at University of California, Santa Cruz to Assistant Professor at Spring Hill College. Diana Odom Gunn (2001, University of Kansas) from McNeese State University to University of California, Merced. Sarah M. Greathouse (2009, City University of New York) to Iowa State University. Jessica Hartnett (2009, Northern Illinois University) to Gannon University. Meara Habashi (2008,Purdue University), from University of Alabama to Iowa Wesleyan College. Joshua A. Hicks (2009, University of Missouri) to Texas A&M University. Ann E. Hoover (2009, Purdue University) to University of South Carolina Upstate. Thorisdottir, Hulda (2007, New York University) from post-doc at Princeton University to the University of Iceland. Chris S. Hulleman (2007, University of Wisconsin-Madison) from post-doc at Vanderbilt University to James Madison University. Iva I Katzarska-Miller (2009 University of Kansas) to Transylvania University. Michelle R. Kaufman (2009, University of Connecticut), to RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Pelin Kesebir (2009, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) to post-doc at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Zoe Kinias (2007, University of California, Santa Barbara), from post-doc at Northwestern University to INSEAD, Asia Campus. Megan L. Knowles (2007, Northwestern University) from post-doc at University of Georgia to Franklin & Marshall College. 23 GUE DIALO

Virginia S. Y. Kwan (2002, University of California, Berkeley) from Princeton University to Arizona State University at Tempe. Lavonia Smith LeBeau (2007, Penn State University) from post-doc at Harvard University, to Human Services Research Institute Cambridge, MA. Michelle Luke (2003, Cardiff University) from a postdoc at University of Southampton (School of Psychology) to University of Southampton (School of Management). Amanda L. Mahaffey (2006, University of Colorado) to the Center for Social Research & Intervention, Lisbon, Portugal. Bertram F. Malle (2005, Stanford University) from University of Oregon to Brown University Denise Marigold (2008, University of Waterloo) to Renison University College at University of Waterloo. Kevin P. McIntyre (2007, Saint Louis University) from visiting faculty at Boston College, to Trinity University. Jaime L. Napier (2009, New York University) to Yale University. Laura P. Naumann (2009, University of California, Berkeley) to Sonoma State University. Bernard Nijstad (2000, Utrecht University) from University of Amsterdam to University of Groningen. Erik E. Noftle (2007, University of California, Davis) from a post-doc at Wake Forest University to Linfield College. Megan A. O’Grady (2009, Colorado State University) to post-doc at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Paul A. O'Keefe (2009, Duke University) to New York University and CUNY Graduate Center. Christopher Y. Olivola (2009, Princeton University) to post-doc at University College London (UK). Christopher Oveis (2009, University of California, Berkeley) to Harvard University. Elizabeth Page-Gould (2008, University of California Berkeley) from post-doc at Harvard University to Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Elizabeth Levy Paluck (2007, Yale), to Princeton University. Krista W. Ranby (2009, Arizona State University) to post-doc at Duke University. Brandon Randolph-Seng (2009, Texas Tech University) to Texas Tech University, Rawls College of Business. Kate A. Ranganath (2009, University of Virginia) to Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands. Stephen Reysen (2009, University of Kansas) to Texas A&M-Commerce. John P. Ryan (2009, Georgia State University) to post-doc at University of Pittsburgh. Alecia M. Santuzzi (2004, Tulane University) from Syracuse University to Northern Illinois University. Rebecca J Schlegel (2009, University of Missouri) to Texas A&M University. Toni Schmader (1999, UCSB) from University of Arizona to University of British Columbia. Simone Schnall (2001, Clark University), from University of Plymouth (UK) to University of Cambridge (UK). Richard Slatcher (2007, University of Texas at Austin), from post-doc at UCLA to Wayne State University. Pamela K. Smith (2004, New York University) from Radboud University Nijmegen, to Rady School of Management, University of California, San Diego. Brandon D. Stewart (2007, Ohio State University) from post-doc at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, AU, to the University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, England. Amy Summerville (2008, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) to Miami University. Andrew R. Todd (2009, Northwestern University) to University of Cologne. Lenny R. Vartanian (2004, University of Toronto) from Syracuse University to University of New South Wales. Johanna Ray Vollhardt (2009, University of Massachusetts Amherst) to Clark University. Aaron L. Wichman, (2005, The Ohio State University) from post-doc at The Ohio State University to Western Kentucky University. Shaun Wiley (2009, City University of New York) to The College of New Jersey. Melissa J. Williams (2008, University of California, Berkeley) to post-doc at Stanford University. Heike Winterheld (2008, University of Minnesota) to California State University, East Bay.

