On the record

Heard on the street

'People in our culture think anybody who works so hard must be being pushed. We think parents are denying their kids a normal childhood. In reality, the parents are not driving the children. Rather, the children are driving the parents, and the parents are running along trying to catch up.'
Psychologist Ellen Winner, Boston College, on musical child prodigies (Los Angeles Times, Feb. 1).

'Our rational mind knows that it will end the same way, but emotionally, we would like it to end differently. There?s a certain hope that maybe this time they will be saved.'
Los Angeles psychologist Tamar Ilanit, on why millions of people have gone to see the film 'Titanic' repeatedly (MSNBC, Feb 16).

'The recruitment has been more difficult, and the folks we have recruited have just commented that it?s really not as tough a winter as winters they?ve had in the past?.'
Psychologist Todd Hardin, National Institute of Mental Health, on the struggle to find test participants for treatment of seasonal affective disorder during what has been a winter of mild weather (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Feb. 19).

'People are usually in the left lane, trying to get ahead?Try life in the right lane.'
Psychologist Leon James,
University of Hawaii, on road rage (Akron Beacon Journal, Feb. 16).

Heard in the Monitor

'The positive psychology, the positive social science we envision for the 21st century may not only prevent mental illness, but may lead to scientific understanding of how to build personal strength and civic virtue?the best things in human life.'
APA President Martin E.P. Seligman, calling for more study on human strengths, page 11.