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Psychological problems: The social context
BOOKREVIEWS R. EPSTEIN(Ed.): Notebooks-B.
F. Skinner. Prentice-Hall,
191
New York (1980). xiii + 386 pp. 315.95.
This is a collection of B. F. Skinner’s reflections on varied topics ranging from autocritics, creativity, the Don Juan principle, liberal wedding to the differential reinforcement of short responses. For those of us who have only read his scientific publications, this book provides some insight into Skinner’s personal perception of everyday events. Heavy emphasis on behaviouristic interpretation is noted in terms of reinforcement contingencies. A meaningful relationship can be inferred between the few extracts edited here and his numerous publications. On the whole an enjoyable book, but could have been condensed in size as a few extracts were uninteresting and meaninglesss. However, a useful indicator of the possible behavioural bias Skinner was carrying while construing routine events. BINA CHITKARA
P. FELDMANand J. ORFORD (Eds): Psychological Problems: The Social Context. Wiley, Chichester xi + 405 pp. E16.50.
(1980).
The first paragraph of the preface sets out the manifesto for this book: “For many years the experimental psychology of learning was the major area of ‘basic psychology’ upon which it was possible to draw for an explanation for psychological problems and for models for the psychological therapies. More recently, social psychology has made a major and growing contribution, and this collection of chapters is an attempt to represent some aspects of this development. Without denying the key roles of biological and learning events it is our conviction that social variables also play a major part in the occurrence of psychological problems, in their effective management, and most important of all, in their prevention.” Let me declare at once that I agree with these views of the editors. So far, however, there have been few attempts to give a broad presentation of the social context of psychological problems. This book is timely, important and welcome. The first part of the book is concerned with basic thery and research findings in social psychology considered to be relevant to the solution of psychological problems and comprises Jim Orford on the domestic context, Martin Herbert on socialization, Steve Duck on intimate relationships, Mark Cook on social perception, Michael Argyle on interaction skills and Raymond Cochrane and Michael Sobel on life stresses. The second part of the book is more directly practical focussing on particular psychological problems (Philip Feldman on offenders, William Yule on handicap and Geoff Shepherd on patients with social difficulties) and particular social approaches (Clifford O’Donnell on environmental design, Emory Cowen on the community context and William McGuire on social influence approaches). The book ends with an excellent overview by the editors drawing out the recurrent themes of the book, and linking together in a most interesting and helpful way points made by contributors in varied contexts. Inevitably in a book of this kind the contributions are somewhat even. One or two of the chapters by social psychologists betray only a distant and sketchy familiarity with psychological problems, and one of the chapters by a clinical psychologist is not sufficiently orientated to the social context for a book of this kind. Some authors review the scientific literature with exemplary thoroughness, while others are more inclined to lapse into pontification. Such variability is probably inevitable in an edited volume. However, this should not detract from the fact that this is a generally well-informed, well-presented book that will give a valuable impetus to the development of psychological approaches to social problems.
H. FREDERICand M. MALINSKY:Mnrtin. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London (1981). xviii + 102 pp. f7.50. This little book contains a detailed account of the psychotherapy of a bright but very aggressive little boy called Martin, which was carried out when he was between the ages of 4 and 6. The presentation of material alternates between descriptions of Martin’s therapy sessions by the therapist, Dr Malinsky, and by his mother, who also participated in them. At the end there is a chapter of reflections by Martin himself, written at the age of 13, some 7 years after the termination of his treatment. By his own account, his therapeutic experiences helped him to feel better about himself. to get on better with his mother, and with his friends; he also seemed to enjoy the process itself. While the book is more likely to appeal to those who already believe in psychotherapy, even the staunchest proponents of hard-line behaviour modifications may find themselves wondering what the outcome might have been if the lad’s indiscriminate hitting had been conceptualized and dealt with in purely onerant terms. The volume can be recommended to those who are unfamiliar with what actually goes bn in child psychotherapy when it is done well. Those who already know will probably wish to read it, too. The felicitous translation (the original was published in French in 1979) will make the task easier. VICKYRIPPERE
F. Skinner. Prentice-Hall,
191
New York (1980). xiii + 386 pp. 315.95.