24 GUE DIALO AWARDS 2009 Donald T. Campbell Award Susan T. Fiske is this year's recipient of the 2009 Donald T. Campbell Award for her many groundbreaking contributions to social psychology.

Fiske’s intellectual contributions to social psychology are many and deep. In early work on impression forma- tion, she contrasted the ways in which people mix information about the specific individual in question with knowledge about the social categories that person belonged to—thus forming one of earliest and most impact- ful “dual process” approach to social cognition. Her subsequent work on power, and its impact on stereotyp- ing others, broke important new ground in our understanding of prejudice and its real-world operation. In re- cent work, Fiske has become a pioneer in social neuroscience, showing via brain imaging when people view and treat others as mere, dehumanized objects. Throughout all this research, Fiske has shown a masterful elegance in research methodology, spanning the range of neuroscientific methods to real-world surveys.

Perhaps less well-known is the central place that Fiske has played in maintaining a vigorous infrastructure for the field. She has served as president of both the Society of Personality and Social Psychology and the Ameri- can Psychological Society. She has twice served on the executive committee of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology. Her text with Shelley Taylor on Social Cognition has been the central introduction of many current psychologists to the field. With Gardner Lindzey and Daniel Gilbert, her work on the 1998 and forth- coming editions of the Handbook of Social Psychology distilled the crucial wisdom that the field has generated over the past few decades, as well as demonstrated the breadth of its importance and application. Currently, she serves as an editor for Annual Reviews of Psychology , extending the breadth of her stewardship.

Fiske has also stepped outside of the academic arena to represent psychological research in the challenging atmosphere of the courtroom, providing central and crucial testimony in cases involving gender discrimina- tion and sexual harassment.

The Campbell Award Selection Committee was Margaret Clark, chair, Carol Dweck, Naomi Ellemers, and John Lydon. 2008 Theoretical Innovation Prize The winning paper was "Thought speed, mood, and the experience of mental motion" authored by Emily Pronin and Elana Jacobs of Princeton University and published in volume of 3 (pp. 461-485) of Perspectives in Psychological Science .

The prize recognizes theoretical articles that are especially likely to generate the discovery of new hypothe- ses, new phenomena, or new ways of thinking within the discipline of social/personality psychology. Pub- lished articles and book chapters from calendar year 2008 were eligible.

The selection committee this year consisted of Randy Larsen (Chair), Richard Crisp, Jeff Greenberg, Cindy Pickett, and Eliot Smith. 2008 Student Publication Award The recipient of the 2008 award was Modupe Akinola of Harvard University for her article (coauthored with Wendy Berry Mendes), “The Dark Side of Creativity: Biological Vulnerability and Negative Emotions Lead to Greater Artistic Creativity," published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 34, pp. 1677-1686.

A total of 34 papers were eligible this year, and the selection was made by an award committee consisting of Randy Larsen, Dwayne T. Wegner, and Wendy Wood (Chair). 25 GUE DIALO AWARDS 2009 Jack Block Award

Paul T. Costa Jr. is this year’s recipient of the Jack Block Award for contributions to personality psychology.

Paul has contributed enormous substance through his research on Big Five. His research focuses on the very nature of the trait concept, the longitudinal consistency of personality, and personality change across the life course, Along with Jeff McCrae, Paul Costa has developed the NEO-five Factor Inventory (NEO-PI-R and NEO- FFI), which are the most popular measures of the big five personality. Taxonomy is always a contentious topic. In the words of one committee member, “whatever you think about the Big Five, it changed personality psy- chology forever”. Paul’s work on Big Five provides researchers a tool to classify and describe individual differ- ences in personality. His work has facilitated numerous empirical research linking traits to important life out- comes like occupational preference, success in relationships, malfunctioning, well-being and so on.

