Editorial
At a recent conference I attended, a speaker mentioned psychologist Denise Rousseau's project Science you can use. The annual series would provide answers to practical questions of interest to practitioners and policy makers. Apparently the first round of well-intentioned submissions had led to the reaction 'We have a problem - academics are not good at writing this kind of article'.
Well, I hope that this issue showcases The Psychologist as a forum for this kind of writing. We hear from psychologists working with the homeless (p.284) and the former APA President who commissioned a Task Force on the topic (p.275 and p.360). Rhiannon Turner outlines novel ways to improve intergroup relations; Sarah Davidson describes her work with the British Red Cross in Haiti and other places; and Vaughan Bell talks to Teresa Pacheco Tabuenca about emergency response in Madrid (p.308). All psychologists making a difference, with science - and a publication - that you can use.
Dr Jon Sutton (Managing Editor)
Contents
Helping the homeless
Christian Jarrett examines psychology's response to a disturbing social problem
The nonexistent purpose of people
Jesse Bering asks whether our minds have evolved to see humans as artefacts
Deferred imitation in children and apes: Children imitate after a delay, but can apes ape in a similar fashion?
Lydia M. Hopper looks at the evidence
Imagining harmonious intergroup relations
Rhiannon N. Turner on her Doctoral Award-winning research
Psychosocial support within a global movement
Sarah Davidson on the work of the British Red Cross
Emergency response psychology in Madrid
Vaughan Bell talks to Teresa Pacheco Tabuenca
Plus...
Forum
In defence of the flashmob; Down's; medicalising pregnancy; and more
News and digest
The sexualisation of young people; flexible working; homelessness; DSM-5; back pain; inquests on 'radiation deaths'; morsels from the Research Digest; and more
Media
Making our science visible: Jeremy Horwood on the virtual revolution
Book reviews
Illusions with Richard Gregory; women leaders; phobias; and more
Society
President's column; alcohol in Scotland; men's health; Welsh taster; and more
Careers
Cognitive psychology, teaching and research with Catriona Morrison; psychology and human rights
Looking back
Blindsight in hindsight, with Larry Weiskrantz
One on one
...with James Bray