Paul Everett Meehl: the cumulative record

In this brief biographical sketch of Paul Meehl, the authors examine the "cumulative record" of his scholarship and mentorship. This record sheds light on why Meehl is widely regarded as one of the most influential clinical psychologists of the 20th century, as well as on Meehl's remarkable intellectual life. Time has proven that Meehl's writings are exceptional in their quality, influence, breadth, and depth. In addition, Meehl's cumulative record raises important questions regarding the reinforcement contingencies in major research-oriented psychology departments.     

Clinical versus statistical prediction: the contribution of Paul E. Meehl

The background of Paul E. Meehl's work on clinical versus statistical prediction is reviewed, with detailed analyses of his arguments. Meehl's four main contributions were the following: (a) he put the question, of whether clinical or statistical combinations of psychological data yielded better predictions, at center stage in applied psychology; (b) he convincingly argued, against an array of objections, that clinical versus statistical prediction was a real (not concocted) problem needing thorough study; (c) he meticulously and even-handedly dissected the logic of clinical inference from theoretical and probabilistic standpoints; and (c) he reviewed the studies available in 1954 and thereafter, which tested the validity of clinical versus statistical predictions. His early conclusion that the literature strongly favors statistical prediction has stood up extremely well, and his conceptual analyses of the prediction problem (especially his defense of applying aggregate-based probability statements to individual cases) have not been significantly improved since 1954.     

Essential Paul Meehl lessons for personality assessment psychology

The author presents four essential Meehl lessons for personality assessment. First, Meehl's particular form of the integration of science and practice is described. Second, by outlining Meehl's Hedonic Capacity conjecture, Meehl's contribution to the inclusion of personality individual differences in generating the full clinical picture and in planning treatment is recognized. The third Meehl lesson is on the nature and importance of theory in test development and application programs. The fourth Meehl lesson is a more general epistemological lesson for psychology. Meehl's role in destroying the fantasy of an easy methodological formula for a scientific psychology is described. His program of taxometric research is shown to be an example of demanding greater material implications from theory. Meehl's corroboration index is described and contrasted with the p value of statistical significance testing.     

Introduction to the special issue on international clinical psychology

We briefly describe the content of the six research articles selected by peer review for this, the first special issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology devoted to international clinical psychology. Two of the articles address general scientific issues-illusory mental health and a theory of anorexia nervosa-not considered specific to any particular cultural setting. One article examines social anxiety in three different Western societies. One considers the development of clinical psychology in a specific country, Spain. The final two articles consider two clinical problems-sexual dysfunction and Type-I diabetes-within two different contexts in India, one Hindu, the other Moslem. The introduction concludes with some general comments on the history and present status of clinical psychology as an international field.     

Theory and concepts of prevention science as applied to clinical psychology.

This article provides an overview for this special issue on prevention science in clinical psychology. A brief historical perspective on prevention in clinical psychology is presented. An even greater emphasis on prevention in the future is related to changes in the current health-care system and their likely impact on psychological practice as we move into the next century. Conceptual and theoretical models of the prevention enterprise are addressed with a distinction drawn between health promotion and disease prevention in the areas of mental disorders and general physical health. The classification of preventive interventions is discussed and methodological challenges to outcomes research are outlined. The article concludes with a discussion of training and public policy implications and a brief overview of the other articles included in this special issue on prevention science.     

Paul E. Meehl's influence on experimental psychopathology: fruits of the nexus of schizotypy and schizophrenia, neurology, and methodology

Paul E. Meehl made numerous contributions to clinical science and a hallmark of many of these contributions was their integrative nature. Meehl's positions on complex topics, especially one such as schizophrenia, were reflective of input from a variety of disciplines and levels of analysis. In this essay the authors focus on Meehl's uniquely rich contribution to our understanding of schizophrenia through his theoretical model of schizotypy, his abiding interest in exploring neurologically based indicators of schizophrenia liability and encouragement to others to pursue such indicators, and his passion for rigorous research methodology. Meehl's contributions in each of these areas continue to influence the direction and research strategies used in experimental psychopathology to illuminate the fundamental nature of schizophrenia. These contributions have also shaped inquiry into many other psychopathological entities.     

Technological developments and applications in clinical psychology and psychotherapy: introduction

This article introduces a special issue on technological developments and applications in clinical psychology and psychotherapy. The question of why it is important to deal with such developments is raised. An overview of the individual topics and articles in the issue is given, and additional aspects are discussed. This is followed by an overview of possible advantages and disadvantages of technological developments as well as problems to be solved. Overall, the developments are still largely underresearched, but-if utilized-hold considerable promise in changing the field of clinical psychology and psychotherapy as well as training in the field.     

Introduction to the special issue: work-family research in occupational health psychology.

In this introduction, the authors discuss work-family research in the context of occupational health psychology (OHP), describe the special contributions of articles in this special issue, and outline directions for the next generation of research in the field of OHP.     

Meehl on metatheory

This article proffers a critical survey of Paul E. Meehl's thoughts on the philosophy of science, as well as constructive criticisms of his views on corroboration of scientific theories. Using examples from clinical psychology and allied domains, six major topics are addressed: (a) the nature of theoretical constructs, (b) statistical diagnosis of clinical categories, (c) detection of hypothesized taxa, (d) null-hypothesis significance testing, (e) complexified hypothesis testing, and (f) cliometric theory appraisal. Through numerous examples, it is shown that Paul Meehl had a superb ability to recognize, articulate, and clarify hidden complexities, and other underappreciated obscurities in important working concepts.     

