FEEDBACK

SCPA MEMBERS VISIT THE HILL

Spring 2011

South Carolina Psychological Association

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Cultural Neuroscience:Understanding How Biology & Culture Shape the Mind & Behavior

28h Multicultural SymposiumFriday, April 8, 2011

Inn at USC9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Admission is FREE and Continuing Education Units are available

Hosted by The Black Psychology

Graduate Student Association (BPGSA)at the

University of South Carolina803-777-4137

April 8, 2011

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Lasana Harris Assistant ProfessorDuke University

Dr. Vivian Ota WangProgram Director at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Joan ChiaoAssistant ProfessorNorthwestern University

Dr. Susan FiskeProfessor of Psychology, Princeton University

The President’s Column

Feedback is published by the South Carolina

Psychological Association and distributed quarterly.

Maxine Barker, Ph.D. Editor

mabark@scdjj.netPhone: 803-896-9316

Robert Heckel, Ph.D.

Associate Editiorheckel@mailbox.sc.edu

Christiana DeGregorie, PsyDPresident

Martha Durham, Ph.D.Immediate Past President

Michele Burnette, Ph.D.President-Elect

Stephanie Boyd, Ph.D.Treasurer

Jonathan Bassett, Ph.D.Secretary

Member-at-LargeMaggie Gainey, Ph.D.

Member-at-LargeBrian Sullivan, PsyD

SCPA StaffLeigh Faircloth, CAE

Katie Koon, CAEDebra Williams

Leigh-Ann McCuneExecutive Director

SCPAPO Box 11035

Columbia, SC 29211Phone: 803-252-7128

Fax: 803-252-7799E-mail: leigh@scpa.org

www.scpyschology.com

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Dear Colleagues,

It is with sadness that I write my last Feedback column as SCPA president. In April the leadership of SCPA will be turned over to the very capable and accomplished Michele Burnett. Michele has given freely of her time and talent as a SCPA volunteer for many years. I know that she will continue to nurture SCPA’s growth and

development as an organization.

During the last year SCPA has had many successful programs and initiatives. Spring conference offered undergraduate psychology students a wonderful opportunity to prepare and present their individual research interests. Our commitment to undergraduate education continued with a very successful Academic Day hosted by Lander University under the direction of Jonathan Bassett.

SPCA unveiled its legislative program during this last year. Grants received from APA allowed SCPA to hire a lobbyist to work collaboratively with our legislative committee on increasing the visibility of psychology with our state legislators. Members of SCPA also attended this year’s State Leadership Conference with the APA Practice Directorate where they had a unique opportunity to have face-to-face meetings with our state leaders. The next year will bring exciting legislative opportunities to SCPA and its members.

One of SCPA’s most successful educational programs this year was the ADHD workshop featuring the knowledgeable Russell Barkley. This program brought together teachers and mental health professionals to learn from a team of ADHD experts about how to assess and treat this population.

In the next year SCPA members can look forward to a variety of social and educational opportunities including our new mentoring program, regional socials, and continuing education opportunities. It has been a pleasure working with SCPA this past year. I look forward to SCPA’s continued growth.

Christiana DeGregorie, PsyDSCPA President

Your Leadership

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Autism is the most commonly diagnosed condition in a group of pervasive developmental disorders (Constantino et al., 2006). It has been 66 years since Johns Hopkins University psychiatrist Leo Kanner wrote the first paper applying the term “autism” to a group of children who were self-absorbed and who had severe social, communication, and behavioral problems (Kanner, 1943).

The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; APA, 1994) defines autism as a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), characterized by severe and pervasive impairments in several areas of development. As described by the DSM-IV, the core features of autism are as follows: (1) qualitative impairment in social interaction, which can manifest as impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors (e.g., eye contact, facial expression, body postures and gestures) to regulate social interaction and communication; (2) qualitative impairments in communication, which can manifest as a total lack or delay in the development of spoken language. Individuals with autism that can speak may have marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others. The third and final DSM-IV core feature for autism includes restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, which can manifest as a persistent preoccupation with parts of objects, or ‘systemization’. It has been argued that Kanner’s three core criteria for autism are just as relevant today as they were when he established them in 1943.

