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Our useless fears
,. Be-hot. Ther. & Erp. Psvchror Printed in Great Bman.
bol
13. No.
3, PP.
2h3-2hh.
19X2
IV82
Pergamon Pm\
Ltd.
BOOK REVIEWS Future Perspectives in Behavior Therapy Edited by L. MICHELSON,
M. HERSEN and S. TURNER
Plenum, New York, 1981 The authors and editors of this volume have provided a prospective view of behavior therapy in broad and significant areas. Although past research is reviewed in all chapters, a careful emphasis is given to the requirements, needs, and directions for future work. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1, “Children”, is concerned with behavioral approaches to prevention, education, treatment of childhood disorders and juvenile delinquency. Part 11, “Adults”, is concerned with future directions in the behavioral treatment of phobias, compulsions, affective and cognitive disorders, addictions, and various medically related problems. A chapter on psychopharmacology and behavior therapy is also included in this section. Part III, “Community”, includes chapters on behavioral ecology, gerontology, industry and government, treatment of rape victims, and the use of behavioral principles for quality of life enhancement. This volume’s extensive prospective coverage of behavior therapv may stimulate an equally extensive range of appeal. Potential beneficiaries include those interested in new research projects and directions; general overviews of the field; pitfalls and tribulations to be avoided in various areas of research, legislative factors influencing funding and implementation, integrations of behavioral endeavors with those of related disciplines, and the comprehensive and future progress of behavioral research. Clearly, a wide and valuable range of information is available here. Although well written and instructive, Future Perspecrives is not without shortcomings. With the exception of the chapter on affective disorders, and to a lesser extent the chapters on addictive disorders, rape, and education, there is a curious lack of emphasis on comparative outcome. This is particularlv unfortunate given the potential legislative and multidisciplinary appeal of this book. In addition, a
number of significant areas of behavior therapy are left uncovered, and a few of the topic areas (e.g. treatment of childhood disorders; behavioral medicine) extend beyond the scope of the single chapter format. These shortcomings may reflect inherent limits on what can be accomplished in a single volume of work. In addition to providing guidelines to new research frontiers, Future Perspectives commendably delineates several harsh realities facing workers in the behavioral field. Many behaviorists have long believed that good empirical work showing good outcome and practical human benefit will be extensively implemented by the rest of the clinical field. Future Perspectives clearly proves this a false and naive assumption. The authors’ recommendations for such implementation problems are generally incisive; e.g., lobbying to state and federal legislatures, increased attention to industrial opportunities and to broader systems assessments, and taking small steps towards research and treatment goals when sweeping changes are impossible to effect. When reading Future Perspectives, this reviewer gained an expanded respect for the breadth and excellence of behavioral research being applied by thousands of researchers, with potentially enormous human benefit. This conveyed sense of community, in combination with the substance of the chapters, makes Future Perspectives in Behavior Therapy a noteworthy contribution. THOMAS R. GILES Department of Psychiatry University of Alabama in Birmingham, School of Medicine Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A.
Our Useless Fears by JOSEPH WOLPE with DAVID WOLPE Houghton
Mifflin Company,
Over the past decade or so, we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of textbooks dealing with behavior therapy and behavior modification, and a virtual avalanche
Boston, 1981, 181 pp., $10.95 of self-help books presumably based on the foundations laid by researchers in this field. Although this widened exposure has apparently had the effect of favorably altering 263
264
BOOK REVIEWS
public attitudes toward “behavior modification” and attenuating the early “Clockwork Orange” viewpoint, it has not appreciably increased the public’s level of knowledge about behavior therapy (Young and Patterson, 1981). Our Useless Feurs is an attempt to fill this informational void, by presenting the basics of behavioral theory, analysis and therapy in an easy-to-read and non-technical style. Wolpe, generally regarded as the father of modern behavior therapy, has always restricted his writings to scientific journals and books. In this small volume he has made his first forray into the jungle of “popular” psychology/ psychiatry books. Unlike many of his fellow travellers in this area, Wolpe manages to maintain a high caliber of scientific perspective. Described in an unquestionably logical sequence are the deductions from Pavlovian experiments that led him to the development of behavior therapy. Although clearly not for the simple-minded, it seems relatively simple to follow the course of behavioral analysis as decribed here. Our Useless Fears is a refreshing departure from the selfhelp books, and, in fact, includes a chapter entitled “Why Expert Help is Necessary”. It does promise to help the nonprofessional reader gain a clear, behavioral, understanding of common fears and how they might be conquered through behavior therapy. The promise, it appears, has been kept. Although published only a few months ago, I have advised several of my new patients to read the book at the initiation of therapy. Feedback has been excellent and I have found it beneficial in preparing patients for behavior therapy. This has been especially true for those patients who have previously been treated by therapists of other persuasions, as Wolpe gently, but pointedly, makes note of
Psychopathology
the differences between behavior therapy and several other therapies. The descriptions of various forms of behavior therapy are punctuated throughout with relevant clinical case examples which assist the reader in coming to a more complete understanding of the subject. There is also a much appreciated section dealing with some of the common misconceptions about behavior therapy. In this section, Wolpe dispels the old myths that behavior therapists deal “surface” problems, cannot work with only with “complex” cases and are “cold” and unfeeling. My only regret, and one which seems relevant considering the potential audience, is that Wolpe provides the reader with no assistance in locating or assessing the credentials of a potential behavior therapist. In the second edition, perhaps the area might be given some consideration. All in all, the book stands as a very welcome addition to the shelves of the local bookshop, as well as a book of potential value in the initial phases of behavior therapy. One can only hope that it receives the public recognition and acclaim it justly deserves.
