Normal and Abnormal Psychology
- Author:
Ernest
Nicole, O.B.E., D.P.M. George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., London. 8s. 6d.
Although Dr Nicole, in his preface, makes it clear that his book is intended largely for the use of nurses and others who need to show some knowledge of psychology in their work and training, it is perhaps unfortunate that the title itself does not indicate the very elementary nature of this book. This very remarkable book endeavours to cover, in 94 not very closely printed pages, the whole of academic psychology, the views of the principal schools of psychopathology, symptom formation, psychosomatic medicine, the principles of the central nervous system and applied psychology. Whilst the success with which this aim has been achieved reflects great credit on the author, it serves to emphasize that the book is meant only for the very elementary student of the subject.
On the whole, the balance between what is put in the book and what is left out is well maintained, but the necessity for brevity and the nature of the audience for whom the book is intended means that certain statements must be closely scrutinized if they are not to mislead. Although the more advanced student reading this book would have no difficulty in appreciating the author’s meaning and intention, there are passages which might confuse the elementary student for whom they are intended. In particular, the author’s attempt to give the view-points of so many different schools without coming down very strongly in favour of any one of them, must leave the elementary student somewhat confused as to what line to follow. This is more than ever noticeable since only the most superficial comparison between the various schools of thought is possible in such a brief book. Some confusion, too, is likely to arise over the frequent use of the word ” mental ” which, to the mind of the reader, may imply only its more common everyday usage. Indeed the emphasis in this book seems to be unfortunately strong in the direction of the psychoses, and the impression would remain to those not well acquainted with the subject that the psychoneuroses were merely minor manifestations of the insanities.
Dr Nicole is at his best in the chapter describing symptom formation and he is to be congratulated on the very excellent illustrative cases he describes, which sum up the picture very adequately, without being in any way lengthy. This chapter alone would make the book of very great value to those beginning the study of the subject. On the other hand, his approach to psychosomatic medicine is rather too technical and complex for a book of this type. Perhaps the main weakness of this book is the chapter on the applications of psychology in general life. Although difficulty here is obvious in a book of this size, in view of the enormous scope of the subject, there does seem some lack of balance in what is mentioned and what is omitted from this chapter. The brief synopsis of the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, given in the appendix, is very well done, but perhaps might well have been omitted in a work of this type and replaced with more value by further details on the actual subject matter of the book. There is a very useful glossary, the definitions of which are models of brevity, accuracy and clarity in the space available, although it seems hardly necessary to occupy space by definitions of such words as ” oral” and ” visual A number of suggestions for further reading are incorporated in this book and although there are certain obvious omissions, the list is a remarkably complete one. Despite the shortness of the book and the vast fields which it covers, there is no suggestion of its deteriorating into a mere tabulated synopsis.
On the contrary, it is clearly and pleasantly written, easy to read and a book which is likely to stimulate interest and further study. It has carefully avoided the common pitfall, even of elementary books on psychology, of using too many technical terms. In general, it is a very valuable addition to the field for which it is intended and should prove one which will not only provide the elementary student with the information which he needs, but which will give him a very excellent insight into the possibilities, as well as the problems, of psychology and psychopathology. T.A.R.
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