The age of onset for autistic behavior may be distinguished in early infancy through 2 ½ years of normal development (Gillberg & Wing, 1999). Autism typically occurs more often in males (Wenar & Kerig, 2000). Research exploring gender variation in symptom severity suggests that females with autism tend to display more pronounced autism symptoms than autistic males and that females with autism tend to receive lower scores on both verbal and nonverbal measures (Klinger, Dawson, & Renner, 2003). It was initially believed that autism only occurred in middle-class and wealthy socioeconomic family units. Since these families were more able to

afford treatment services for their children, some researchers believed that earlier reports of increased rates of autism in families with upper socioeconomic status were a result of oversampling within this population. Klinger and associates (2003) disputed these theories by revealing that the socioeconomic distribution of families with autistic children is similar to the distribution within the general population.Epidemiological research on autism has been conducted around the world and the results consistently reveal that autism occurs within families of all racial, ethnic, and social backgrounds. It has also been noted in the literature that cross-culturally, there appears to be a remarkable consistency in reports of autistic symptoms, intellectual abilities, gender differences, and socioeconomic factors associated with autism (Klinger et al., 2003).

Important strides have been made in the understanding of autism in areas of pre and peri-natal environmental stressors and neurological vulnerabilities. With these scientific breakthroughs come a greater understanding of the biological underpinnings of autism. Continued research is necessary for identifying the links underlying neurological abnormalities, information-processing impairments, and the behavioral symptoms of autism. Such research could produce an enhanced classification system, which would further facilitate the development of improved treatment strategies, and maybe even prevention methods. Although there is no known cure at this time, autism research has made significant progress in a relatively short period. Consequently, there has been an increase in the overall understanding of the disorder, and individuals diagnosed with this pervasive developmental disorder have been experiencing a measure of success when intervention is started at an early age.

ReferencesAmerican Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.Constantino, J.N., Lajonchere, C., Lutz, M., Gray, T., Abbacchi, A., McKenna, K., Singh, D., & Todd, R.D. (2006). Autistic social impairment in the siblings of children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(2), 294-296. Gillberg, C., & Wing, L. (1999). Autism: Not an extremely rare disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 99, 399-406.Kanner, L. (1943). Autistic disturbances of affective contact. Nervous Child. 2, 217-250.Klinger, L.G., Dawson, G., & Renner, P. (2003). Autistic Disorder. In E. Mash & R. Barkley (Eds.), Child psychopathology (2nd edition). New York: Guilford Press.

Graduate Students Column: Autism: A Prison of Social IsolationWritten by: Melita Stancil, B.S. & Kip Thompson, M.A.

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M. Michele Burnette, Ph. D. and Jonathan F. Bassett, Ph. D., Co-Chairs

Our annual conference is just around the corner, so if you have not already registered, please make your plans to attend now! This year we chose to focus on diversity as our primary applied topic. We also developed a track for our academic members focusing on the scholarship of teaching and learning with specific emphasis on ethical and technology issues. We believe that this conference has offerings to benefit our entire membership.We have three invited speakers at our conference this year.

Dr. Thomas P. Pusateri from Kennesaw State University will present on the ethics of effective teaching. In his presentation, Dr. Pusateri will describe how ethical teachers should seek professional development opportunities to increase their use of evidence-based teaching

techniques and engage in best practices that facilitate students’ acquisition of the knowledge and skills set forth in their program of study. Learn more about this teaching expert at http://www.kennesaw.edu/psychology/faculty.shtml#pusateri

Dr. Lara M. Stepleman will join us from Georgia Health Sciences University to present on mental health issues in low-income minorities. This subgroup of the population is at higher risk for psychiatric disorders and has particular disadvantages that contribute

to mental health disparities, such as discrimination, marginalization, and racism, and homophobia. Dr. Stepleman will talk about multiple factors associated with mental health risk as well as pathways to reducing risks and fostering resiliency in these individuals. More information on this very gifted psychologist can be found at https://webapp.mcg.edu/PROD/ifl.viewfac?CGIemplid=004572.

