Review of Principles of abnormal psychology

Abstract

Reviews the books, Principles of Abnormal Psychology by Edmund S. Conklin (see record 1928-00118-000 ); and Outlines of Abnormal Psychology by William McDougall (1926). These two books present valuable attempts at systematizing the large and ever growing body of material in the field of abnormal psychology. If the first of the two by Professor Conklin is "designed for advanced undergraduate students in psychology," then the second, by Professor McDougall, might serve the needs of advanced graduate students. Professor Conklin's book is clearly written. He achieves detachment in his critical treatment of theories and concepts in the field of abnormal psychology. Perhaps this is possible in his case because the book contains no doctrines peculiarly his own. The book is decidedly a contribution to the problems of the teaching of abnormal psychology to undergraduates and others just beginning the study it is, furthermore, a textbook that students will enjoy. Professor McDougall had a harder problem before him. He has presented in an individualistic and decidedly "non-textbook" fashion his own views of the various problems of abnormal mentality with which he has grappled for years and to which he himself has contributed many new insights. The subjects covered in the book parallel somewhat those in Conklin's text, though by no means in the same order. McDougall goes into much greater detail, the method of exposition is rather encyclopedic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)