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Psychoanalysis as Science by E. Pumpian-Mindlin; Ernest R. Hilgard; Lawrence S. KubieReview by: Robert R. BlakeThe American Journal of Psychology, Vol. 67, No. 2 (Jun., 1954), pp. 393-394Published by: University of Illinois PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1418664 .

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BOOK REVIEWSOOK REVIEWS

writing and concrete contribution, for inclusion in this book. The articles are classi-

fied in eleven groups: (1) Motivationand

morale, (2) Trainingin

industry, (3)Analysis and evaluation of job performance, (4) Psychological tests, (5) Interview-

ing and counseling, (6) Accidents and safety, (7) Fatigue and worker efficiency,

(8) Market research, (9) Industrial leadership, (10) Industrial relations, and (11)

Psychologists in industry. The articles range from the purely arm-chairtype to factual

reports of carefully controlled studies. Each is directly reprinted and introduced with

a four- or five-line summary by the editors. Although 53 other equally good articles

could have been chosen, those selected are indeed representative, which is all that the

editors claim. It might have been possible, however, by judicious condensation, to

double the number of articles in the space allotted. Nevertheless, this book of read-

ingsshould

proveto be

very useful, especiallyon the

undergraduatelevel.

University of Georgia J. STANLEY GRAY

Psychoanalysis as Science. By E. PUMPIAN-MINDLIN, ERNESTR. HILGARD,nd

LAWRENCES. KUBIE. Stanford University Press, 1952. Pp. x, 174.

The Hixon Lectures on the scientific status of psychoanalysis delivered at the

California Institute of Technology in 1950 are reproduced in this book. Kubie centers

his discussion on the way in which the psychoanalytic interpretation is presumed to

function in producing behavior change, pointing to the obstacles that must be over-

come if this intervention on thepart

of thetherapist

is to be understood in a sci-

entifically acceptable way. Hilgard examines the validity of certain psychoanalytic

concepts by summarizing and evaluating experiments that have been conducted in

order to provide an impartial test of them. Pumpian-Mindlin considers technical

difficulties facing psychoanalysis in contrast with those facing the biological and

social scientists in developing a science of behavior. The product is a well-written,

nonpartisan book. It touches on many of the key problems that must be satisfactorilydealt with before psychoanalytic concepts can become a body of systematically veri-

fied propositions concerning human motivation and the conditions that produce

predictable changes in behavior.

Universityof Texas ROBERTR. BLAKE

Manic Depressive Psychosis. By LEOPOLDBELLAK. New York, Grune & Stratton,

1952. Pp. xii, 472.

Here is a systematic summary of the literature (about 1200 references) on the

manic-depressive syndrome and related disorders, a companion volume to the au-

thor's earlier work on schizophrenia. Bellak's theoretical approach to the two

psychoses is very much the same, but the volume at hand is presented only as a

review of the literature and the author usually offers no judgment concerning the

validity of the materials included. In the preface Bellak suggest the need for a centralagency which would help to administer and to co6rdinate statistical research on psy-chiatric problems. He also offers the opinion that much work and much journal-

space are wasted as a result of the physician's lack of experimental sophistication.

College of Medicine FLOY JACKMOORE

Baylor University

writing and concrete contribution, for inclusion in this book. The articles are classi-

fied in eleven groups: (1) Motivationand

morale, (2) Trainingin

industry, (3)Analysis and evaluation of job performance, (4) Psychological tests, (5) Interview-

ing and counseling, (6) Accidents and safety, (7) Fatigue and worker efficiency,

(8) Market research, (9) Industrial leadership, (10) Industrial relations, and (11)

Psychologists in industry. The articles range from the purely arm-chairtype to factual

reports of carefully controlled studies. Each is directly reprinted and introduced with

a four- or five-line summary by the editors. Although 53 other equally good articles

could have been chosen, those selected are indeed representative, which is all that the

editors claim. It might have been possible, however, by judicious condensation, to

double the number of articles in the space allotted. Nevertheless, this book of read-

ingsshould

proveto be

very useful, especiallyon the

undergraduatelevel.

