RECENT LITERATURE

NOTES AND ABSTRACTS

The abstracts and bibliography in this issue were prepared under the general direction of D. E. Proctor, by P. T. Diefenderfer, P. P. Denune, C. W. Hayes, E. L. Setterlund, and Mrs. E. R. Rich, of the Department of Sociology of the University of Chicago. Each abstract is numbered at the end according to the classification printed in the January number of the Journal.

I. PERSONALITY: THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE PERSON

The Biometrical Study of Heredity.-Mendelism is the only type of inheritance yet demonstrated in fully investigated cases; it is, however, theoretically possible that blending inheritance might exist in quantitative characters, but these also are transmitted by Mendelian factors. Mutations are rare and are the only agency by which species can be modified to any appreciable extent.-R. A. Fisher, Eugenics Review, XVI (October, December, 1924), 189–210. (I, 2; VIII, 2.)

P. T. D.

The Sociology of Authority.-Authority, the central problem of mass psychology, is defined as "the untested acceptance of another's judgment." Authority is the unifying, integrating, species-conserving principle of human association, while anarchy is the dissolving, disintegrating, species-destroying one. The fundamental conflict of human history is the perennial opposition between personality and community. Where dogmatic adherents maintain the irreconcilable antithesis between authority and anarchy, communism and individualism, the sociological observer perceives a reconciliation of opposites. The need of authority in original human nature is to be demonstrated as a necessity of purpose, as an economy of the will, and as an expression of the law of least effort.-Ludwig Stein, Publications of the American Sociological Society, Vol. XXVIII, The Trend of Population, 116–20. (I, 2, 4.)

Heredity and Genius. It cannot yet be said with scientific precision whether genius results from superior inheritance or from superior opportunities made possible by the better social and economic position of the family. A study of American men of genius seems to indicate the possibility of the latter.-Charles Kassell, South Atlantic Quarterly, XXIII (April, 1924), 112–23. (I, 2; VIII, 2.) P. P. D.

Is There a Natural Law of Inequality?—The contention of some recent writers that there is a natural law of inequality is based upon a misconception. Variations do exist, but variation does not prove inequality. The leading ethnologists and anthropologists of the day support this latter view.-Ira W. Howerth, Scientific Monthly, XIX (November), 502-11. (I, 2; IV, 2.) P. P. D.

Anthropology and Psychology: A Study in Some Points of Contact.-The author assumes the existence of two dispositions ("types"), introversion and extroversion, and pushes an inquiry important to anthropology. He considers their biology, their racial as well as interracial distribution, their modes of inheritance, how far they are capable of being reinforced in the individual as a result of environment, whether the two dispositions commonly exert a sexual attraction or repulsion upon each other, and whether the reactions characteristic of each are expressed by a particular facies in the concrete works of art and of the crafts they produce.-C. J. Seligman, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, LIV (January-June, 1924), 13-46. (I, 2, 4.) C. W. H.

A Psychology without Heredity. In a strictly behavioristic psychology, with its emphasis on laboratory procedure and with its insistence on physiological explanation of behavior, there is practically no room for the concept of heredity. We need not so much the assumption of heredity as an experimental technique for the study of psychophysiology and developmental psychology. Unless behaviorism makes such development, it will merely rephrase the old speculative psychological categories.-Z. Y. Kuo, Psychological Review, XXXI (November, 1924), 427–47. (I, 2.) E. L. S.

Purpose and Mechanism in Psychology.-Purposive psychology describes events in terms of purpose, allows for occurrence of phenomena under varying circumstances with different antecedent conditions, and leaves room for indeterminism. Mechanistic psychology explains phenomena as applied to a series of events with comparatively fixed antecedents with numerically definite limits. Such terms as "self," "instinct," "learning through pain and pleasure" are embodied in purposive description. There is no hard-and-fast line between purposive and mechanistic description. Because of the complexity of human nature, indeterminism must be allowed for, since all causal factors are not known. A synthesis of purposive and mechanistic description will facilitate preciseness, though absolute preciseness is impossible in psychology.-E. R. Guthrie, Journal of Philosophy, XXI (December 4, 1924), 673–81. ̊ (Ï, 2, 4.)

