An Introduction to Child Psychology
46 STUDIES IN MENTAL INEFFICIENCY. Book Reviews. , by C. W. Waddle. Harrap & Co., London, I9I9- PP- ii and 317. 6/-. The progress of child psychology is now so rapid and its positive contributions to educational science so rich and so diverse that, as Dr Waddle wisely remarks in his preface, ” Satisfactory treatment of the entire field is no longer possible in a single volume.” Yet the novitiate teacher must be introduced to the scientific study of children. This book is on the whole the best attempt that has been made to effect such an introduction. The fact that it makes no claim to comprehensiveness is one of its virtues. In its broad, suggestive treatment of some of the more fundamental problems it avoids shallowness and dogmatism, and it succeeds in building up what is the essential thing for for the student to acquire, a point of view. That is far more valuable than any number of rounded-off laws and principles. The impression that one desires jleft in the mind of the young teacher is that child psychology is a vigorous and growing science, with a considerable body of knowledge already formulated in its bearings upon its technique, yet full of controversial questions to the solution of which he may with sufficient discipline be able himself to contribute. An adequate understanding of the issues in debated problems yields far more psychological insight than the easy assimilation of ready-made conclusions. In this respect the temper of the book is excellent, for the complexity of the problem of child psychology and the need for further critical inquiry are throughout indicated. Ample reference is made in the text and in topical bibliographies to the available descriptive and experimental studies. Yet the author contrives to avoid the ” scissors and paste ” effect, into which volumes of this type have been known to fall. The argument is connected and well developed. The opening chapter, which makes a survey of the historical background, is perhaps the least satisfactory. It ranges too widely, and in the available space a superficial treatment is inevitable. It is, so to speak, anthropologically unfair to decry such customs as infanticide and human sacrifice out of their primitive religious and social setting, and press them into an argument with which they have very little to do. The account of the growth of the child study movement is more adequate. The chapter dealing with the methods of the scientific study of children gives a useful summary of the relative merits and demerits of the older methods, the biographical, the “clinical,” and the questionnaire, and the cautionary remarks as to the use and value of statistics are quite in. place. A brief and judicious reference is made to intelligence tests and the Binet-Simon scales, but no exposition of the theory or formulae of correlation psychological interests. The whole problem of tests for general and special abilities should have had fuller discussion. The “biological perspective” in child study is well developed, and the significance of current problems in heredity is treated as adequately as is possible in such a space and setting. Three typical child activities,, play, language and drawing are discussed in ampler detail, and the fruitfu,lness of genetic studies clearly shown. These chapters are the most valuable in the book. In the otherwise broad and balanced treatment of the moral nature of children, there are two grave defects. The author fights shy of psycho-analysis, making but one reference to Freud and Jung, the discussion of moral development and delinquency being thus left inevitably formal and external. Furthermore, not a shadow of an attempt is made to deal with sexual instinct and sexual development. It is incredible that serious authors can still entirely omit reference to what is the central problem of moral development. The statistics and the psychology of feeble-mindedness in STUDIES IN MENTAL INEFFICIENCY. 47 relation to juvenile delinquency are discussed with some understanding, and Dr Waddle finally suggests that “delinquency is about one third a eugenic and two thirds a euthenic problem.” Susie S. Brierley. Report on the Care and Control of the Mentally Defective and Feeble-minded in Ontario, by the Honourable Frank Egerton, Justice of Appeal, Commissioner. Published by order of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Published by A. T. Wilgress, Toronto. This Report is specially interesting as the author approaches the question of the mentally defective not from the point of view of a medical man, but from that of a practical man whose position has brought him into very close contact with every kind of social problem. In order to arrive at a conclusion as to the various means which should be employed for the care, training and protection of defectives in Ontario the author has made a wide and very understanding survey of work carried out or projected in this country” and in the United States. The evidence, which he has collected or marshalled in an easy or compact form, should be of real assistance to all interested in the work for defectives in this country. Stress is laid on certain special aspects which might well be emphasised in this country. Foremost among these is the need for an organised supervision of all ascertained defectives in the community. The author has collected ia considerable body of opinion as to the very large numbers of defectives who are apparentlv able to fill some humble place in the world but who, if they are to do this with safety to themselves and to others, should be in close touch with trained visitors. He gives some interesting figures from the tests of the ^?S. Army:?”Out of 1,668,812 recruits (June 7th, 1919), who were psychologically examined, there were found with mental ages bellow seven years, 4,780 men; mental age seven to eight, 7,875, from eight to nine, 14,814; from nine to ten, 18,875; but “The result of these examinations has gone far to indicate that many men who in ordinary life are treated as normal and apparently behave as such, fall far short of the standard set up by psychiatrists for the entirely well-balanced.” In connection with this problem of the defective in the community, he emphasises the importance of early training for defective children. Dr Fernald’s views are quoted, from which it appears that he thinks that a fair proportion of high-grade cases who have been properly trained in any Institution, may deserve a chance in the community “The moron is not an Institution problem only.” Though emphasising this aspect of the problem, the author does not lose sight of the imperative necessity of caring for defectives of anti-social tendencies. A proper method of ascertaining and dealing with the criminal defective is laid down as essential. His evidence strengthens the conclusions arrived at by Dr Goring. Evelyn Fox.
Bibliography
- Reference type:
Journal Article
- Record-number:
17158
Year: 1920 Title: Reviews of Recent Books Journal: Studies in mental inefficiency Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Pages: 46-47 Date: 1920/04// Short-title: Reviews of Recent Books Alternate Journal: Stud Ment Ineffic
Accession-number: PMC5109083 Name-of-database: PubMed Central Language: eng Copyright:Attachment:
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