(1951). Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 20:633-634 Review by: Harold D. Lasswell This volume is remarkably well calculated to alienate its intended audience. The preface strikes a strident note: 'We hope this book is at least a mediocre attempt toward introducing an idea that will change the meaning of social and personality conflicts as radically as did Freud when he reported a hysterical symptom is effected by a motive and not a neutral [neural] mechanism or an inherently weak neurology'. The error is no doubt typographical, but weaknesses of 'neurology', like the infirmities of other 'ologies', including psychology, ought to be left at the door of the author, and not imputed to nature or left to the mistakes of assistants. The following conveys something of the author's message and method: 'Once we began to think in terms of providing the client with assets or social avenues rather than dwelling on problems, we began paying a little more attention to ourselves and what we might be able to do. We saw that although we had the potentialities for doing m [This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.] |