REFERENCE Young L. D. and Patterson J. N. (1981) Information and opinions about behavior modification, J. Behav. Ther. & Exp. Psychiuf. 12, 189-196. BRUCE Headache Treatment Center 1705 Broadwuy Hewlett, New York 11557
of Childhood: A Clinical-Experimental
by STEVEN SCHWARTZ
A. LEVINE
Approach
and JAMES H. JOHNSON
Pergamon Press: New York, 1981 Schwartz and Johnson are true to their title in presenting a research-oriented text for the advanced undergraduate student, graduate student, or professional. This book covers the behavioral disorders of childhood with an untiring eye to the current body of knowledge derived from clinical research. A concise first chapter provides the reader with a fastpaced exposure to the historical views of behavioral disorders, models of psychopathology and major influences on the field, along with a breathtakingly brief excursion into the concept of child development. They acknowledge the “enormous importance” of psychoanalytic contributions to the study of child psychology, but this is mere
politeness. For the remainder of the book, psychodynamic theory is treated more as a historical curiosity than as a serious alternative to behavioral/cognitive approaches. In the second chapter on assessment and classification, the authors ease into the rigorous and hard-nosed style that characterizes the remainder of the book. Here projective techniques are carefully described but quickly dismissed due to validity problems. Behavioral approaches to child assessment obviously fare better. A discussion of systems of classification is brief but informative. Nine chapters follow that examine various categories of behavior problems beginning with a well-conceived discussion of common developmental difficulties of a less
bol
13. No.
3, PP.
2h3-2hh.
19X2
IV82
Pergamon Pm\
Ltd.
BOOK REVIEWS Future Perspectives in Behavior Therapy Edited by L. MICHELSON,
M. HERSEN and S. TURNER
Plenum, New York, 1981 The authors and editors of this volume have provided a prospective view of behavior therapy in broad and significant areas. Although past research is reviewed in all chapters, a careful emphasis is given to the requirements, needs, and directions for future work. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1, “Children”, is concerned with behavioral approaches to prevention, education, treatment of childhood disorders and juvenile delinquency. Part 11, “Adults”, is concerned with future directions in the behavioral treatment of phobias, compulsions, affective and cognitive disorders, addictions, and various medically related problems. A chapter on psychopharmacology and behavior therapy is also included in this section. Part III, “Community”, includes chapters on behavioral ecology, gerontology, industry and government, treatment of rape victims, and the use of behavioral principles for quality of life enhancement. This volume’s extensive prospective coverage of behavior therapv may stimulate an equally extensive range of appeal. Potential beneficiaries include those interested in new research projects and directions; general overviews of the field; pitfalls and tribulations to be avoided in various areas of research, legislative factors influencing funding and implementation, integrations of behavioral endeavors with those of related disciplines, and the comprehensive and future progress of behavioral research. Clearly, a wide and valuable range of information is available here. Although well written and instructive, Future Perspecrives is not without shortcomings. With the exception of the chapter on affective disorders, and to a lesser extent the chapters on addictive disorders, rape, and education, there is a curious lack of emphasis on comparative outcome. This is particularlv unfortunate given the potential legislative and multidisciplinary appeal of this book. In addition, a
number of significant areas of behavior therapy are left uncovered, and a few of the topic areas (e.g. treatment of childhood disorders; behavioral medicine) extend beyond the scope of the single chapter format. These shortcomings may reflect inherent limits on what can be accomplished in a single volume of work. In addition to providing guidelines to new research frontiers, Future Perspectives commendably delineates several harsh realities facing workers in the behavioral field. Many behaviorists have long believed that good empirical work showing good outcome and practical human benefit will be extensively implemented by the rest of the clinical field. Future Perspectives clearly proves this a false and naive assumption. The authors’ recommendations for such implementation problems are generally incisive; e.g., lobbying to state and federal legislatures, increased attention to industrial opportunities and to broader systems assessments, and taking small steps towards research and treatment goals when sweeping changes are impossible to effect. When reading Future Perspectives, this reviewer gained an expanded respect for the breadth and excellence of behavioral research being applied by thousands of researchers, with potentially enormous human benefit. This conveyed sense of community, in combination with the substance of the chapters, makes Future Perspectives in Behavior Therapy a noteworthy contribution. THOMAS R. GILES Department of Psychiatry University of Alabama in Birmingham, School of Medicine Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A.
