Review of Public opinion

Abstract

Reviews the book, Public opinion by W. Albig (1939). This is an all inclusive text on public opinion and its many ramifications. The author begins by defining public opinion as "any expression on a controversial topic...(which)...results from the interaction of persons upon one another in any type of group." He goes on to discuss how public opinion develops, the operation of psychological processes in opinion, the leader and personal symbolism, etc. After a two-chapter discourse on the measurement of opinion, there are two chapters on censorship, and two on propaganda. A chapter is devoted to the effect which the radio, motion pictures, the newspaper, and the graphic arts have upon public opinion. Psychologists will do well to read this book. It contains an excellent historical summary of most of the issues discussed. Moreover, the emphasis is almost as much psychological as sociological. Although the author has not stated for whom the book is intended, it is obviously written for the college student. An historical approach to every problem is used, and very few dogmatic statements are made. Actually, Albig is so careful to state both sides of particular points that the reader may not, in some cases, be able to discern which point of view he leans toward. On, the whole, though, the book is well written. The author's interesting style and well-phrased and precise statements are supplemented with frequent humorous allusions. The book is astonishingly inclusive, and should be of real value for those in academic life who are interested in public opinion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)