Personality and the cultural pattern

Abstract

Reviews the books, Personality and the cultural pattern by J. S. Plant (1937); and Cooperation and competition among primitive peoples by Margaret Mead (Ed.) (1937). The changing status of social psychology and of our concepts of individual-social relationships can scarcely be better illustrated than by these two outstanding contributions. Of these two authors, Dr. Plant has undoubtedly contributed more to a formulation of theory, Dr. Mead to a presentation of badly needed facts. The latter offers a re-working of anthropological material for thirteen different societies, emphasizing cooperative, competitive and individualistic reactions. It was inspired by the efforts of the Committee on Personality and Culture of the Social Science Research Council. It is fascinating reading and invaluable to any student of personality or social psychology. Plant's book grows out of years of psychiatric experience in close contact with sociological problems. The depth of insight shown is amazing. Pointing out the artificiality of dichotomies which set up the individual as opposed to culture, he develops the concept of "psycho-osmosis," a sort of continuing interchange between the two. The work is full of brilliant flashes, comments on the relation of personality to industry, the school, and modern problems in general. Viewed in the large, this book is theoretically sound and tremendously important, though as regards specific aspects, it may be in error. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)