Our Useless Fears by JOSEPH WOLPE with DAVID WOLPE Houghton
Mifflin Company,
Over the past decade or so, we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of textbooks dealing with behavior therapy and behavior modification, and a virtual avalanche
Boston, 1981, 181 pp., $10.95 of self-help books presumably based on the foundations laid by researchers in this field. Although this widened exposure has apparently had the effect of favorably altering 263
264
BOOK REVIEWS
public attitudes toward “behavior modification” and attenuating the early “Clockwork Orange” viewpoint, it has not appreciably increased the public’s level of knowledge about behavior therapy (Young and Patterson, 1981). Our Useless Feurs is an attempt to fill this informational void, by presenting the basics of behavioral theory, analysis and therapy in an easy-to-read and non-technical style. Wolpe, generally regarded as the father of modern behavior therapy, has always restricted his writings to scientific journals and books. In this small volume he has made his first forray into the jungle of “popular” psychology/ psychiatry books. Unlike many of his fellow travellers in this area, Wolpe manages to maintain a high caliber of scientific perspective. Described in an unquestionably logical sequence are the deductions from Pavlovian experiments that led him to the development of behavior therapy. Although clearly not for the simple-minded, it seems relatively simple to follow the course of behavioral analysis as decribed here. Our Useless Fears is a refreshing departure from the selfhelp books, and, in fact, includes a chapter entitled “Why Expert Help is Necessary”. It does promise to help the nonprofessional reader gain a clear, behavioral, understanding of common fears and how they might be conquered through behavior therapy. The promise, it appears, has been kept. Although published only a few months ago, I have advised several of my new patients to read the book at the initiation of therapy. Feedback has been excellent and I have found it beneficial in preparing patients for behavior therapy. This has been especially true for those patients who have previously been treated by therapists of other persuasions, as Wolpe gently, but pointedly, makes note of
Psychopathology
the differences between behavior therapy and several other therapies. The descriptions of various forms of behavior therapy are punctuated throughout with relevant clinical case examples which assist the reader in coming to a more complete understanding of the subject. There is also a much appreciated section dealing with some of the common misconceptions about behavior therapy. In this section, Wolpe dispels the old myths that behavior therapists deal “surface” problems, cannot work with only with “complex” cases and are “cold” and unfeeling. My only regret, and one which seems relevant considering the potential audience, is that Wolpe provides the reader with no assistance in locating or assessing the credentials of a potential behavior therapist. In the second edition, perhaps the area might be given some consideration. All in all, the book stands as a very welcome addition to the shelves of the local bookshop, as well as a book of potential value in the initial phases of behavior therapy. One can only hope that it receives the public recognition and acclaim it justly deserves.
REFERENCE Young L. D. and Patterson J. N. (1981) Information and opinions about behavior modification, J. Behav. Ther. & Exp. Psychiuf. 12, 189-196. BRUCE Headache Treatment Center 1705 Broadwuy Hewlett, New York 11557
of Childhood: A Clinical-Experimental
by STEVEN SCHWARTZ
A. LEVINE
Approach
and JAMES H. JOHNSON
Pergamon Press: New York, 1981 Schwartz and Johnson are true to their title in presenting a research-oriented text for the advanced undergraduate student, graduate student, or professional. This book covers the behavioral disorders of childhood with an untiring eye to the current body of knowledge derived from clinical research. A concise first chapter provides the reader with a fastpaced exposure to the historical views of behavioral disorders, models of psychopathology and major influences on the field, along with a breathtakingly brief excursion into the concept of child development. They acknowledge the “enormous importance” of psychoanalytic contributions to the study of child psychology, but this is mere
politeness. For the remainder of the book, psychodynamic theory is treated more as a historical curiosity than as a serious alternative to behavioral/cognitive approaches. In the second chapter on assessment and classification, the authors ease into the rigorous and hard-nosed style that characterizes the remainder of the book. Here projective techniques are carefully described but quickly dismissed due to validity problems. Behavioral approaches to child assessment obviously fare better. A discussion of systems of classification is brief but informative. Nine chapters follow that examine various categories of behavior problems beginning with a well-conceived discussion of common developmental difficulties of a less