E. L. S.

Psychological and Sociological Types.-In establishing types a formula is sought which expresses interaction of mental functions in the individual. These act differently in each type. To determine psychopathic types, classification is based both on psychological observation and on the social conduct of the individual. Kronfeld concludes that behind the social behavior of men the same functions and dispositions are not always operative. Environmental conditions constantly change, and reactions cannot be finally characterized even in pure psychological types. Kronfeld's connecting link between psychological and sociological types is the concept "reactivity"-a specific psychic interrelationship of functions, which conceivably leads to specific social behavior. Reactions vary with environment. It is only within the milieu of a special type that reactions are distinguished quantitatively and qualitatively. Heinrich Klüver, Psychological Review, XXXI (November, 1924), 456–62. (I, 2, 4; IX, 2.) E. L. S.

Développement psychique de l'enfant et influence de l'education.-The increase or decrease in the intellect of a child in comparison with the normal child is due to certain defects of the neuro-muscular system. In the study of infant pathology, the morbid characters are usually divided into the paranoic, the perverse, and the hysteric, the causes of which can generally be traced to cardiac, respiratory, or gland disorders. All of these ailments are antisocial in character. However, these defects may be remedied to some extent by the infant's education.-Dr. Charles Grimbert, Revue de philosophie, XXIV (September-October, 1924), 490–507. (I, 3.) P. T. D.

Child Guidance Clinics Planned for Problem Children.—A child-guidance clinic is an organization that seeks to bring to the study, training, and treatment of problem children whatever medicine, psychiatry, psychology, education, and social case work can offer.-V. V. Anderson, Nation's Health, VI (October 15, 1924), 684-89. (I, 3; VIII, 1.) C. W. H.

Moral and Social Development of the Six Year Old Child.—An estimate of a child's potentials obtained from physical, psychological, mental, and pedagogical tests is an important aid in classification. Success in school depends not only upon this combined judgment but upon all that is involved in personality. Development of personality and character formation begins in the nursery. A test of thirty-six children in the first grades of four schools in Worcester, Massachusetts, was made. In general it was noticed that the children ranked highest in the schools where environment and home training were best. Complete life-histories of each child are needed for more accurate knowledge. Ellen A. Maher, Pedagogical Seminary, XXXI (September, 1924), 268-75. (I, 3; IX, 2.) E. L. S.

The World and the Blind Man.-The blind have no power or sense not possessed by the seeing, not even an increased keenness of the remaining senses; merely a sub

traction of sight with a somewhat better utilization and development of the four other senses to meet conditions. The psychology of the blind differs from that of the seeing only in that the blind do not see.- Charles Magee Adams, Atlantic Monthly, CXXXIV (November, 1924), 595–602. (I, 4; IX, 5.) E. R. R.

The Nature of Suggestibility.-Suggestibility is an attitude or set on the part of the individual which may be a temporary or chronic attitude, which may involve the whole organism and thus be what we call an expressive attitude, or may involve only a part of the individual's personality (dissociation); and, finally, this dissociation may develop to such an extent that one shows a double personality. Negativism is nonsuggestibility. Experimental tests have thrown light upon two types of abnormal individuals: the schizophrenic and the psychoneurotic. The schizophrenic is usually suspicious, wary, and negativistic. His mental threshold goes up when daydreaming, whereas the threshold of the psychoneurotic, who is trustful, open, and suggestible, goes down while daydreaming. If the individual is neither one nor the other, there is no change under different conditions. The value of these tests is in detecting incipient tendencies toward functional neuroses, and thus they become valuable in mental prophylaxis and hygiene.—John J. B. Morgan, Psychological Review, XXXI (November, 1924), 463–77. (I, 4; VIII, 4.) E. L. S.

II. THE FAMILY

Women and the New Morality. With the coming of economic and political independence, women are also seeking their independence in the morality of sex. The old meaning of sex morality used to apply almost wholly to the male sex. Today we see women assuming the right to act as their impulses dictate, with much the freedom that men have enjoyed for so long. Yesterday women's true feelings and personalities were disregarded and denied. Today they are demanding their recognition on the same basis as the other sex.-Beatrice M. Hinkle, Nation, CXIX (November 19, 1924), 541-43. (II, 1.) P. T. D.