Dr. Lee Van Horn of the University of South Carolina will speak on methodology for assessing differential effects in applied research. More specifically, he will describe research designs best employed when certain interventions may affect particular subgroups of

a population (e.g., male versus female) differently. In addition, Dr. Van Horn will describe the most appropriate statistical methods for evaluating differential effects in a diverse population. For more information on Dr. Van Horn, go to http://people.cas.sc.edu/vanhornl/lee.htm.

The conference will also feature several presentations by SCPA members on topics related to pedagogy and diversity issues. In addition, undergraduate and graduate students from around the state will showcase their original research in the annual student poster competition. We will conclude our regular conference on Saturday with a dinner and very special guest. We are thrilled to welcome Tony Clyburn, professional speaker and radio personality on B106.7. He will give his definitive statement in “At My Job and Loving It” in which he challenges us to be positively selfish! This delightful presenter promises to be entertaining, funny, and informative. We hope to see all of us at the Sheraton in Myrtle Beach on April 1-3. We need each and every one of us there to make this the best conference ever!

2011SPRINGCONFERENCE

2011 SCPA Spring Conference

Myrtle Beach, SCSheraton Convention Center Hotel

Psychology in a world of DiversityApril 1-3

SCPA Spring Conference Agenda

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Registration Payment & Room Reservations

Name _________________________________________Credential ___________

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Phone _______________________________ Registration Options: Choose ONeMemberFull Registration $275 ______Friday Only $100 ______Saturday Day Only $100 ______ (includes, breakfast, lunch and educational sessions)Saturday Night Only $75 ______Student $35 ______ (Saturday Only: includes competition, lunch and sessions)

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Hotel Reservations:Room Rate per night: $89.00To make your hotel reservations, please call the Sheraton Convention Center Hotel in Myrtle Beach, SC at (888) 757-2670. Let them know that you are with the SC Psycho-logical Association to receive the room rate. The Sheraton Convention Center Hotel is located at 2101North Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

Return your registration to SCPA by email to lah@associationsplus.com or fax to 803.252.7799 or mail to PO Box 11035, Columbia, SC 29211. Questions? Call SCPA at 803.252.7128. You can also register online at www.scpsychology.com.

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2011 SCPA Spring Conference

SCPA Spring Conference AgendaFriday, April 1Noon - 5 pm Registration1 - 2 pm Paper Session - Dr. Roitzsch, Dr. Smith, Dr. Magid, Dr. Bacon, and Dr. Martinez, MUSC Topic: Evidence Based Treatment for Substance Abuse2 - 2:30 pm Paper Session - Dr. Bassett, Lander University Topic: The Effects of Mortality Salience and Religiosity on Paranormal Beliefs2:30 - 3 pm Break 3 - 4 pm Paper Session - Paper Session - Dr. James, Life Consultants, Inc. Topic: Perspectives of Executive Women; Life Choices and Balancing Career with Marriage and Children 4 - 5 pm Legislative Update - Coretta Bedsole, SCPA Lobbyist, Palmetto Public Affairs Topic: Advocacy in the 21st Century - How to Message to Diverse Groups5 - 8:30 pm Dinner on your Own8:30 - 11 pm Social Hours - Hospitality Suite (McNair Suite)

Saturday, April 1

8 am Registration9 - 10 am Student Poster Competition Set Up10 - 11 am Student Workshop - Speaker TBD10 - 11 am Judges visit posters 11 - 12:30 pm Student Poster Competition12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Awards3 - 4 pm Break5:15 pm Licensing Board Update6:30 pm Dinner & Invited Speaker: Tony Clyburn, B106.7 Topic: At My Job & Loving It8:30 - 11 pm Social Hours - Hospitality Suite

Other: Schedule 9 - 10 am Paper Session - Dr. Nix, Dr. Combs, Lander University Topic: Deconstructing the Black Woman: Misperceptions about Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Affecting Black Women’s Experience of Self1:30 - 3 pm Panel Discussion - Ms. Allison, Dr. DeGregorie, Dr. Gainey, Dr. Gravely and Dr. Memon - S partanburg Regional Healthcare System Topic: Psychological Aspects of Working with Older Adults: The Benefit of a Multidisciplinary Team3:15 - 4:15 pm Dr. Coe - USC Lancaster Topic: How SCPA Can Support Psychologists in Managing the Growing Diversity in SC: Findings from the SCPA Diversity Survey4 - 5 pm Invited Speaker Session - Dr. Stepleman, Medical College of Georgia Topic: Mental Health in Low Income Minorities: Reducing Risks and Fostering Resiliency

