Review of The Elements of Scientific Psychology

Abstract

Reviews the book, The Elements of Scientific Psychology by Knight Dunlap (see record 2006-04933-000 ). The general content of the book may be inferred from the following resume: An introduction dealing with the nature and divisions of psychology; four chapters dealing with sense perception, the senses, and sensory qualities; two chapters on sensory relations and sensory measurements; two chapters on thinking and thought processes; one chapter on the bodily mechanism; two chapters on reactions and reaction types; two chapters on perception; one chapter on affective processes; and one chapter on the empirical self. The reviewer states that throughout the book the author is vigorous and stimulating; his language is not involved and one cannot avoid catching his viewpoint whether he agrees with it or not. While the author has given credit to all authorities cited he has not done so in a way which would permit the reader to refer to the original sources without considerable difficulty. This omission might be a serious handicap to the general reader who knows little of the psychological literature, in fact the serious student of psychology would feel a little more at ease were the opposing views set aside with more opportunity to investigate the sources of authority. All in all the book is well worth reading because it is so different from the usual presentation, if for no other reason. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)