Furthermore, Paul is an effective integrator of personality, biology, and culture. In his research, he focuses on the biological and environmental influences on personality development. He’s currently a faculty affiliate at the University of Maryland, Duke University Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Paul T. Costa Jr. received his Ph.D. from University of Chicago in 1970 and is the Chief of Laboratory of Per- sonality and Cognition at National Institute on Aging. Prior to joining NIH, Paul taught at Harvard University, University of Maryland, and University of Massachusetts at Boston.

The selection committee consisted of Virginia S. Y. Kwan (Chair), David Funder, and Brent Roberts.

2008 Robert B. Cialdini Award for Field Research The Robert B. Cialdini Award for Field Research was awarded to K. Keizer, S. Lindenberg, L. Steg (2008). The spreading of disorder. Science , 12 December 2008: Vol. 322. no. 5908, pp. 1681 – 1685. The award is designed to honor “the publication that best explicates social psychological phenomena princi- pally through the use of field research methods and settings and that thereby demonstrates the relevance of the discipline to communities outside of academic social psychology." A generous gift by Robert Cialdini to the Foundation for Personality and Social Psychology allowed for the creation of the award. The Foundation thanks Dr. Cialdini for this generous award and the Society for Person- ality and Social Psychology (SPSP) for administering the selection of awardees. The selection committee on the Robert B. Cialdini Award for Field Research was Dolores Albarracín, Joshua Aronson, Phoebe Ellsworth, Miles Hewstone, and David Schroeder (chair).

Citations for Service to the Society of Personality and Social Psychology During the Early Career

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology is pleased to present Keith B. Maddox, of Tufts University, and Theresa K. Vescio, of Pennsylvania State University, each with a newly created Citations for Service to the Society of Personality and Social Psychology During the Early Career.

With this citation, the Society recognizes the active and innovative work each has done as chairs of Society committees. In his role as chair of the Diversity and Climate Committee, Maddox has work creatively to find ways to welcome a more diverse set of students more effectively to the discipline.

As chair of the Training Committee, Vescio has fashioned a programmatic series of workshops, pre- conferences, and events that target crucial professional and intellectual needs of our students. The Society recognizes their work, as well as the valuable contributions made by members of their respective committees. 26 GUE DIALO AWARDS Awards for Service to the Discipline of Personality/Social Psychology Given to Zanna and Zimbardo

It is pleasure to report that the Executive Committee of SPSP has voted to extend Awards for Service to the Discipline of Personality/Social Psychology to two individuals, Mark P. Zanna and Phillip G. Zimbardo.

Mark P. Zanna has made numerous contributions to personality and social psychology in many different roles, having crucial impact for decades in the intellectual stewardship of the field. Zanna has edited two central book series chronicling advances in the field for several years, the Ontario symposium on personality and so- cial psychology, since 1981, and Advances in Experimental Social Psychology , since 1991. With John Darley, he edited both editions of The compleat academic , an essential resource for those starting their careers. He was associate editor of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 1980-1981, and served on the edi- torial boards no less than eleven different journals. He has served as president for both the Society for Experi- mental Social Psychology and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, as well as his service on the councils of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues and the Canadian Psychological Associa- tion, playing crucial roles in the development of each organization. He was instrumental, for example, in the creation of Personality and Social Psychological Review .

Phillip G. Zimbardo contributions to personality and social psychology have been broad and diverse, but they are brought together through theme of “giving psychology away.” Through his Psychology and Life textbook, he has introduced thousands to the field. With his Discovering Psychology television series on PBS, he ex- panded that introduction to include high school students and the general public. The theme of giving psychol- ogy away was central to his presidency of the American Psychological Association, where Zimbardo was in- strumental in the creation of the PsychologyMatters.org website. His service has also included serving as president, and for 15 years the historian, of the Western Psychological Association, as well as the chair of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents, representing 63 associations with 1.5 million members. Currently, he continues his service in the public interest as co-director of the National Center for the Psychology of Terror- ism, and with a foundation in his name aimed at promoting education in his ancestral Sicily. In 2005, he was awarded the Vize Prize from the Dagmar and Vaclav Havel Foundation for his research on the human condi- tion. Report from the Diversity and Climate Committee