TrACK 1: Clinical/Diversity

TRACK 2: Academic/Teaching9 - 10 am Panel Discussion - Dr. Acorn, Dr. Bassett, Dr. Snyder, Lander University Topic: Teaching Research Methods, Statistics, and Writing in the Psychology: Undergraduate Program10 - 11 am Paper Session - Dr. Castleberry, Dr. Macias and Dr. MacDonald - USC Sumter Topic: Diverse Teaching Strategies in the Classroom: The Cool One, The Scientist, and the Geek. 1:30 - 2:30 pm Invited Speaker Session - Dr. Pusateri, Kennesaw State University Topic: The Ethics of Effective Teaching2:30 - 3:30 pm Invited Speaker Session - Dr. Van Horn, USC Columbia Topic: Methodology for Assessing Differential Effects in Applied Research4 - 5 pm Paper Session - Dr.Wickes, Lander University Topic: Learning from 1 Million Users Online: What Do We know?

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It is a rare and delightful opportunity when a colleague and SCPA member shares his experience and knowledge by writing an informative, readable work on applying psychological principles to one of our world’s most vexing problems in sport: the game of golf. It is also refreshing to be treated to an in-depth work that is not a motivational speaker preaching at you with platitudes and generalizations that can “fix anything” but do not address you as a unique individual.

Tom’s book does not present easy solutions. Instead, he offers procedures to help you examine all aspects of your game, but first requires your commitment to serious self-examination and a willingness to practice at levels you may have never experienced. With that in mind, he provides a series of steps explaining basics of the mental part of golf- thinking, emotion, and action and how they affect all aspects of your game. He provides extensive detail on identifying all aspects of these behaviors, how to recognize them and what you can do to eliminate or improve them.

To do justice to this review would entail many pages, first, because it is marvelously detailed, rich in the applications of psychology, and helpful not only in golf but for other sports and one’s life as well. For me, I was most impressed with the demystification of the skills of even the best professionals. They all have bad days. Were we able to see all of their plays they would be seen as human, like the rest of us.

I encourage everyone to read this book. It is a treasure. Even if one is only a spectator, he will find it helpful for watching the game. As a player with practice, focus, and emotional control, one’s game will flower.

The book is available through Amazon at a reasonable price (book 12.68, Kindle 6.36 ). Additional reviews are provided.

BOOK REVIEWGOLF: The Mental Gameby: Tom Dorsel Ph.D.Nashville, TN. Cumberland House 2008

From the very start of psychology as a research science, a hardy group of psychologists have conducted research that had direct application to sport. These were studies involving competition, delay of gratification, effects of anxiety and stress, imagery, perception, learning, indeed, virtually every area of psychology. The effects have been profound and of tremendous impact. It seems only reasonable that Historical Bit attempt to identify some of the most significant of these. Our selection for this issue: Yerkes-Dodson Law.

Robert M. Yerkes, a young Harvard professor, and his graduate student, John D. Dodson, published in 1908 “ THE RELATION OF STRENGTH OF STIMULUS TO RAPIDITY OF HABIT FORMATION” in Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology, 18, 459-482. Simply stated, Yerkes-Dodson Law states that performance varies with levels of arousal in a predictable ( U shaped ) parabolic curve. As arousal (stress) increases, performance increases, but only to a point. Then, increased levels of arousal result in a decrement in performance. Task difficulty plays a significant role also. Complex tasks achieve maximum success with lower levels of arousal. Tasks requiring strength and stamina may be facilitated by higher levels of arousal. Most of us have experienced situations where we did very well in practice, but when confronted by facing a live audience or a game situation, we experience arousal overload.Yerkes-Dodson’s Law has contributed immensely to our understanding of arousal and performance. It may seem hard to believe that their original population of study were lab mice!

