Oxford Essays on Psychology
MENTAL HEALTH 109
- Author:
William Brown,
F.R.C.P. Heinemann Medical Books. 10s. 6d.
This book is composed of seven lectures given to students at Oxford in recent years. It does not claim to treat exhaustively any of the aspects of psychology with which it deals, but it is very far from elementary. It will be of interest to the intelligent general reader, especially if he has already some acquaintance with psychological theories.
The first chapter deals with the general principles of psychology and the instinctive basis of mental activity. The classical orthodox view of instinct is taken in this, and succeeding sections and although the author acknowledges a debt to Freudian psychology and accepts much of the teaching of the Freudian school the impression is given that this must fit into the classical structure rather than that the latter should be altered to accommodate the dynamic new psychology.
In the next chapter under the heading of ” The Gregarious Instinct ” the author discusses the nature of ” transference and goes on to demonstrate the effect of the transference situation in the relationship of group and leader, with particular reference to the mass psychology of Nazi Germany. Here also we have the consideration of the formation of the super-ego, of compulsive elements within it and of the projection of undesirable qualities upon the enemies of Nazi Germany. The following chapter deals with the inferiority complex and reactions against it and with the paranoid tendency and its frequency. These factors are also applied to the German situation, and their influence on the German national character is shown.
It is felt that this examination of the German mass mind, which will probably be found the most interesting part of the book does not sufficiently emphasize the enormous capacity of the German for subservience to leaders. This, based on early repression of the more tender emotions associated with the mother-child relationship, and acceptance of a harsh father identification, would seem to be a very potent factor in male German psychology.
There follow two chapters on the socio-political aspects of psychology, and finally we have a brief survey of medical psychology and the type of disorder that is the province of the psychiatrist. Methods of treatment are briefly mentioned with emphasis on the value of relaxation. Not every one will agree with the wholesale condemnation of alcohol and tobacco that the author makes in this section.
The use of these substances in moderation is of value socially, and frequently of greater, more personal psychological value. It is surely better in the constant struggle to adapt to the demands of living that one should use alcohol and tobacco in moderation, than that one should be obliged to adopt some of the more crippling devices used as a defence or protest against life’s demands. R.F.R.
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