The Diversity and Climate Committee In addition to the GLBT mentoring awardees. All SPSP members are invited (DCC) of SPSP has been busy since the lunch, the DCC is also organizing a couple to attend this reception on Friday evening last issue of Dialogue. We are launching a of annual events – two travel award com- during the 2010 conference. Please refer to new “mentoring lunch” for graduate stu- petitions that help grad and undergrad the conference program for details. dents, postdocs, and young faculty associ- students travel to the SPSP conference: Finally, here’s something where we ated with the Gay Alliance in Social Psy- namely, the Diversity Travel Award for could very much use your help: the Diver- chology (GASP). This event will start at graduate students and the Undergraduate sity and Climate Committee is trying to the 2010 SPSP conference in Las Vegas. Diversity Registration Award for under- help expand the pool of social and person- Our goal is to create a space for profes- grad students. Our goal is to recognize ality psychologists who play important sional and social networking among social stellar students in social and personality roles within SPSP by serving on various and personality psychologists who identify psychology who belong to underrepre- committees in our society. If you are a as GLBT and/or whose research focuses sented groups and who need financial sup- full-time faculty member who belongs to on issues of sexuality. The idea for this port for their conference travel. The gradu- an underrepresented demographic group in mentoring event came about during a ate student award application deadline was psychology, and you would like to serve brainstorming discussion at a coffee hour on October 15 and awards will be an- our society in some capacity, please send co-hosted by the DCC and GASP during nounced on November 15. The under- me an email with your name, contact infor- last year’s conference in Tampa. This graduate award deadline is on December mation, and any particular service/issue in lunch is being hosted jointly by the DCC 31 (rolling deadline) and the award will be which you are particularly interested. and GASP. Lisa Aspinwall, who is one of announced by January 15. A Diversity ~Nilanjana (Buju) Dasgupta the co-founders of GASP is the point- Reception will be hosted by the DCC at Chair, Diversity and Climate Committee of person. the conference in Las Vegas to honor the SPSP 27 GUE DIALO

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Call for Nominations: Web Editor for SPSP Website

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology is seeking nominations and applications for an individual who will serve as the founding editor of its new online resource, tentatively titled Personality and Social Psy- chology Connections (PSPC). Designed to complement existing web sites used by personality and social psy- chologists, this hybrid site would be part web-based journal/magazine, clearinghouse for resources, and data- base source for association work.

The position, aimed at someone who has achieved tenure, will require skills associated with a traditional edi- tor, but also knowledge of and experience with Internet technologies. In particular, the person filling the posi- tion should be a frequent and innovative user of the Internet, with knowledge of cutting edge functionality that could be of use to the research and teaching community. The person should have a strong grasp of the land- scape of personality/social psychology, and be committed to innovation in teaching and communication.

The founding editor will be appointed for a four-year term. During the initial development of PSPC, the edi- tor, working with an advisory/editorial board, will be responsible for planning and initiating the contents and components of PSPC, and will work closely with the professional web design and hosting company that will build and maintain the infrastructure of the site. PSPC will use a content management system that reduces the need for knowledge of programming, but the editor should be familiar with and regularly use Internet tools and resources. Once developed, the editor will work with association members to update regularly the con- tents of the pages, with features, research materials, blogs, and news releases. The editorship will carry a sti- pend, and other considerations during the initial development phase.

Review of nominations have begun by the search committee (David Dunning, Don Forsyth, Brian Nosek, Diane Quinn, and Duane Wegener) and continue until an editor is appointed. Self-nominations are welcomed. Application materials should include a vita and cover letter describing relevant experience using Internet tech- nologies, particularly in a research or teaching setting. Nomination materials should be sent to the SPSP Ex- ecutive Office at spsp at cornell.edu. Questions regarding the position can be addressed to the same address.

Employment Ad Postdoctoral Fellowship in Alcohol Research at the University of Washington. The fellowship will provide training for individuals who wish to pursue a career in al- cohol research, with an emphasis on the etiology and prevention of problem drinking and alcohol dependence. For more information please see our website:

http://depts.washington.edu/cshrb/newweb/postdoc.html 28 GUE DIALO Dear Me!

Need some advice? Have you found that your attempts to impress others at parties begin with you uttering phrase like, “That reminds me of a study …”? Do you think about your research in the shower, whether showering alone or with a loved one? Have you named your family pet after famous psychologists and do you think “Amos Lisrel” would be a great name for your child? Are you finding that only about 5 out of 100 analyses you perform are statistically significant, yet oddly compelling? Do you actually read Dialogue ?