HISTORICAL BITRobert V. Heckel Ph.D. ABPP

Psychology’s Greatest Contributions to Sport: The Yerkes-Dodson Law ?

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The South Carolina Psychological Association (SCPA) has a number of exciting activities underway designed to focus attention on the importance and relevance of issues of human diversity in the func-tioning of SCPA and the professional activities of psychologists in South Carolina. To demonstrate its dedication to these issues, this year SCPA has given its most important event, the SCPA Spring Confer-ence, a diversity theme: Psychology in a World of Diversity. This year’s conference, held in Myrtle Beach, SC, highlights the centrality of issues of human diversity in psychology and showcases the diversity related work of clinicians and academics in the state. Additionally, the SCPA Diversity Commit-tee is working on a number of diversity related ac-tivities. The committee is continuing to design a di-versity webpage for the SCPA website. The content for the webpage will initially include an extensive diversity resource guide with information on state, national, and international resources. The web-page will also provide opportunities for web-based, diversity related CEU’s offered through a collabora-tive relationship with the New Mexico Psychological Association. Further, the SCPA Diversity Committee recently conducted a diversity needs assessment of doctoral level psychologists licensed and/or work-ing in South Carolina. Preliminary results from the assessment will be presented at the 2011 Spring Conference and in various media outlets sponsored by SCPA.

The process of conducting the diversity needs as-sessment highlighted the need to clearly define the diversity related values of SCPA, specify the func-tion and types of diversity related activities of the organization, and develop a framework to guide the development and implementation of SCPA’s diversity related activities in the future. Strategic planning is a process that can be used to guide the purpose, function, information gathering, and decision mak-ing processes of an organization and can be benefi-cial to SCPA as the organization works to define and guide its present and future diversity agenda (Lane, Bishop, and Wilson-Jones, 2005). The SCPA Diversi-ty Committee is currently in the beginning stages of developing a diversity strategic planning initiative. The Diversity Committee has decided to adopt the VMOSA (Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategies, & Action Plans) approach to strategic planning as a

The SCPA Diversity Strategic Planning InitiativeMark Coe, Ph.D.

framework to guide the diversity strategic plan-ning initiative (Nagy & Fawcett, 2003). Perspec-tives from a variety of stakeholders are needed to ensure that SCPA members will embrace, support, and actively participate in implementing strategic planning activities (Walton-Thompson, Fawcett, & Schultz, 2008). Throughout the course of this strategic planning initiative, the Diversity Com-mittee will work collaboratively with the SCPA Executive Committee and actively seek input from members of the organization. The Diversity Committee welcomes and encourages input from members from a wide variety of subspecialties (e.g. developmental, experimental, social) and professional roles (e.g. academics, clinicians, con-sultants, students) during the strategic planning process.

According to Nagy and Fawcett (2003), the VMOSA process begins with the development of vision and mission statements, and the SCPA Diversity Com-mittee would like to have member input in the de-velopment of these statements. Qualitative data obtained from members during the diversity needs assessment will be used to create initial drafts of the aforementioned components of the VMOSA process. These initial drafts of the vision and mis-sion statements will be presented in this article as a method to initiate thought and discussion about SCPA’s approach to diversity issues and to seek feedback from SCPA members that will shape the development of future drafts of the vision and mission statements. Contact information for the SCPA Diversity Delegate will be listed at the end of the article so that members can provide feedback to the SCPA Diversity Committee. Feedback from members regarding the development of the vision and mission statements will also be solicited from members during the presentation of data from the diversity needs assessment during the 2011 SCPA Spring Conference. Member feedback from these various sources will then be collected, compiled, analyzed, and reviewed by the SCPA Diversity Committees for further refinement of the vision and mission statements.