University of Georgia J. STANLEY GRAY

Psychoanalysis as Science. By E. PUMPIAN-MINDLIN, ERNESTR. HILGARD,nd

LAWRENCES. KUBIE. Stanford University Press, 1952. Pp. x, 174.

The Hixon Lectures on the scientific status of psychoanalysis delivered at the

California Institute of Technology in 1950 are reproduced in this book. Kubie centers

his discussion on the way in which the psychoanalytic interpretation is presumed to

function in producing behavior change, pointing to the obstacles that must be over-

come if this intervention on thepart

of thetherapist

is to be understood in a sci-

entifically acceptable way. Hilgard examines the validity of certain psychoanalytic

concepts by summarizing and evaluating experiments that have been conducted in

order to provide an impartial test of them. Pumpian-Mindlin considers technical

difficulties facing psychoanalysis in contrast with those facing the biological and

social scientists in developing a science of behavior. The product is a well-written,

nonpartisan book. It touches on many of the key problems that must be satisfactorilydealt with before psychoanalytic concepts can become a body of systematically veri-

fied propositions concerning human motivation and the conditions that produce

predictable changes in behavior.

Universityof Texas ROBERTR. BLAKE

Manic Depressive Psychosis. By LEOPOLDBELLAK. New York, Grune & Stratton,

1952. Pp. xii, 472.

Here is a systematic summary of the literature (about 1200 references) on the

manic-depressive syndrome and related disorders, a companion volume to the au-

thor's earlier work on schizophrenia. Bellak's theoretical approach to the two

psychoses is very much the same, but the volume at hand is presented only as a

review of the literature and the author usually offers no judgment concerning the

validity of the materials included. In the preface Bellak suggest the need for a centralagency which would help to administer and to co6rdinate statistical research on psy-chiatric problems. He also offers the opinion that much work and much journal-

space are wasted as a result of the physician's lack of experimental sophistication.

College of Medicine FLOY JACKMOORE

Baylor University

39393

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BOOK REVIEWS

The Story of the Adaptation Syndrome. By HANS SELYE.Montreal, Acta, 1952.

Pp. 225.Second Annual Report on Stress. By HANS SELYEand ALEXANDERHORAVA.

Montreal, Acta, 1952. Pp. viii, 526.

The first volume, based on a series of recorded lectures, provides a refreshinglyinformal account of the inception and course of the author's researches on the

pharmacology of dirt. Psychologists who share the current interest in problemsof stress will find here a valuable summary of Selye's ideas which can be followed

with a minimum of physiological sophistication. The student will profit from the

glimpses of science in situ which the volume affords. The Annual Report serves as

a guide to more than 4,000 recent papers.M. E. B.

Essentials in Interviewing. By ANNE F. FENLASON.New York, Harper, 1952.

Pp. xi, 352.

This posthumously printed work is an attempt to bring together a few copiouslyillustrated principles of interviewing. The text was designed primarily for students

of case-work and for others interested in clinical interviewing, and the material

should prove interesting reading for the undergraduate student in these areas. We

can only agree, however, with Miss Fenlason's own evaluation of the originality of

her contribution. She quotes Montaigne in saying that I have here only made a

nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own but the thread that

ties them together. For most readers familiar with the literature and techniques of

interviewing, the treatment is likely to prove both uncritical and elementary.Cornell University PATRICIA . SMITH

The Psychology of Learning. By E. R. GUTHRIE.Revised edition. New York,

Harper & Brothers, 1952. Pp. x, 310.

To his well known treatment of learning, Guthrie has added four chapters-oneon the pluralistic theories of Tolman and Maier, a second on reinforcement theory

(Hull, Spence, Miller and Dollard), a third on Skinner, and a fourth on the study

with Horton of cats in a puzzle-box. The relation between Guthrie's formulation

and the great bulk of experimental work on learning remains remote.

M. E. B.

394

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