If any of this applies, you may need help. SPSP is thus happy to announce the launch of its first advice column, Dear Me! To use this service, email your questions to [email protected] . With each issue of Dialogue , the editors will choose one or more questions to be answered by someone who has a strong opinion. Realize that all answers are provided for entertainment purposes only. So, if the advice you receive falls flat, take heart in knowing that your problems have entertainment value.

Dear Me! common one; so common that some “big Gilovich, 1999, JPSP). I am a graduate student and my names” in our science gave it consider- adviser tells me I should learn to able thought. In some of the seminal treatments of attribution theory, Edward So maybe a better strategy is just to be schmooze at conferences by going up yourself. and introducing myself to “big names” Jones (1964, Ingratiation: A social psy- but this makes me nervous. Isn’t it obvi- chological analysis) and Camille Wort- ~Me! man (Jones & Wortman, 1973, Ingrati- ous that I am just trying to kiss up? Surely this type of thing will backfire on ation: An attribution approach) dis- me, right? Can’t I just stay in my room cussed the dilemma facing low-power Dear Me! enjoying the hotel’s generous cable individuals who want to be liked by I am a social psychologist working package? high-power individuals. They called this in a business school and so I enjoyed the ingratiator’s dilemma and it’s a pre- Your, truly, sincerely, reading Kathleen Vohs’ contribution to dicament we all face at some point in the travel section. Thanks for including Schmooze Challenged our careers. Clearly, it is nice to put on that, but I have a question she did not a good impression and be liked by those answer: Do social psychologists who with power, but by approaching them in take jobs in business schools have souls? a friendly manner, low-power individu- Dear Challenged Schmoozer: Someone asked me this once. I knew it als might seem to be overly self- was an attack and so I got a bit defen-

promoting or insincere. Seemingly nice sive. But then I thought to myself? How What’s that you say? You feel like comments (e.g., “We read your last would I know? Maybe I need a soul to you’re in a spotlight and everyone is JPSP in my class and I found your argu- know that I have a soul! watching you? Oh, get over yourself ment compelling”) can thus backfire and Thanks, (Gilovich, Medvec & Savitsky, 2000, result in an unfavorable impression. JPSP). When I was in graduate school I Fortunately for you, however, research Possibly Soulless and Vaguely Con- nearly killed a famous psychologist that suggests that flattery works in these cerned situations -- as long as you are not com- I was trying to impress because I got so excited driving him to the airport that I pletely inept at ingratiation (e.g., “your nearly drove my car off an expansion robust approach to moderated mediation Dear Possibly, bridge (in a faculty member’s car I had completes me”). Quite simply, high- borrowed). I met this same psychologist power individuals, like all of us, appreci- If you enjoyed Kathleen’s piece, then a year later and he had forgotten my ate attention and compliments regardless you should read Leaf Van Boven’s sup- face, my name and he showed no out- of the motivating source. So if you can plement in this month’s issue of the ward signs of panic in my presence. pull off even a modestly good job of Travel section (p. 8). It is nice contribu- I’ve run into him 3 times since that at schmoozing, you probably should just tion as well, although he did not address conferences and he never remembers go ahead and put yourself out there. the whole issue of souls, and so I will who I am. Don’t get too carried away, however. If it later seems to you that your attempt at take it on. Research on meta-cognition ingratiation worked splendidly, then you does indicate that you do need a mind But maybe you’re more memorable than probably have overestimated your per- (and so a soul, presumably) for intro- I am. If so, the situation you face is a formance (see van Boven, Kamada & spection, and so you should not trust 29 GUE DIALO Dear Me! your own instincts on this matter. But I Realize that business schools typically evidence is high that experimental social can help. attract social psychologists from experi- psychologists are soul-challenged. Is One lesson from social psychology is mental laboratory traditions. This group there any reason to think that the B- that one should be careful to avoid over- routinely “manipulates” human beings school environment would put a soul stereotyping. Members of large, com- for the purpose of observation and back into an undead body? No, not plex groups typically vary on most com- evaluation. Experimental social psy- really -- at least, not unless you can buy plex attribute dimensions, and so let’s chologists also tend to treat the inner a soul. begin with the assumption that some of working of humans as “variables” that ~Me! the faculty in this group do have souls, can be dissected. They take little inter- at least to some degree (cf., Van Boven; est in the “mundane reality” that defines Vohs). However, we still can ask the and fills the lives of most humans, and question of whether there are tendencies they have been known to discuss JPSP for souls to be lacking among the social findings in mixed company. Many have psychologists who take jobs in business better understanding of the trends in schools. their data than the nonverbal signals of the humans living around them. So,

Having trouble writing a catchy abstract? Perhaps you just need to play Abstract WordLibs !

