Review of 'The origins of intelligence in children'

Laurance F. Shaffer

doi:10.1037/h0051916

Shaffer, Laurance F.

1953-12-01 00:00:00

New Books and Tests recommend other works for fuller treatment of the Naumberg, Margaret. Psychoneurotic art: its junc- tion in psychotherapy. New York: Grune & psychology of the past half century. The abridge- ment of Brett's History renders an important serv- Stratton, 1953. Pp. x + 148. $6.75. ice to psychology by making it more easily availa- Through the medium of an intensive case study, ble to students who, in their involvement with the Miss Naumberg describes a psychoanalytically ori- technical aspects of modern psychology, may not be ented method of therapy which relies heavily upon aware of the origins of current movements.—M. K. the symbolic character of the patient's spontaneous art products. The presentation is perceptive and Piaget, Jean. The origins of intelligence in child- reflects the broad experience of a skilled clinician. ren. New York: International Universities Press, Her own discussion is buttressed by an analysis by 1953. Pp. xi + 419. $6.00. Adolph Woltmann of the Rorschach responses of a single case in relation to the art work produced This book, taken together with La Construction during three years of therapy, and by Piotrow- du Reel Chez I'Enfant, and La Formation du Sym- ski's comments on the Rorschach generally as it re- bole Chess I'Enfant, constitutes a series of works de- lates to the therapeutic use of graphic art. A crit- voted to the beginnings of intelligence. Piaget con- ical review of the literature on art in clinical prac- siders with particular care the infantile behavior tice forms a useful appendix. It is obviously vital which precedes, but forms the basis for, "intelligent" to the clinical culture for new techniques and meth- behavior: those elementary sensorimotor adaptations ods to circulate freely. This book admirably illus- commonly classified as reflexes and elementary hab- trates the kind of procedural description that will its. He is then able, by means of the concepts of allow other practitioners to adapt Miss Naumberg's circular reaction and the formation of secondary approach to their own therapeutic armamentaria. schemata, to account for the development from sim- When it is concerned with theory, however, it is at ple sensorimotor adjustment to the discovery and in- times fuzzy, at times doctrinaire, failing to provide vention of new means of adaptation. His empha- any adequate underpinning of ideas for the practi- sis on the importance of perceptual behavior in this cal techniques it advances. More concretely, read- sequence, and on the significance of learning (or ers may worry about the soundness of the interpre- "use") in promoting intellectual development, will tations derived from art products, just as they may strike a familiar note for American psychologists. wonder at the applicability of the method to more As usual, Piaget shows in this work the careful, in- than a fraction of the neurotic population. Miss genious observation of infants, and the detailed re- Naumberg's book represents a genuinely creative ports of even their most fleeting reactions, which effort. It deserves wide reading and the serious, make his developmental studies so stimulating. It critical consideration by which private hunches may should be noted that the translation is excellent, be transformed into useful public knowledge.— rendering an already compelling text into clear, ap- E. J. S. pealing, familiar terms. —A. M. G. Peters, R. S. (Ed.) Brett's history of psychology. Senn, Milton J. E. (Ed.) Problems of infancy and New York: Macmillan, 1953. Pp. 742. $7.50. childhood. Transactions of the Sixth Conference. New York: Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, 1953. In condensing G. S. Brett's three volumes into Pp. 160. $2.50. one (Vol. I, 1912; Vols. II and III, 1921), Peters has retained the original organization and even the This published account of the Sixth Macy Confer- writing of Brett. Except for the last of 15 chapters, ence on Infancy and Childhood brings together three editing was done by omitting entire sections and extended discussions of problems of infancy, along adding introductory statements to each chapter. with records of the group interchange following Even in its condensed form, this is a formidable each presentation. Escalona reports her observa- volume. Except for the new chapter, it is more of tions of emotional development and mother-infant a history of thought than of psychology. It traces relationship in the first year of life. K. M. Wolf in great detail the developments in philosophy, med- presents some of the cases of mothers and infants icine, and the physical sciences that led to psycho- studied in connection with the Yale rooming-in logical formulations from earliest recorded history project. Stewart describes the studies of excessive to the work of William James. In bringing the crying in infants which are under way at the Uni- work up to date, Peters has discarded the original versity of Washington Child Health Center. All chapter on "modern" psychology, and substituted one three papers are notable for their contributions both on twentieth-century trends. This summary of the to the phenomenology of infant behavior and to the history of psychology for the past fifty years con- development of dynamic hypotheses to account for stitutes a thumbnail sketch of some of the more com- it. Papers and discussion alike retain their original mon schools of contemporary psychology. This informal, conference form—a characteristic which chapter does not have the sweep of Brett's treat- adds markedly to their appeal and readability—A. ment of earlier history, but the editor was frank to M. G.

http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

Journal of Consulting Psychology American Psychological Association

http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/american-psychological-association/review-of-the-origins-of-intelligence-in-children-theOrta7W0