The first step in VMOSA process is the develop-ment of a vision statement. This statement provides a vision of an ideal future the organiza-tion would like to achieve, and should articulate shared values that can be embraced by members of the organization (Kirkpatrick, Wofford, & Baum, 2002). The vision statement can also serve as a motivational tool to energize individuals to realize

an ideal environment (Levin, 2000). These charac-teristics are especially important when considering the development of the diversity vision statement for SCPA in a unique state such as South Carolina. South Carolina has large populations of historically underserved groups (e.g. the elderly, ethnic/racial minorities, rural communities, urban communities) and vibrant, growing communities of smaller minor-ity groups (e.g. sexual minorities, religious minorities, immigrants). Moreover, it is likely that South Carolina will continue to experience considerable demographic shifts over the next several decades (Bondo, 2007; Young, 2005)

The increasing diversity of the state offers all of its citizens tremendous opportunities for the future and can serve to further strengthen and unify the state. However, all change, especially change involving is-sues of human diversity, can present challenges and sometimes contribute to tension and conflict. Psychologists have obtained unique training that can be useful as the state addresses these issues. Psy-chologists specialize in gathering information and generating knowledge of various types that can be used to understand the nature of the opportunities and challenges that the growing diversity of the state will create.

Psychologists are also experts at applying empirical evidence to manage transitions and solve problems, and this skill set can be used to help individuals, com-munities, organizations, businesses, and governments manage the demographic transitions that will occur in South Carolina during the next century. Given the diversity of skills and training within SCPA, the orga-nization can serve its members and the citizens of the state by working to ensure that psychologists are equipped to support South Carolina with the demo-graphic changes that will occur in the future. Suc-cessfully navigating these changes is important for psychologists in South Carolina not only for important lofty moral and ethical reasons, but also to ensure the viability and profitability of the profession. As these demographic changes persist, the ability of psycholo-gists to continue to be relevant providers of informa-tion, training, and services will be considerably influ-enced by their ability to competently and efficiently practice all aspects of our profession (e.g. research, clinical, teaching, consultation) in a manner that meets the needs and interest of an increasing diverse population.

With these factors in mind, the diversity vision state-ment for the South Carolina Psychological Association should communicate the aspirations and inspirational role that SCPA and its members can play, within the

organization, the profession, and larger society, in serving an increasingly diverse and unified South Carolina.

The following is an initial draft of the SCPA Di-versity Vision Statement.Many Faces and Places: One SCPA, One South Caro-lina: The diversity vision of the South Carolina Psy-chological Association is to support and empower psychologists and the communities they serve in suc-cessfully managing the opportunities and challenges of a diverse society in the 21st century in a manner that acknowledges and appreciates human differences and recognizes our common personhood.

Developing a mission statement is the next step in the VMOSA strategic planning process. The mission statement describes the current function and pur-pose of an organization and seeks to briefly provide some insight into how the organization’s vision will be reached (Nagy & Fawcett, 2003) The mission statement is extremely important because it drives the development of objectives and plans later in the VMOSA process. In considering the development of a diversity mission statement, the American Psycho-logical Association Division of State, Provincial, and Territorial Affairs Diversity Task Force (2009) suggest that state psychological associations’ diversity mis-sion statements should include remarks regarding the training, needs assessment, community involvement, and inclusion of minority psychologist. It is with these components in mind, along with data from the SCPA diversity needs assessment, that the initial draft of the SCPA diversity mission statement noted below was designed.

SCPA Diversity Mission StatementThe mission of the South Carolina Psychological As-sociation is to promote awareness, understanding, and competence practice involving issues of human diversity within the organization, amongst its mem-bers, and throughout the state. The mission involves regularly evaluating the ability of SCPA to effectively serve underrepresented groups, providing training and consultation on diversity related issues, fostering collaborative relationships with professional organi-zations that serve the interest of underrepresented groups, and developing strong relationships between SCPA, its members, and communities throughout South Carolina. The mission also includes encourag-ing the recruitment of psychologists from underrepre-sented groups to South Carolina and into membership and leadership positions in SCPA.

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The purpose of these initial versions of the Vision and Mission statements is to promote discussion and elicit a broad range of feedback from SCPA members. Comments from SCPA members regarding these statements are valued and wel-comed. Once the vision and mission statements are agreed upon the SCPA Diversity Committee will proceed with the next components of the VMOSA process. Clearly defined and measurable objectives will be created based on the mission statement, strategies will be developed to accomplish the objectives, and an action plan will be developed detailing spe-cifically how strategies will be implemented

The SCPA Diversity Committee would like for a broad range of members to be involved in the SCPA diversity strategic planning initiative in any manner that members are able to participate, including joining the SCPA Diversity Committee. Any SCPA member interested in providing feedback on the diversity vision and mission statements, participating in the strategic planning initiative, and/or joining the SCPA Diversity Committee should contact the SCPA Diversity Delegate and Committee Chair, Mark Coe, Ph.D. His contact information is listed below.