{Warning: To be played with other social and personality psychologists only!}

______’s theory proposes that ______have a preference for wearing ______. In order to test (your last name) ( favorite species) (1 st type of clothing)

______’s theory, we ran a 2 X 2 study where we manipulated both the type of clothing (______versus (your last name) (1 st type of clothing)

______) worn during the study and whether participants were given ______or radishes to eat. Contrary (2 nd type of clothing) (snack food) to expectations, ______s had no preference for ______, but really loved all of the ______. (favorite species) (1 st type of clothing) (snack food)

Sadly, we were not able to perform mediational analyses (Baron & Kenny, 1986), but a trend was noticed such that participants tended to bite the experimenter when dressed in ______. Implications will be discussed. (2 nd type of clothing)

30 GUE DIALO APA Council of Representative Meeting Report

By Janet Swim and Lynne Cooper Council. A copyedited version of the Welfare; Knowledge Dissemination; report, with images and in booklet for- Professional Practice; Scholarship; Sci- Budget. Much of the discussion at the mat, will be available in the fall of 2009. ence; Service; Transparency APA Council meeting continued to re- A goal of the report is to engage psy- In addition Council voted to support volve around addressing the budget defi- chologists in the topic of climate change cit. After a sharp down turn in revenue, the following three goals and associated by illustrating and providing suggestions objectives, the third of which is particu- due primarily to drops in investment for ways that psychology is relevant to income, current budget information indi- larly relevant to social and personality this topic. It is also hoped that it can be psychologists: cated some stabilization or slight im- a start to influencing public policy re- provement in revenues. About $1.7 mil- lated to climate change. For instance, Goal 1: Maximize Organizational lion were cut in salary and benefits and the report is currently being used to sup- Effectiveness $1.1 million in non-salary related ex- port efforts in the U.S. Congress to allo- Objectives: penses. The former included freezing cate money from the Department of En- salaries and terminating or not filling 37 ergy for research on social and behav- The APA's structures and systems sup- staff positions. the latter included elimi- ioral science. The report is also being port the organization's strategic direc- nating meetings and discretionary funds. received favorably by the press and cli- tion, growth and success. After much debate, Council voted on an mate scientists and those in other areas a. Enhance APA programs, services and additional cut in funds to the University of social science. communications to increase member of Akron who maintains APA historical engagement and value; archives. APA has its own archives in Sexual Orientation Distress and Washington DC. However, these were Change Efforts. Council received a task b. Ensure the ongoing financial health of described as not being as extensive as force report on reparative therapy and the organization; adopted a resolution stating that “mental those at the University of Akron. Fi- c. Optimize APA's governance struc- health professionals should avoid telling nally, APA also voted to cut dues by $5 tures and function. in recognition of hardships individual clients that they can change their sexual members may have in paying dues. Ad- orientation through therapy or other ditional dues related votes were post- treatments” ( http://www.apa.org/ Goal 2: Expand Psychology's Role in poned until the February meeting. releases/therapeutic.html?imw=Y ). Par- Advancing Health ents, guardians, families and youth were Torture and Interrogation . APA con- also encouraged to avoid treatments that Objectives: Key stakeholders realize the tinued to work on the implications of the characterize homosexuality as a mental unique benefits psychology provides to membership supported referendum indi- illness or disorder but rather seek more health and wellness and the discipline cating that “…. psychologists may not supportive therapy. becomes more fully incorporated into work in settings where persons are held health research and delivery systems. outside of, or in violation of, either In- Psychology as a STEM Science. One a. Advocate for the inclusion of access ternational Law (e.g., the UN Conven- of APA President James Bray’s initia- to psychological services in health care tion Against Torture and the Geneva tives is to advance psychology as a sci- reform policies Conventions) or the US Constitution ence. Following this initiative, he (where appropriate), unless they are formed a task force (chaired by Jack b. Create innovative tools to allow psy- working directly for the persons being Dovidio) that was charged with articu- chologists to enhance their knowledge of detained or for an independent third lating the rationale for identifying psy- chology as a core STEM (Science, Tech- health promotion, disease prevention, party working to protect human rights.” and management of chronic disease; In August, Council voted to direct the nology, Engineering, and Mathematics) APA Ethics committee to resolve a dis- discipline and developing strategies for c. Educate other health professionals and crepancy between two components of solidifying psychology