Journal of Abnormal Psychology

Williams, Tom A.

doi: 10.1037/h0074220pmid: N/A

Discusses the significance of affective and cognitive functions in the evolution of traumatic neurasthenia. Emotional shock evanescent in this disorder is an important contributing factor. However, when an elementary emotional disturbance of this kind receives reinforcement, the results may be different. Ideas can readily be induced in the minds of the hysterics through suggestion. Chronic fears experienced by hysterics are further complicated with circumstantial elements of a perceptual and ideational kind. The patient is not aware of these baseless fears since they are implicit in his psychic constitution. Wrong outlook of relatives and associates contribute to the development of false anaesthesia. Case reports are provided to illustrate these points. Rest-cure is suggested as a treatment, to re-educate patients in terms of their outlook.

Brill, A. A.

doi: 10.1037/h0075913pmid: N/A

Discusses the symptoms and treatment of anxiety neuroses. According to Freud's classification, these are actual neuroses, as distinguished from psychoneuroses, and are caused by somatic sexual injuries. The clinical symptoms are enumerated. Besides somatic sexual injuries, anxiety neuroses also show a psychic mechanism, which is similar to that found in hysteria. An analysis of the dreams of a 38 yr old patient revealed that her latent thoughts showed the hidden fulfillment of a repressed wish. Concluded that there are a group of cases of periodic depression, which do not belong to manic depression: These are the anxiety hysterias. Further, Freud's psychoanalytic method is the only rational method of treatment, of which dream analyses is an important technique.

Sidis, Boris

doi: 10.1037/h0075352pmid: N/A

Investigated the nature of galvanic deflections and its causal factors. It was hypothesized that active psycho-physiological, sensory and emotional processes initiated in a living organism bring about electro-motive forces with consequent galvanometric deflections. An experiment was conducted on rabbits with non-polarizable subcutaneous electrodes and a galvanometer. Results show that anesthetics abolished the galvanic phenomenon and all motor activity produced galvanometric deflections. Every sensory stimulation, affective or emotional produced galvanic deflection; motor reactions intensified this phenomenon, and the subcutaneous electrode proved that these were not due to skin effects. Thus, the galvanic phenomenon is due to electromotive forces induced in the organism by psychophysiological process under the influence of external stimulations. Concludes that galvanic phenomena are entirely muscular.

Prince, Morton

doi: 10.1037/h0065225pmid: N/A

Reviews the book, An Introduction to Social Psychology by Wm. McDougall. Starting with the emphasis of the important point that our emotions are the psychic counterparts of the instinctive actions which determine our impulses, McDougall aims in this work to make firm, in part at least, the foundations upon which a valid sociology may be based, by an examination of the nature of our most notable emotions and emotional attitudes. The reviewer suggests that the book is of equal significance to students of normal psychology, of sociology, of political theory, and of pedagogical method.

Prince, Morton

doi: 10.1037/h0066291pmid: N/A

Reviews the first volume of the journal, Jahrbuch für psycho-analytische und für psycho-pathologische forschungen by Bleuler, Freud, and Jung. Five articles are briefly summarized: "Analysis of the phobia of a five year old boy" (Freud), "The position of consanguineous marriages in the psychology of the neuroses" (Abraham), "Sexuality and Epilepsy" (Maeder), "The significance of the father for the fate of the individual" (Jung), and "Attempt at an analysis of a case of hysteria" (Ludwig Binswanger).

Prince, Morton

doi: 10.1037/h0065434pmid: N/A

Reports the proceedings of the first annual meeting of the American Psychopathological Association, which was held May 2, 1910 in Washington, DC. At this meeting the association was formally organized.