Heard on the Street

'Because most of us yearn for a family life that is fair and equitable, we?re eager to believe in the results of a study showing that fathers are spending more time with children . But the reality is, it just isn?t so.'

?Social psychologist Carin Rubenstein, questioning a University of Maryland study that indicates fathers now spend almost as much time caring for children as mothers do (Philadelphia Daily News, April 23).

'I?m the McDonald?s of psychology, and there?s nothing wrong with McDonald?s unless you confuse it with a gourmet meal.'

?Radio psychologist Joy Browne, New York City, warning people not to substitute on-air advice for high-quality therapy (USA Today, April 22).

'If you want to learn about baking a pie, you can ask your neighbor. But if you want to find out more about G-spots, you don?t have to ask anyone. Just surf the Web.'

?Psychologist Alvin Cooper, Stanford University, on sexual information on the Internet (San Francisco Chronicle, April 16).

'If you feel really sure someone is lying, it is just as likely they are telling the truth.'

?Psychologist Bella DePaulo, University of Virginia, on people?s poor ability to tell whether someone is fibbing (Washington Post, April 14).

'Well-adjusted kids don?t turn bad overnight. Dangerous kids spend their entire childhoods warning us.'

?Child psychologist and author Jonathan Kellerman on the mass shootings in Jonesboro, Ark., perpetrated by two preadolescents (USA Today, March 27).

Heard in the Monitor

'We believe the Hollywood production community cherishes their creative freedom, and we implore them to exercise it by breaking the prevailing patterns and moving towards much more emphasis on antiviolence themes.'

?Dale Kunkel, on TV violence, page 16.

'The point I make is that they don?t retire from something, they retire to something. We want to keep them flexible in all areas?social, intellectual and physical?so they can welcome the change and adapt to it.'

?C. Kermit Phelps, on retiring, page 44.

'Families are really all that most people have, so therapists need

to strengthen them and be more focused on building family relationships.'

?Mary Pipher, best-selling author on family relationships, page 62.