Review

Reviewed Work(s): Counseling and Psychotherapy; Newer Concepts in Practice by Carl R.

Rogers
Review by: Clements C. Fry
Source: The American Journal of Psychology, Vol. 57, No. 1 (Jan., 1944), pp. 113-116
Published by: University of Illinois Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1416872
Accessed: 03-12-2017 04:50 UTC

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 BOOK REVIEWS 113

disease entity-have no place in

throughout the book.
The chapter on neuroses departs fr
For lack of this, there are subst
mechanisms" as the most likely cau
in some of its antique dressing is t
there a cautious reference to bodily
is made, but these do not seem to b
the neuroses, however, is quite rea
redolent of Freud as one is led to
the introduction to Chapter V.
Cornell University J. W. PAPEZ

Counseling and Psychotherapy; Newer Concepts in Pr

ROGERS. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1942.
With this book Dr. Rogers makes a useful contributi
of clinical psychology and counseling. In it he has be
and describe for the benefit of those who work with
of maladjustment, a relationship and a process which a
and uneven, and which, at best, lend themselves imp
expression. The relationship is that of counselor and
chologist and subject, psychiatrist and patient; the p
growth of the client, evolving in the course of th
author has been able to reduce the fruits of a wide a
rience in child and adult guidance and counseling to
line. The book attests his success as a teacher and as a
Counseling and Psychotherapy may well serve as a m
chologists, social workers, and psychiatrists who work
emotional problems of children and adults.
Counseling or psychotherapy is defined as "a series
with the individual which aims to offer him assistan
attitudes and behavior." Both terms are used interch
the book. Rogers explains that "there has been a tende
counseling for more casual and superficial interviews
term psychotherapy for more intensive and long-contin
toward deeper reorganization of the personality. Whil
reason for this distinction, it is also plain that the m
successful counseling is indistinguishable from inten
psychotherapy." The book, taken as a whole, is orien

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114 BOOK REVIEWS

ment and justification of the thes

with the best in psychotherapy.
They key to the argument is in t
Beginning with a review of the p
but are now in disrepute, the auth
concepts and the newer technique
field regard as more fruitful from
likely to lead to an increase in k
vation and behavior. The chief ne
to the relation of counselor and c
assumed that the counselor was an
posed for solution; who usually g
goals; drew out and selected infor
suggested, or reassured-all these
represent are rejected. The hypoth
method is that in which the coun
The interview is centered on the
for getting information from him
to produce information about him
wishes and not according to a cas
of trying to direct the patient to
tain sign-posts in his experience,
of the individual, ready to suppo
the release of emotions, and man
selor'sbeing led astray or leading
the content produced, or by selec
lead the individual's attention away
in expression.
The configuration of the materi
the order of its appearance derive
control his own reactions and res
as what is expressed, in the course
not be blocked or misdirected. Wh
of growth is initiated, growth wh
through the recognition and acce
significance in the reactions, conf
individual. The goal is not the so
the achievement of a "working in
meet the present problems and m
Dr. Rogers' contribution lies pri

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 BOOK REVIEWS 115

technique, and his advocacy of it

make use of, and adapt, concepts
investigators in the last half-cen
content of the relationship betwe
pist and patient, is well known t
the work of Freud and the psy
Schilder, and others in this countr
therapy has been directed away fr
obvious factors of maladjustment,
ions, interpretations, and routine,
ments in the whole personality a
his relation to society. With thes
appreciation of the human person
But emphasis in medical and socia
tion of the dynamic forces in ind
others and with the general envir
educated by wide clinical experienc
ciological literature and thought.
is to be found throughout in the
judgment and valuation of techniq
minutiae of human reactions and
Dr. Rogers acknowledges the val
he does not give it proper weight
advocating, a lack which is one of
limits are those inherent in any
fined almost exclusively to metho
is lacking in depth and color, tho
fault except in relation to the aud
is written for clinical psychologi
student counselors, deans, person
fessional individuals who spend a
viewing, bringing about a constr
their clients through individual a
geneous audience, and one which
stand and use successfully, in crit
a technique successful in the han
viduals. But the appeal here is to t
in training, or the dean without
worker. And it encourages the am
to others. It attracts him by the c

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 116 BOOK REVIEWS

be sure, the reader is warned of spe

be taken, of the meaning of certai
mention is made of the character of
the protean complexity and devious
reactions. The author does not mak
is already in possession of this kno
then he must not regard himself as
is not enough, for example, to ca
ostensible for the real problem to b
or to permit free and full expression
has not sufficient background in c
edge, he may do great damage.
For those who recognise that over
statement are more or less inherent
of value. I should recommend its use
instruction on counseling. For psych
approach the problems of childre
soldiers, it might well be used as r
Departmentof University Health CLEMENTS C. FRY
Yale University, New Haven

Family Treasures. By DAVID D. WHITNEY. Lancaster, Pennsylvania, The

Science Press, 1942. Pp. 299.
This book "is written for amateurs in the study of human heredity,"
but it may serve the purpose of stimulating interest for some in that sub-
ject. The amateur who studies its 232 illustrations will conclude that his
ancestors have been responsible to a considerable extent not only for the
curl in his hair, the color and glint in his eyes, the shape of his feet and his
fingers, his height, and other physical characteristics, but also for his good
humor or his bad temper, his health, his religious zeal or lack of it, and
even his chances of being elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Geneticists and other
interested biologists wilt be convinced on some of these points, but not on
all.
The author has concentrated his attention upon the "normal and ordi-
nary" variations which the reader is likely to see among his acquaintances
and has avoided the more abnormal conditions. Of the book's fifteen chap-
ters, eight are devoted to commonly observed differences in the hair, eyes,
ears, facial characteristics, hands, feet, and the body. The remainder con-
sider the family, the individual, differences in temperament, in special
abilities, health, acquired characters, sex, and the nature of man.

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