Relevant psychology is a snark

Psychologists may respond to pressing social problems by becoming: (a) an activist, likely to behave in an emotional, antiintellectual and counter-productive manner; (b) a social engineer; and (c) a basic research psychologist who may direct his efforts toward "relevant" social problems and thus avoid trivial research, without becoming too closely tied to immediate applied problems. Basic, and possibly fatal, flaws in our present governmental procedures and practices are pointed out, and suggestions are made of directions of improvement.