as a STEM disci- the public about psychology's role in APA ethics code (Ethic standards 1.01 pline. This initiative, if successful, health; and 1.02; See http://www.apa.org/ should increase psychology’s impact in d. Advocate for funding and policies that releases/ethical-standard.html). The policy and legislative arenas, as well as support psychology's role in health; discrepancy emerges when psychology increase its eligibility for various fund- is being misused by the law. That is, the ing streams now earmarked for STEM e. Promote the application of psycho- first standard would direct psychologists disciplines. logical knowledge in diverse health care settings; to not assist torture, while the second Strategic Planning. Continuing the would direct psychologists to follow strategic planning process that has been f. Promote psychology's role in decreas- governing legal authority which could occurring over the last year, council ing health disparities; direct them to engage in torture. voted to adopt, in principle, the follow- g. Promote the application of psycho- Climate Change. The APA report on ing core values : Diversity/inclusion; logical knowledge for improving overall the interface between psychology and Education and Life-long Learning; Eth- health and wellness at the individual, global climate change was received by ics and Integrity; Excellence; Human Continued on next page 31 GUE DIALO SPSP Publication Committee Report (Continued from p. 1) observation that people outside of the- Galen and his editorial team for this out- four societies: the Association for Re- field frequently dismiss the value of so- standing achievement! search in Personality, the European As- cial and personality research because so Galen’s outstanding four-year term as sociation for Experimental Social Psy- much of it is based on “college sopho- editor of PSPR will come to an end on chology, the Society of Experimental mores.” Some of our members have Dec. 31, 2009, at which time the edito- Social Psychology, and SPSP. The pub- noted that even government officials rial reins will be put in the capable hands lisher is SAGE, and SPSP owns a 32% have derogated our research for being of Mark Leary. Mark already has his stake in the journal. SPPS has been based almost exclusively on college stu- editorial team lined up and the journal receiving manuscripts since May 1 of dents. To counteract such perceptions, should undergo a smooth transition to 2009. As of mid-year the editorial office our empirical journal ( PSPB ) may con- his competent leadership. We are all of Vincent Yzerbyt had processed 147 sider novel or expanded populations a looking forward to continued high- manuscript submissions. SAGE tells us unique strength when evaluating papers quality publications in PSPR . The one that this fantastic start has far outpaced for publications. Shinobu may include concern that plagued Galen, and will any other new journal launch that they some mention of this or other policy likely be nerve-wracking for Mark as have done. This new journal appears to plans to increase participant diversifica- well, is the extremely short backlog of be a real hit. The first issue should ap- tion in upcoming editorial statements. accepted papers at PSPR . With a small pear between January and March of 2001. All members of SPSP will receive backlog, the editor is just able to fill a free hard copy of that issue, and subse- PSPR Editor Galen Bodenhausen re- journals as they come due for delivery to SAGE. This problem can be solved by quent issues will be available electroni- ports that the journal received 62 new cally. submissions during the first half of an increase in high-quality manuscript 2009, including 13 papers targeted for a submissions (so if you have a good theo- special issue on religiosity. This is a retical paper you’ve been working on, Finally, my term as chair of the SPSP 20% increase over the first half of 2008. finish it up and submit it to PSPR ). An- Publication Committee comes to an end Galen and his associate editors provided other approach is to consider special on Dec. 31, 2009. The new chair of this authors with timely feedback, averaging issue proposals, which Mark is open to. committee for 2010 will be Wendy However, while special issues can tem- an editorial decision lag of 7.3 weeks. Wood, who will be assisted by Duane porarily relieve the short backlog prob- Some remarkable news concerning Wegener and Dan Cervone as members lem, they need to be timely and innova- of the committee. I’ve enjoyed serving PSPR is that its impact factor increased tive and pass review by the editor, the to 8.50 in 2008. It now ranks as the top- on this committee and learning about, publication committee, and the execu- and struggling with, various publication most cited journal in social/personality tive committee of SPSP. So if you have psychology . This increase appears to be issues concerning our journals. Wendy an innovative idea for a timely special has been serving on the committee for related to several papers and not just issue, start by contacting Mark Leary. produced by one or two “superstar” arti- the past two years, so I know the com- cles. Galen has already advertised this mittee will be in good hands as she takes positive development on the SPSP The new brief-reports journal Social over as chair for 2010. listserv, and SAGE plans to emphasize Psychology and Personality Science


