In this volume, designed to serve the needs both of the general reader and
of the college student, Professor Munsterberg has represented in most
readable form the essentials of the entire range of his contributions to
psychology. The well-known differentiation of the "two psychologies" is the
core of the book; herewith is reintroduced the psychology of the soul, not
merely as being on a level with, but ultimately even superordinate to, the
descriptive psychology which had banished from so many systems all mention
of the soul or even of the self. For we are shown how all description and
explanation, whether of material objects or of conscious processes, is after
all but construction in the service of purposes, to apprehend, understand,
and realize which is the primary business, of life.
This exposition of purposive psychology, surely the most novel feature of
the book, is what interests us most, and we discover with disappointment
that though theoretically every conscious state is subject-matter for either
type of psychology, i.e. may be either described in its causal relationships
or immediately grasped as an act of will, still Professor Munsterberg fills
five times as many pages with the usual descriptive psychology as with this
newer departure. We willingly conceded the importance of tradition in
textbook writing, but would urge upon Professor Munsterberg the impatience
with which we await more extended treatment of this topic.
A second deviation for a book of this type,--if Professor Munsterberg may
rightly be said ever to write books typical of anything but his own
uniqueness,--is the inclusion of a section on social psychology. This too,
we are inclined to regard as in nature of a promise, representing the
germination of lines of thought which we are assured elsewhere[*] are later
to receive more elaborate formulation.
[*] Munsterburg, H. "Grundzuge der Psychotechnik." Leipzig, 1914. Vorwort,
S. VIII.
Thirdly, one of the main divisions of the book is devoted to applied
psychology, the presentation here being essentially an abstract of the
author's previous publications in the field of his acknowledged preeminence,
psychotechnics.
Throughout the book discussion of general principles, whether of philosophy
or biology, takes precedence over the presentation of concrete facts; the
text contains no explicit references, though a brief bibliography of works
in English is appended. The consequent gain in readability is only one of
the many factors which insure this volume a very wide reading. R. M.
ELLIOTT. Harvard University.
THE JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
THE SEX WORSHIP AND SYMBOLISM OF PRIMITIVE RACES
BY SANGER BROWN II., M. D.
Assistant Physician--Bloomingdale Hospital.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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