June 2004 | Monitor on Psychology | Vol. 35 No. 6

COVER: Consumerism
- Consumerism and its discontents
Materialistic values may stem from early insecurities and are linked to lower life satisfaction, psychologists find. Accruing more wealth may provide only a partial fix.
- Too many choices?
Today's abundance of consumer options can stall our decision-making and even wear away our well-being. But there are solutions.
- Protecting children from advertising
APA's Council of Representatives supports a task force's call for stricter regulations on ads geared to kids.
- Advertising recomendations
To counter the potential negative effects of ads aimed at children, the Task Force on Advertising and Children suggests things such as restricting television advertising directed to children and using advertising disclaimers.
- Driving teen egos--and buying--through 'branding'
A glut of marketing messages encourages teens to tie brand choices to their personal identity.
- Maxed out: Why do some succumb and others steer clear?
Psychologists are investigating what underlies Americans' ever more burdensome credit card debt, but answers remain elusive.
- The value of money
In her niche practice, psychologist Lynne Hornyak coaches people to pair their approach to money with their life values.

SCIENCE WATCH
New research on elephants' hemispheric specialization may begin to answer long-standing questions on side preferences' evolutionary advantages.
IN BRIEF
- Exhibit spotlights psychologists as innovators
- Online petition supports peer review
- Young children can discern pretending from sincere effort
- NLPA plans first-ever Latina/o psychology conference
- Among young teens, aggression equals popularity
- Schizophrenia may be characterized by unique smell deficits
- Web site lists highly cited psychologists
- Families' financial woes can foster child depression and disobedience
- Sexist countries view men as 'bad, but bold'
- Happy memories don't always lift unhappy moods
- APA launches new benefits opportunity for psychology departments
- New neuropsych mentoring program hopes to attract minorities
- Psychologists testify at drug-treatment hearing


FEATURES
Louisiana psychologists' persistence pays off, and their state becomes the second to pass RxP legislation.
Psychopharmacology training programs meet a need for many practitioners-- and, indirectly, for consumers.
A new West Virginia law provides safeguards for psychologists conducting child-custody evaluations, an often-avoided area.
Psychologist Page Walley, the new commissioner of Alabama's biggest state agency, finds creative ways to infuse individual care.
An APA-sponsored event drew together high school students and social scientists to discuss criminal groups.
Recent psychological research calls "discovery learning" into question.
The NIH Roadmap may provide opportunities for scientists, including psychologists, to make major strides in public health research.
Psychologists are helping the government screen and train airline pilots to become federal flight deck officers.
The public is hungry for mind-body alternative and complementary interventions. And more psychologists are studying what helps and what hurts.
A federal report pushes for increased integration of the behavioral and social sciences into medical school curricula.
A National Academies committee is studying the quality of postdoctoral experiences.
Jennie Ward Robinson says psychology can do more to improve the lives of families living with Alzheimer's disease--and she's helping to lead the effort.
The APF Koppitz Fellowship Program cultivates graduate research in child psychology. Meet the 2004 winners.
A CLOSER LOOK
At APA's Annual Convention in Honolulu, Div. 48 will host Pacific Rim indigenous psychologists and graduate students who are promoting peace.

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE
A petition to preserve research integrity offers an opportunity to join the masses and make some noise on Capitol Hill.

CORRECTIONS
COLUMNS
In the Public Interest
The case--and the research--that forever connected psychology and policyJudicial Notebook
Prosecutorial misconduct in death penalty casesPresident's Column
Prejudice in any languageRunning Commentary
Points of Emphasis: an updateScience Directions
The practical need for basic science