this impressive impact factor in its mar- (SPPS) , is now in full operation. This keting efforts. Congratulations go to new journal is a joint venture among

APA Council of Representative Meeting Report (cont. from p. 30) organizational, and community levels. pline; b. Improve public understanding of the Goal 3: Increase recognition of psy- scientific basis for psychology; chology as a science c. Expand the translation of psychologi- Objectives: The APA's central role in cal science to evidence-based practice; positioning psychology as the science of d. Promote the applications of psycho- behavior leads to increased public logical science to daily living; awareness of the benefits psychology e. Expand educational resources and brings to daily living. opportunities in psychological science. a. Enhance psychology's prominence as


a core STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disci- 32 News of the Society Since 1986 GUE DIALO al Offici The e of th letter News r SPSP Officers and Committee Members, 2009 ety fo Soci ty and sonali Per ology Psych President Richard Petty Social President-Elect Jennifer Crocker Dia logue M Past President John F. Dovidio D ission ialogue Statem is the o ent Societ fficial Executive Officer David Dunning y for Pe newsle Psy rsonali tter of t chology ty and S he Secretary-Treasurer Rebecca Shiner th . It appe ocial e sprin ars twi g and fa ce ever memb ll. Its in y year, Editor, PSPB Shinobu Kitayama ers of th tended in Dia e Socie readers logue is ty. The hip is st to repo purpos Editor, PSPR Galen Bodenhausen imulate rt news e of debate of the inform on issu Society Co-Editors, Dialogue Hart Blanton, Diane Quinn and oc es, and , pub casiona genera lishes s lly ente lly S ummari rtain. D Convention Committee Jeff Simpson (chair), Monica ociety’s es abou ialogue execut t meetin commi ive com gs of th Biernat, Bill Graziano ttees, a mittee e opin s well a and sub ion pie s annou - a ces, let nceme APA Program Chair Lee Fabrigar nd othe ters to t nts, r article he edito person s of gen r, humo Diversity Committee Nilana Dasgupta (chair), Keith ality an eral inte r, Edit d social rest to ors seek psycho Maddox, Denise Sekaquaptewa ap to pub logists propria lish all . The te cont relevan Editor ribution t and Publication Committee Randy Larson (chair), Duane s reserv s, altho pub e the ri ugh th lishabi ght to d e Wegener, Wendy Wood t lity. Co etermi he Edit ntent m ne ors or o ay be s mem ffered, olicited Training Committee Jamie Arndt (chair), Marti Hope bers. N unsolic by Co ews of ited, by mmitte the Soc Gonzales, Theresa Vescio e Repo iety and accurac rts are y and c reviewe comm ontent b d for Fellow Committee Debbie Moskowitz (chair) ittee ch y office is r airs of rs or eviewed SPSP. A Members at Large Lisa Feldman Barrett, Jennifer at the ll othe discreti r conten on of th t Eberhardt, Laura King, John e Edito rs. Lydon, Nicole Shelton APA Council Rep Lynne Cooper, Janet Swim at t us Webmaster Yoel Inbar ntac u or Co n.ed ucon Office Manager Christie Marvin nn@ du .qui nn.e iane uco d ton@ t.blan har

New Executive Officer Named for SPSP

Jack Dovidio has been named as the new Executive Officer of SPSP, beginning mid-year 2010, for a five-year term. In an expan- sion of the office, Linda Dovidio will join the office as Deputy Ex- ecutive Officer. Current Executive Officer David Dunning will be stepping down, but will remain as Associate Executive Officer, charged with providing supervision of Christie Marvin, who will re- main as Executive Assistant of the Society.