382 



American 



Psychological 



Association 



February 29, 1984 



William A. Nierenberg, Ph.D., Chair 

 Committee on International Science 

 National Science Board 

 Washington, D. C. 20550 



Dear Dr. Nierenberg: 



I am responding to your letter of January 27th, requesting information 

 on areas of excellence in science outside the United States. I sought 

 the assistance of my colleagues in the behavioral and psychological 

 sciences, and together we have identified several noteworthy areas 

 relative to scientific efforts in the United States. These areas are 

 by no means to be considered comprehensive, nor, of course, represen- 

 tative of the official view of the American Psychological Association. 



- Cognitive Psychology 



While the United States remains a leader in this area, there are 

 qualitative differences among countries. The United Kingdom appears 

 to be strong in studies of cognitive processes linked to language 

 ability, the interrelationship of cognition and emotion, and temporal 

 orientation of goal-directed problem solving. 



The United States is also relatively weak in cross-cultural studies of 

 cognition, particularly in non-Western cultures which have strategic 

 importance such as the Middle East and South America. 



- Developmental Psychology 



West Germany is clearly making a greater commitment in developmental 

 psychology, particularly in the study of social and emotional develop- 

 ment. Indeed, fundamental research in social and emotional development 

 is a major interest in West Germany, while it is a small one in the 

 United States. 



Great Britain and Norway have also made a greater investment In the 

 longitudinal study of birth cohorts than the United States has. 



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