La promiscuité est-elle primitive?-Promiscuity is an exceptional phenomenon among primitive peoples. It is practiced among certain congregated groups, among whom the Punaluan, of Central Australia, may be cited as the best example. In this group promiscuity is limited to small numbers of the group. The men have their women in common. It might better be called marriage of groups, since these groups are sections of families; that is, two families exchange their women of the same generation. Another case which might be considered as promiscuity in many tribes is the custom of hospitality. Among the Eskimo, wife-exchange is practiced in connection with certain customs, chief of which are those related to economic value. Finally, promiscuity exists chiefly among peoples where the separation of the sexes often occurs and is of long duration.-P. Descamps, Revue de l'Institute de Sociologie, X (July, 1924), 1–22. (II, 1.) P. T. D.

The Cultivation of Family Life.-It is the children that make up the greater part of the family, and the children from whom the parents receive great joy and pleasure. The growing and developing of personalities is one of the family's responsibilities. To guarantee happiness in the family, everyone should be interested in the interests of all the rest. The strongest family is that in which the members of the family accept each other for what they are. The ideal family is that in which we have co-operative life.— Karl de Schweinitz, Family, V (December, 1924), 195–99. (II, 3.) P. T. D.

Factors Affecting the Marital Condition of the Population.-The relation of death, crime, insanity, and pauperism to the single, widowed, divorced, and the married. The influence on the percentage married of the age distribution, of sex ratios of men to women, of the racial and nativity elements in the population, of urban and rural communities, of manufacturing, of employment of women, of the birth-rate, and of income. -William Fielding Ogburn, Publications of the American Sociological Society, Vol. XXVIII, The Trend of Population, 47–59. (II, 3.)

The Family Allowance System.-In the family-allowance system we have the distribution of wages according to the family's need. France has devoted greatest attention to this system, and almost three million workers are covered by it. The allowance constitutes additions to the wage earned for every child. It is claimed that this will increase the birth-rate and decrease the infant mortality. No definite change has been noticed in the birth-rate as yet, but a decided decrease in infant mortality has taken place. The allowances are paid by the government or by the employer. This system is still in the experimental stage, and many other nations are testing it in different ways. -J. H. Richardson, Economic Journal, XXXIV (September, 1924), 373-86. (II, 3.) P. T. D.

Educating for Parenthood.-Education for parenthood can be carried on in two ways: through the universities, and by means of the public library system. The university has its courses in home economics, nutrition, and hygiene, etc., but to these should be added a course in training for parenthood, which should include the mental, moral, and physical education of children from earliest infancy through the high-school age, to be supplemented by graded courses and required theses. The public library, including all branches of learning, is accessible to all.-Margaretta Willis Reeve, Journal of Social Hygiene, X (December, 1924), 449–60. (II, 3.) P. T. D.

The Fabric of Family Life.-The fabric of family life is made up largely of things which taken by themselves are trifles. Case workers are often misled by the failure of language to express adequately the things of the spirit. Should not case workers be more concerned to form public opinion with respect to the founding of families?-Joanna Colcord, Family, V (November, 1924), 172–75. (II, 3.) C. W. H.

III. PEOPLES AND CULTURAL GROUPS

The Days of Our Ancients.-The Zuni, an ancient tribe of American Indians, can be found scattered throughout the great Southwest. Their civilization passed through the stage of collecting seeds to the stage of planting seeds. On becoming settled, abodes were dug in the ground and new devices invented for household and agricultural use. Slowly they have more and more progress until great houses were built and community life became organized. However, due to civil wars, the great houses disappeared sometime during the twelfth century. The remnants of these great house communities took up the life of the present-day Hopi and Zuni pueblos, and are making their last stand against invasive modern Americanism.-Mary Austin, Graphic, LIII (October, 1924), 33-38. (III, 1.) P. T. D.

Psychoanalysis and Anthropology. The mental data investigated by the anthropologist form a part of the province of the psychoanalyst. We discover in the hidden recesses of the mind implicit beliefs or forms of thought that have been recorded either in folklore and mythology of bygone days or among savage races of the present time. There is a gradual convergence of anthropological and psychoanalytical points of view. Common to all features of the unconscious mind is some indication of their belonging to a primitive mental level. Attention is directed to two or three features of the unconsicous of a general or formal nature, and two or three relating to its content.-Ernest Jones, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, LIV (January-June, 1924), 47-66. (III, 2.) C. W. H.

