APA Historical Database: Selected Entries

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On October 26:

1925 — David Premack was born. Premack is known for his work in learning and motivation. He has argued that reinforcement consists of the opportunity to engage in a behavior. The "Premack principle" states that a low-probability behavior will be performed if access to a high-probability behavior is contingent upon it. He has also taught symbolic language to chimpanzees.

1925 — James V. McConnell was born. McConnell is best remembered for excellence in teaching and studies of chemical transmission of learning in flatworms. He founded the irreverent Worm Runner's Digest, a journal combining humor and serious experimentation, in 1959. American Psychological Foundation Distinguished Contribution to Teaching in Psychology Award, 1976.

1967 — The first report of the sign language performance of the chimpanzee named Washoe was delivered by R. Allen Gardner and Beatrice Gardner at the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society.

1985 — The APA Monitor announced the availability of PsycLIT, the CD-ROM-based search and retrieval database of abstracts of psychological literature. The annual subscription cost was initially set at $5,000.

1987 — President Reagan signed a federal law providing up to a $5,000 bonus for American Board of Professional Psychology diplomates in the U.S. Public Health Service.

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