Clinical action: introduction to the special section on the action perspective in clinical psychology

Action theory (AT) is an emerging theoretical and empirical paradigm that is based on multiple perspectives. The common denominator of these perspectives is their depiction of the individual as actively shaping his or her interpersonal environment. The purpose of this special section is to evaluate the impact of AT on clinical psychology. To that effect, articles that focus on a broad range of topics, including stress and depression, chronic pain, child and adolescent development, clinical case formulation, psychotherapy for suicidal patients, and public mental health policy in relation to recovery from psychosis have been assembled. Presenting novel conceptualizations and data on the ways in which individuals actively shape their environment, these articles highlight the potential of AT for improving clinical science and practice.     

Clinical adolescent psychology: what it is, and what it needs to be

This commentary on the special section on clinical adolescent psychology (G. Holmbeck & P. Kendall. 2002) reviews and critiques the conceptual and empirical articles that this compilation comprises. As articulated in the conceptual contributions to this collection, two fundamental principles should guide research on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of psychological disorder and dysfunction during adolescence: First, drawing on the fiel of developmental psychopathology, the study of clinical adolescent psychology should focus on the trajectories of disorder that precede, characterize, and follow adolescence. Second, drawing on the literature on normative adolescent development, the study of clinical adolescent psychology must proceed with an explicit recognition of the unique biological, cognitive, psychosocial, and contextual features that define adolescence as a developmental period. The empirical contributions to this compilation are evaluated with respect to the extent to which they reflect these tenets. Although the study of clinical adolescent psychology, as evidenced by this collection of articles, is appropriately grounded in the broader enterprise of developmental psychopathology, less progress has been made with respect to the integration of the study of clinical phenomena in adolescence with the study of normative adolescent development.     

Interpretative phenomenological analysis and the new genetics

This article offers an introduction to the use of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to conduct research on psychological and social issues in the new genetics. Some key methodological points in the employment of IPA are highlighted. The article examines some of the important issues for health psychologists that arise following advances in new genetic technologies and introduces the articles in this special issue. The article discusses the particular contribution that IPA can make to research in health psychology generally, and to the new genetics in particular.     

Emerging Themes and Challenges in Understanding Youth Violence Involvement

Identifies emerging key themes in the articles in this special section regarding child and adolescent involvement in violence. Using a developmental-ecological framework and drawing on consistencies across other studies and reviews, this article is intended to summarize the pertinent findings for clinical child psychology. Current knowledge status, needed further research, clinical implications (preventive and treatment), and relevant policy issues are noted.     

The many histories of community psychology: analyses of current trends and future prospects

Forty years since the seminal Swampscott Conference, the principles of community psychology transcend multiple areas of action and research, as well as international boundaries. The extensive development of community psychology offers an opportunity to examine from where the field has come and where it is going. Yet, a systematic approach to creating a history of community psychology is required to avoid distorting or excluding the voices of its diverse members. This special issue provides eight articles that highlight the importance of a pluralistic approach to historical analysis of the field. Of particular importance is the recognition of often‐underemphasized members of community psychology, including the important role of women, ethnic minorities, applied community psychologists, and international influences on the field. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Consensus Conference and Combined-Integrated model of doctoral training in professional psychology--overview of part 1: nature and scope of the Combined-Integrated model

This special series of articles on the Consensus Conference and Combined-Integrated (C-I) model of doctoral training in professional psychology consists of 13 articles in two successive volumes of the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Six articles are presented in Part 1 (Vol. 60, Issue 9), which collectively describe the "nature and scope" of the C-I model (e.g., historic and definitional issues; the potential advantages of this model; implications for the profession). In Part 2 of this special series (Vol. 60, Issue 10), articles 7 through 12 address the broader implications and potential applications of the C-I model within a range of professional and societal contexts (e.g., for interprofessional collaboration; the health care field; development of a global curriculum; the unified psychology movement; issues of assessment and professional identity; and higher education); article 13 provides a summary of the series as well as a discussion of future directions. As an overview, this paper provides the abstract for each of the articles in Part 1, and describes the various topics of the articles in Part 2. Taken together, the articles in this special series are designed to provide a coherent account of how and why the C-I model is timely and relevant, and therefore warrants serious consideration by the larger education and training community in professional psychology.     

Introduction to the Special Issue on Psychopathological Posttraumatic Reactions

Research over the past 30 years has changed the landscape of trauma and general stress studies, leading to the new conceptual and clinical questions regarding the nature of psychopathological reactions to trauma. In this introduction to this special issue, we review several well‐documented scientific findings that continue to surprise laypeople and mental health experts alike. The articles in this special issue will further our understanding of modern psychological responses to adversity.     

Introduction to the special section on clinical adolescent psychology: developmental psychopathology and treatment

This article addresses implications of the interface between developmental psychology and clinical psychology for research on adolescence and describes the importance of considering developmental level when designing treatments for adolescent patients. In addition, the articles that constitute the special section, "Clinical Adolescent Psychology: Developmental Psychopathology and Treatment," are introduced.     

Defining psychology: what can it do for us?

"Psychology," like many abstract terms, is difficult to define precisely. Henriques' (this issue) argument that psychology, though unified and coherent, actually spans two realms-psychological formalism ("the science of mind," this issue) and human psychology ("the science of human behavior at the individual level," this issue)-seems likely to improve the clarity of the concept. The strongest contribution of his analysis may be its placing "psychology" in the larger conceptual framework of the Tree of Knowledge taxonomy.