This is a collection of B. F. Skinner’s reflections on varied topics ranging from autocritics, creativity, the Don Juan principle, liberal wedding to the differential reinforcement of short responses. For those of us who have only read his scientific publications, this book provides some insight into Skinner’s personal perception of everyday events. Heavy emphasis on behaviouristic interpretation is noted in terms of reinforcement contingencies. A meaningful relationship can be inferred between the few extracts edited here and his numerous publications. On the whole an enjoyable book, but could have been condensed in size as a few extracts were uninteresting and meaninglesss. However, a useful indicator of the possible behavioural bias Skinner was carrying while construing routine events. BINA CHITKARA
P. FELDMANand J. ORFORD (Eds): Psychological Problems: The Social Context. Wiley, Chichester xi + 405 pp. E16.50.
(1980).
The first paragraph of the preface sets out the manifesto for this book: “For many years the experimental psychology of learning was the major area of ‘basic psychology’ upon which it was possible to draw for an explanation for psychological problems and for models for the psychological therapies. More recently, social psychology has made a major and growing contribution, and this collection of chapters is an attempt to represent some aspects of this development. Without denying the key roles of biological and learning events it is our conviction that social variables also play a major part in the occurrence of psychological problems, in their effective management, and most important of all, in their prevention.” Let me declare at once that I agree with these views of the editors. So far, however, there have been few attempts to give a broad presentation of the social context of psychological problems. This book is timely, important and welcome. The first part of the book is concerned with basic thery and research findings in social psychology considered to be relevant to the solution of psychological problems and comprises Jim Orford on the domestic context, Martin Herbert on socialization, Steve Duck on intimate relationships, Mark Cook on social perception, Michael Argyle on interaction skills and Raymond Cochrane and Michael Sobel on life stresses. The second part of the book is more directly practical focussing on particular psychological problems (Philip Feldman on offenders, William Yule on handicap and Geoff Shepherd on patients with social difficulties) and particular social approaches (Clifford O’Donnell on environmental design, Emory Cowen on the community context and William McGuire on social influence approaches). The book ends with an excellent overview by the editors drawing out the recurrent themes of the book, and linking together in a most interesting and helpful way points made by contributors in varied contexts. Inevitably in a book of this kind the contributions are somewhat even. One or two of the chapters by social psychologists betray only a distant and sketchy familiarity with psychological problems, and one of the chapters by a clinical psychologist is not sufficiently orientated to the social context for a book of this kind. Some authors review the scientific literature with exemplary thoroughness, while others are more inclined to lapse into pontification. Such variability is probably inevitable in an edited volume. However, this should not detract from the fact that this is a generally well-informed, well-presented book that will give a valuable impetus to the development of psychological approaches to social problems.
H. FREDERICand M. MALINSKY:Mnrtin. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London (1981). xviii + 102 pp. f7.50. This little book contains a detailed account of the psychotherapy of a bright but very aggressive little boy called Martin, which was carried out when he was between the ages of 4 and 6. The presentation of material alternates between descriptions of Martin’s therapy sessions by the therapist, Dr Malinsky, and by his mother, who also participated in them. At the end there is a chapter of reflections by Martin himself, written at the age of 13, some 7 years after the termination of his treatment. By his own account, his therapeutic experiences helped him to feel better about himself. to get on better with his mother, and with his friends; he also seemed to enjoy the process itself. While the book is more likely to appeal to those who already believe in psychotherapy, even the staunchest proponents of hard-line behaviour modifications may find themselves wondering what the outcome might have been if the lad’s indiscriminate hitting had been conceptualized and dealt with in purely onerant terms. The volume can be recommended to those who are unfamiliar with what actually goes bn in child psychotherapy when it is done well. Those who already know will probably wish to read it, too. The felicitous translation (the original was published in French in 1979) will make the task easier. VICKYRIPPERE