- Email: [email protected]
The clinical study of social behavior
BOOK REVIEWS
what has been read (put a scrambled hierarchy in order; describe some situations which embody negative reinforcement etc.). The reader is then instructed to turn to different pages, according to what answer he has given. If the answer is incorrect, the material is clarified and the reader is asked to go back and choose another answer. If the correct answer is given, further clarification can be skipped and the reader goes on to the next page. In this way the reader is given frequent feedback on his progress. Sometimes short supplementary materials are presented on the even-numbered pages (e.g. excerpts from nonbehavioral writers such as Freud, Reich and Marmor, discussion of issues such as symptom substitution, the presentation of graphed data etc.). Each chapter ends with a concise one-half page summary. This semiprogrammed method of presentation is interesting and is likely to hold a reader’s attention better than a traditionally presented text. The author’s style is clear and consistently understandable.
309
This is a workbook-to be actively worked with, not to be simply read. Many of its 343 pages are completely or partially blank for note taking. In fact, the book could be condensed to about 125 pages of print. Throughout the book the author attempts to translate traditional concepts such as transference into behavioral terminology. One whole chapter deals with traditional verbal therapy and attempts to familiarize the psychodynamically oriented therapist with some of the behavioral aspects of his own work. In summary, this book provides a fast, simple introduction to behavior principles and behavior therapy. It is essentially a semi-programmed workbook likely to effectively hold the reader’s interest. It should prove particularly useful as an introduction to behavior therapy for nonbehavioral clinicians and as a text for classes on behavior therapy for paraprofessionals.
JAMESJ. GRAY
The American Uniwrsity Washington, D.C. 20016
The Clinical Study of Social Behavior by DONALD R. PETERSON
Appleton Century Crofts, New York, 1968 This book is a particularly significant contribution to the clinical practice of behavior modification. Is is one of the first books to challenge without qualification the outmoded and inept precepts of “dynamic” diagnosis and offer in its place a practical assessment strategy based upon behavioral conceptions. In a special way this work is Peterson’s personal document. While pursuing a conventional clinical and research career he became thoroughly convinced that environmental situational variables were seriously neglected in traditional personality assessment. He therefore abandoned his previous clinical strategy to formulate a view of assessment which directly focused on the interaction
between the person and his life situation. In contrast to the useless intellectual gymnastics that are usual in traditional diagnosis, Peterson’s assessment plan is f-irmly committed to decisionmaking and to the preparation of guidelines for behavioral change. Thus, assessment and therapeutic action are purposefully related and functionally coordinated. It is little wonder that Peterson found himself drawn to the behavioral conceptions of Skinner, Wolpe and Bandura who had more or less initiated the same theoretical and practical directions. The book is arranged in seven chapters which logically progress from assessment theory to methods for studying social behavior and thence,
310
BOOK REVIEWS
to the application of these methods to a person, a family and a more complex social unit, and a hospital. The final chapter deals with the scientific, professional and ethical issues in assessment. In each clinical example the assessment procedures most favored by Peterson .are skillfully illustrated. The procedures are categorized as “Observation,” “ Interview” and “Experiment.” In his discussion, Peterson generally dismisses the traditional projective and objective testing methods as invalid because of the restrictive behavioral sampling they represent. In each of his three compelling clinical examples Peterson. shows the connection between assessment and change process, thus highlighting their complementary nature. The major theme of his work is that assessment is only meaningful when it
Dept. of Psychology, University of Hai/a, Haifa, Israel
contributes to the modification of the behavior of individuals, groups and social systems. In the time since this book appeared in 1968 Mischel has published his influential book, Personality and Asseument, saying basically the same things as Peterson, except with a more convincing research backing. Also Kanfer and Saslow have presented a more clearly formulated general program of behavioral assessment. However, the enduring value of this book is in the clarity of Peterson’s presentation. His decently human involvement in his assessment and treatment of cases serves as an excellent model for other behavioral clinicians. For students interested in grasping the fundamentals of behavioral assessment it continues to be an eminently satisfactory introduction.