Immigration and the American Birth-Rate.-The widespread belief that foreign immigration has been directly responsible for the decline of the native American birthrate is not based upon fact. The birth-rate was declining before immigration became significant. Both the decline in the birth-rate and the rapid increase in immigration have been due to the rapid industrial advance and the social changes in America. Only indirectly is there any causal connection between immigration and the fall of the birthrate; that is, in so far as immigration helped to fill up and develop the country and create conditions favorable to the decline.-E. B. Reuter, Journal of Applied Sociology, VIII (May-June, 1924), 274–82. (III, 4; VIII, 2.) P. P. D.

The Recent Northward Migration of the Negro.-In volume, the recent northward migration of negroes is unprecedented. It comes largely from the cotton states, from which there had previously been comparatively little migration to the North. The migrating negroes are going mostly to a few northern cities and are finding employment as laborers or semiskilled workmen in industrial plants, where to a limited extent they are making up for the falling off in the supply of foreign labor. It is a question whether the negroes can maintain their numbers in the North by natural increase, or without being recruited by immigration from the South. The movement probably accounts in part for the fact that the growth of negro population was smaller in the last decade than ever before. Joseph A. Hill, Publications of the American Sociological Society, Vol. XXVIII, The Trend of Population, 34-46. (III, 4.)

The Mexican Population of Omaha.-The Mexican population of Omaha numbers about 1,000, six hundred of whom live in South Omaha. They are mostly illiterate, and are employed in the packing-houses, stockyards, railroads, and on near-by farms. They are mostly single men but include about fifty families. Their death-rate is high and their birth-rate exceedingly high.-T. Earl Sullenger, Journal of Applied Sociology, VIII (May-June, 1924), 289–93. (III, 4; V, 2.) P. P. D.

The Racial Origin of Almshouse Paupers.-A discussion of one of the points raised in the figures in an eight-page pamphlet, issued by the Bureau of the Census, Paupers in Almshouses, 1923. Comparison favors the negro as against the native-born white. While the proportion of foreign born in public houses per 100,000 is greater for the foreign-born than for the native-born white, yet, in the period covered, there has been a distinct diminution in the proportion of foreign-born to total white almshouse paupers. With a few trifling exceptions, all the countries from which the present law encourages immigration contributed to almshouse paupers in 1923 in excess of their representation in the population of 1920.-Raymond Pearl, Science, LX (October 31, 1924), 394-97. (III, 4; VIII, 1.) C. W. H.

The Negro Migrations.-(A debate.) It is better that the negroes be distributed throughout the nation, and that every section be responsible for the final solution of the race problem. Fortson believes that they will be more efficient in industry than in agriculture; that they have handicapped the South, whereas in the North they will replace the immigrant favorably in every way, even biologically. Pickens believes that it is doubtful if the negroes will die out as a result of such distribution, but they may become amalgamated.-Blanton Fortson and William Pickens, The Forum, LXXII (November, 1924), 592–607. (III, 4; V, 3.) C. W. H.

The Ozark Bluff-Dwellers.-This is an account of an expedition into the dry rock shelters of the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, which happened to find a district where the conditions were especially favorable, and a large and varied collection of basketry, wood, fiber, skin, stone, bone, etc. was found.-M. R. Harrington, American Anthropologist, XXVI (January-March, 1924), 1–21. (III, 6.) E. R. R.

Canoes in the Gilbert Islands. Here is a detailed description of a fishing-craft, accompanied by drawings and a plate. The canoe described was built of native material and with simple tools. Variant types are then described and illustrated. Following are discussions of management, seasons and weather signs, dangers of the sea, canoe-names, racing, notes on astronomy, and names for parts of a canoe.-Arthur Gimble, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, LIV (January-June, 1924), 101–39. (III, 6.) C. W. H.

IV. CONFLICT AND ACCOMMODATION GROUPS

The Nationalists of South Africa.-The Nationalists claim that their only demand is that the needs of South Africa shall be considered first, and that they do not want to be involved in imperial problems which are not fully understood by the people.-H. M. Meyler, Fortnightly Review, DCXCIII (September, 1924), 368-77. (IV, 2.) E. R. R.