ReferencesAmerican Psychological Association, Division of State, Provincial, and Territorial Af-fairs Diversity Task Force (2009). Implementing a Diversity Initiative in State, Provin-cial, and Territorial Psychological Associations: A Handbook for STPAs. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Bondo, M. (2007). Changing faces of South Carolina: A profile of South Carolina se-nior citizens. Retrieved from the University of South Carolina Institute for Public Ser-vice and Policy Research website: http://www.ipspr.sc.edu/publication/Older%20SC.pdfKilpatrick, S.A., Wofford, J.C., & Baum, J.R. (2002). Measuring motive imagery contained in the vision statement. The Leadership Quarterly, 13(2), 139-150. doi: 10.1016/S1048-\9843(02)00096-6Lane, R.J., Bishop, H.L., & Wilson-Jones, L. (2005). Creating an effective strategic plan for the school district. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 32(3), 197-204. Retrieved from http://www.projectinnovation.biz/jip_2006.htmlLevin, I.M. (2000). Vision revisited: Telling the story of the future. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 36(1), 91-107. doi: 10.1177/0021886300361005Nagy, J. & Fawcett, S.B. (2004). An overview of strategic planning or “VMOSA” (Vi-sion, Mission, Objectives, Strategies, and Action Plans). Retrieved from the University of Kansas Community Toolbox website: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_main_1085.aspxWalton-Thompson, J., Fawcett, S.B., & Schultz, J.A. (2008). Differntial effects of stra-tegic planning on community change in two urban neighborhood coalitions. American Journal of Community Psychology, 42(1-2), 25-38. doi: 10.1007/s10464-008-9188-6 Young, R.D. (2005). The growing Hispanic population in South Carolina: Trends and issues.Retrieved from the University of South Carolina Institute for Public Service and Policy Research website: http://www.ipspr.sc.edu/publication/Population%20 In%20SC.pdfMark Coe, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology, U S C Lancaster: coemarks@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-313-7057

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On the surface, the idea of a criminal suspect falsely confessing to a crime he or she did not commit seems absurd and incomprehensible. Although it is impossible to know the prevalence rates of such occurrences, research indicates that false confessions are involved in 15-20% of all DNA exonerations (Kassin, 2010). Recent high-profile cases (e.g., the Central Park jogger case, JonBenet Ramsey case) have brought the issue of false confessions to the attention of the general population as well as to the forefront of forensic psychology research.

Several studies have investigated the demographic, psychological, and personality characteristics of false confessors. In the largest sample of proven false confessions (n = 125), Drizin and Leo (2004) found that 63% of the false confessors were under the age of 25, and 32% were under 18. In addition, 22% were mentally retarded and 10% had a diagnosed mental illness. In a study of prisoners who alleged that they had falsely confessed, Gudjonsson (1990) found that these false confessors demonstrated significantly lower IQ scores than those not claiming a false confession.

Kassin and Wrightsman (1985) conceptualized three psychologically distinct types of false confessions. “Voluntary false” confessions are offered in the absence of any coercion or even interrogation. Individuals providing voluntary false confessions are typically motivated by the desire for notoriety, a need to alleviate unwarranted guilt, a desire to protect the real criminal, or symptoms of a mental illness. For example, when Charles Lindbergh’s infant son was kidnapped in 1932, 200 people volunteered confessions. More recently, in 2006 John Mark Karr offered a confession to the unsolved murder of JonBenet Ramsey.