MICHAEL
MERBAUM
what has been read (put a scrambled hierarchy in order; describe some situations which embody negative reinforcement etc.). The reader is then instructed to turn to different pages, according to what answer he has given. If the answer is incorrect, the material is clarified and the reader is asked to go back and choose another answer. If the correct answer is given, further clarification can be skipped and the reader goes on to the next page. In this way the reader is given frequent feedback on his progress. Sometimes short supplementary materials are presented on the even-numbered pages (e.g. excerpts from nonbehavioral writers such as Freud, Reich and Marmor, discussion of issues such as symptom substitution, the presentation of graphed data etc.). Each chapter ends with a concise one-half page summary. This semiprogrammed method of presentation is interesting and is likely to hold a reader’s attention better than a traditionally presented text. The author’s style is clear and consistently understandable.
309
This is a workbook-to be actively worked with, not to be simply read. Many of its 343 pages are completely or partially blank for note taking. In fact, the book could be condensed to about 125 pages of print. Throughout the book the author attempts to translate traditional concepts such as transference into behavioral terminology. One whole chapter deals with traditional verbal therapy and attempts to familiarize the psychodynamically oriented therapist with some of the behavioral aspects of his own work. In summary, this book provides a fast, simple introduction to behavior principles and behavior therapy. It is essentially a semi-programmed workbook likely to effectively hold the reader’s interest. It should prove particularly useful as an introduction to behavior therapy for nonbehavioral clinicians and as a text for classes on behavior therapy for paraprofessionals.
JAMESJ. GRAY
The American Uniwrsity Washington, D.C. 20016
The Clinical Study of Social Behavior by DONALD R. PETERSON
Appleton Century Crofts, New York, 1968 This book is a particularly significant contribution to the clinical practice of behavior modification. Is is one of the first books to challenge without qualification the outmoded and inept precepts of “dynamic” diagnosis and offer in its place a practical assessment strategy based upon behavioral conceptions. In a special way this work is Peterson’s personal document. While pursuing a conventional clinical and research career he became thoroughly convinced that environmental situational variables were seriously neglected in traditional personality assessment. He therefore abandoned his previous clinical strategy to formulate a view of assessment which directly focused on the interaction
between the person and his life situation. In contrast to the useless intellectual gymnastics that are usual in traditional diagnosis, Peterson’s assessment plan is f-irmly committed to decisionmaking and to the preparation of guidelines for behavioral change. Thus, assessment and therapeutic action are purposefully related and functionally coordinated. It is little wonder that Peterson found himself drawn to the behavioral conceptions of Skinner, Wolpe and Bandura who had more or less initiated the same theoretical and practical directions. The book is arranged in seven chapters which logically progress from assessment theory to methods for studying social behavior and thence,
310
BOOK REVIEWS
to the application of these methods to a person, a family and a more complex social unit, and a hospital. The final chapter deals with the scientific, professional and ethical issues in assessment. In each clinical example the assessment procedures most favored by Peterson .are skillfully illustrated. The procedures are categorized as “Observation,” “ Interview” and “Experiment.” In his discussion, Peterson generally dismisses the traditional projective and objective testing methods as invalid because of the restrictive behavioral sampling they represent. In each of his three compelling clinical examples Peterson. shows the connection between assessment and change process, thus highlighting their complementary nature. The major theme of his work is that assessment is only meaningful when it
Dept. of Psychology, University of Hai/a, Haifa, Israel
contributes to the modification of the behavior of individuals, groups and social systems. In the time since this book appeared in 1968 Mischel has published his influential book, Personality and Asseument, saying basically the same things as Peterson, except with a more convincing research backing. Also Kanfer and Saslow have presented a more clearly formulated general program of behavioral assessment. However, the enduring value of this book is in the clarity of Peterson’s presentation. His decently human involvement in his assessment and treatment of cases serves as an excellent model for other behavioral clinicians. For students interested in grasping the fundamentals of behavioral assessment it continues to be an eminently satisfactory introduction.
MICHAEL
MERBAUM