DIVISION SPOTLIGHT

Div. 9 (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues?SPSSI)

Div. 9 welcomes nominations for the 1998 Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize and the 1999 Otto Klineberg Intercultural and International Relations Award.

The Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize goes to the best (published or unpublished) paper or article from 1998 on topics related to age, gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. The winner receives $1,000. To apply for the award, send four copies of your manuscript to the attention of the Gordon Allport Prize postmarked by Dec. 31.

The Otto Klineberg Intercultural and International Relations Award will honor the best paper or article (published or unpublished) from 1998 focusing on intercultural or international relations. The winner receives a $1,000 prize. To apply for this award, send five copies of your manuscript to the attention of the Klineberg Award postmarked by Feb. 1.

The awards committee will place special emphasis on the originality of the submission. Graduate students and non-SPSSI members are encouraged to submit papers. Contact: SPSSI Central Office, P.O. Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248.

New division proposed

A group of psychologists seek support for a petition to create a new APA division dedicated to human-animal studies. The new division would focus on the human experience of nonhuman animals, and the mutual interaction and influence between human and nonhuman animals.

The proposed division would encompass a broad range of phenomena that have immediate and enduring relevance for psychologists. A division on human-animal studies would examine topics such as:

? The relationship between animal abuse and human violence, particularly domestic violence and child abuse.

? The purpose of animals in human psychology and socialization, including the role of companion animals in family life, aging, and the development of empathy and moral development.

? Human attitudes toward the use and treatment of animals.

? Personality differences in attitudes toward animals.

? Attitudes toward, and the effectiveness of the use of animals in research.

? Animals in religion and spirituality and the symbolic role of animals.

Other areas of interest for the division would involve studying the many ways in which animals play a vital role in human health, including benefits from pet-assisted therapies, promoting recovery from illness and the development of self-esteem.

A division of human-animal studies will enable psychologists with a variety of interests to promote empirical research, exchange ideas and disseminate research findings and other information to colleagues. The division would also inform practice and public policy and act as an education and training resource.

For more information about the proposed division on human-animal studies, or to receive a copy of the petition, contact: Mary Lou Randour, PhD, 4330 Leland St., Chevy Chase, MD 20815, fax: (301) 913-2804.