The unconscious : $b The fundamentals of human personality, normal and abnormal — John Shaqi
The unconscious : $b The fundamentals of human personality, normal and abnormalPrince, Morton
Science
The unconscious : $b The fundamentals of human personality, normal and abnormal
Prince, Morton
Psychology, Pathological; Subconsciousness
This work is designed to be an introduction to abnormal psychology. The
problems considered, however, belong equally to normal psychology in
that they are problems of psycho-physiological functions and mechanisms.
I have made no attempt to develop any particular school of psychological
theory but rather, so far as may be, to gather together the knowledge
already gained and lay a foundation which can be built upon by any
school for the solution of particular problems, especially those of
special pathology. I have therefore endeavored to avoid controversial
questions although this, of course, has not been wholly possible, and
indeed so far as special pathological conditions (the psychoses) have
been considered, it has been for the purpose of providing data and
testing the principles adduced. The inductive method, alone, I believe,
as in the physical sciences, can enable us to arrive at sound
conclusions—justify the formulation of theories to explain psychological
phenomena. Because of the very difficulties of this field of
research—one of which is that of submitting to experimental conditions
complex psychological phenomena having so many factors—it is all the
more incumbent that the inductive method should be employed. To my way
of thinking we should begin at the bottom and build up bit by bit,
drawing, as we go, no wider conclusions than the facts developed
warrant; or if we do, these should be recognized clearly as working
hypotheses or speculative theories. Skyscrapers should not be erected
until the foundations have been examined to see if they will bear the
superstructure. That I have wholly succeeded in so rigorously
restricting my own endeavors I can scarcely hope. I trust, however, that
I have succeeded in consistently maintaining the distinction between
facts and their interpretations.
The present volume consists of selected lectures (with the exception of
four) from courses on abnormal psychology delivered at the Tufts College
Medical School (1908-10) and later at the University of California
(1910).[1] These again were based on a series of papers on the
Unconscious published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology (1908-9) of
which they are elaborations. Since the lectures were delivered a large
amount of new material has been incorporated and the subject matter
considered in more detail and more exhaustively than was practical
before student bodies. The four additional lectures (X, XI, XII and
XIII) appeared in abbreviated form in the same Journal (Oct., Nov.,
1912) under the title “The Meaning of Ideas as Determined by Unconscious
Settings.” The lecture form has been retained, offering as it does many
advantages where, in the exposition of a difficult subject, much that is
elemental needs to be stated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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