The second type of false confession is “coerced-compliant,” which is usually the result of extreme methods of interrogation. The suspect professes guilt to the offense in order to escape a stressful situation, avoid punishment, or gain a promised or implied reward, despite knowing privately that he/she is truly innocent. The individual often comes to believe that the short-term benefits of confessing outweigh the long-term costs. Specific incentives that may induce a confession include being allowed to eat, sleep, make a phone call, or go home. Individuals who are young, socially dependent, or fearful of being locked up may have a particularly urgent need to end a stressful interrogation and confinement. In the 1989 Central Park jogger case, five teenagers confessed after lengthy interrogations and the expectation that they would be allowed to go home.

Although they immediately retracted their confessions, they were convicted. They were all exonerated 13 years later, after the actual rapist confessed and his account was confirmed by DNA evidence.

The third kind of false confession, “coerced-internalized,” typically occurs as the result of fatigue, continued pressure, and suggestiveness of the interrogation process. The suspect is told that there is incontrovertible evidence of his/her involvement in the crime, and the suspect comes to believe that he or she actually committed the offense. The suspect may confabulate false memories during this process. These types of confessions may occur when suspects develop such a distrust of their own memory that they become vulnerable to influence from external sources. Suspects who are young, mentally retarded, or mentally ill may be especially susceptible to the influence of their interrogators. Ofshe (1989) hypothesized three personality vulnerability factors that likely contribute to a “coerced-internalized” false confession: unwavering trust of people in authority, lack of self-confidence, and increased suggestibility. In a case cited by Kassin et al. (2010), a 14-year-old boy confessed to the stabbing death of his sister after a series of interrogations. He eventually became convinced that he had a “split personality” and his “bad” personality killed her in a jealous rage, while his “good” personality blocked the incident from memory. Charges were eventually dropped after police found a man in the neighborhood with the victim’s blood on his clothing.

This brief overview has focused on the types of false confessions and various person-specific characteristics that may make false confessions more likely to occur. Future Forensic Forums will address situation-specific factors (i.e., aspects of the interrogation) that may produce false confessions and recommendations for safeguarding against them.

References:Drizin, S.A., & Leo, R.A. (2004). Heeding the lessons of history: The need for mandatory recording of police interrogations to accurately assess the reliability and voluntariness of confessions. Drake Law Review, 52, 619-646.Gudjonsson, G. H. (1990). One hundred alleged false confession cases: Some normative data. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29, 249-250.Kassin, S.M., Drizin, S.A., Grisso, T., Gudjonsson, G.H., Leo, R.L., & Redlich, A.D. (2010). Police-induced confessions: Risk factors and recommendations. Law and Human Behavior, 34, 3-38. Kassin, S.M., & Wrightsman, L.S. (1985). Confession evidence. In S. Kassin & L. Wrightsman (Eds.), The psychology of evidence and trial procedure. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.Ofshe, R. (1989). Coerced confessions: The logic of seemingly irrational action. Cultic Studies Journal, 6, 1-15.

Forensic ForumFalse Confessions: A Brief Overview

Kimberly S. Harrison, Ph.D.

South Carolina Psychological Association PO Box 11035, Columbia, SC 29211Phone: 803.252.7128Fax: 803.252.7799www.scpsychology.com

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Delegates from the South Carolina Psychological Associa-tion (SCPA) recently attended the State Leadership Con-ference that was put on by the American Psychological Association’s Practice Organization (APAPO). Delegates included President-Elect, M. Michele Burnette, Ph. D., Fed-eral Advocacy Coordinator, Brian Sullivan, PsyD, and SCPA Executive Director, Leigh-Ann McCune.

Attending the conference helped make SCPA’s issues “hu-man” by putting faces and names with state members. This was and continues to be particularly important as SCPA’s funding from APA is critical to the on-going opera-tions of the association. As with many other associations, businesses and even individuals, finances are tight and funding such as that received by SCPA is on the “chopping block.”

Our delegation was given specific tasks while visiting with Congressmen and their Health Legislative Aids during our Hill Vists on Tuesday, March 15. The topics covered were: Adding psychologists to the Medicare physician definition, extending the restoration cuts from Medicare through 2011, and making psychologists eligible for HITECH ACT incentives. If you would like more information on these issues, feel free to contact the Leigh-Ann Mccune at lah@scpsychology.com.

The highlight of the “Hill Visits” as they are known was meeting with Congressman Tim Scott from the Charleston district.

2011 State Leadership Conference