$New Books and Tests recommend other works for fuller treatment of the Naumberg, Margaret. Psychoneurotic art: its junc- tion in psychotherapy. New York: Grune & psychology of the past half century. The abridge- ment of Brett's History renders an important serv- Stratton, 1953. Pp. x + 148. $6.75. ice to psychology by making it more easily availa- Through the medium of an intensive case study, ble to students who, in their involvement with the Miss Naumberg describes a psychoanalytically ori- technical aspects of modern psychology, may not be ented method of therapy which relies heavily upon aware of the origins of current movements.—M. K. the symbolic character of the patient's spontaneous art products. The presentation is perceptive and Piaget, Jean. The origins of intelligence in child- reflects the broad experience of a skilled clinician. ren. New York: International Universities Press, Her own discussion is buttressed by an analysis by 1953. Pp. xi + 419. $6.00. Adolph Woltmann of the Rorschach responses of a single case in relation to the art work produced This book, taken together with La Construction during three years of therapy, and by Piotrow- du Reel Chez I'Enfant, and La Formation du Sym- ski's comments on the Rorschach generally as it re- bole Chess I'Enfant, constitutes a series of works de- lates to the therapeutic use of graphic art. A crit- voted to the beginnings of intelligence. Piaget con- ical review of the literature on art in clinical prac- siders with particular care the infantile behavior tice forms a useful appendix. It is obviously vital which precedes, but forms the basis for, "intelligent" to the clinical culture for new techniques and meth- behavior: those elementary sensorimotor adaptations ods to circulate freely. This book admirably illus- commonly classified as reflexes and elementary hab- trates the kind of procedural description that will its. He is then able, by means of the concepts of allow other practitioners to adapt Miss Naumberg's circular reaction and the formation of secondary approach to their own therapeutic armamentaria. schemata, to account for the development from sim- When it is concerned with theory, however, it is at ple sensorimotor adjustment to the discovery and in- times fuzzy, at times doctrinaire, failing to provide vention of new means of adaptation. His empha- any adequate underpinning of ideas for the practi- sis on the importance of perceptual behavior in this cal techniques it advances. More concretely, read- sequence, and on the significance of learning (or ers may worry about the soundness of the interpre- "use") in promoting intellectual development, will tations derived from art products, just as they may strike a familiar note for American psychologists. wonder at the applicability of the method to more As usual, Piaget shows in this work the careful, in- than a fraction of the neurotic population. Miss genious observation of infants, and the detailed re- Naumberg's book represents a genuinely creative ports of even their most fleeting reactions, which effort. It deserves wide reading and the serious, make his developmental studies so stimulating. It critical consideration by which private hunches may should be noted that the translation is excellent, be transformed into useful public knowledge.— rendering an already compelling text into clear, ap- E. J. S. pealing, familiar terms. —A. M. G. Peters, R. S. (Ed.) Brett's history of psychology. Senn, Milton J. E. (Ed.) Problems of infancy and New York: Macmillan, 1953. Pp. 742. $7.50. childhood. Transactions of the Sixth Conference. New York: Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, 1953. In condensing G. S. Brett's three volumes into Pp. 160. $2.50. one (Vol. I, 1912; Vols. II and III, 1921), Peters has retained the original organization and even the This published account of the Sixth Macy Confer- writing of Brett. Except for the last of 15 chapters, ence on Infancy and Childhood brings together three editing was done by omitting entire sections and extended discussions of problems of infancy, along adding introductory statements to each chapter. with records of the group interchange following Even in its condensed form, this is a formidable each presentation. Escalona reports her observa- volume. Except for the new chapter, it is more of tions of emotional development and mother-infant a history of thought than of psychology. It traces relationship in the first year of life. K. M. Wolf in great detail the developments in philosophy, med- presents some of the cases of mothers and infants icine, and the physical sciences that led to psycho- studied in connection with the Yale rooming-in logical formulations from earliest recorded history project. Stewart describes the studies of excessive to the work of William James. In bringing the crying in infants which are under way at the Uni- work up to date, Peters has discarded the original versity of Washington Child Health Center. All chapter on "modern" psychology, and substituted one three papers are notable for their contributions both on twentieth-century trends. This summary of the to the phenomenology of infant behavior and to the history of psychology for the past fifty years con- development of dynamic hypotheses to account for stitutes a thumbnail sketch of some of the more com- it. Papers and discussion alike retain their original mon schools of contemporary psychology. This informal, conference form—a characteristic which chapter does not have the sweep of Brett's treat- adds markedly to their appeal and readability—A. ment of earlier history, but the editor was frank to M. G.$

Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 7-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Review of 'The origins of intelligence in children'

Review of 'The origins of intelligence in children'

Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 7-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Review of 'The origins of intelligence in children'

Review of 'The origins of intelligence in children'

References (0)

Abstract

Journal

Recommended Articles

There are no references for this article.

Our policy towards the use of cookies