Review of Psychologie expérimentale

Abstract

Reviews the book, Psychologie expérimentale by Henri Piéron (1927). The reviewer states that this work covers, in concise form, the psychology of the civilized human. It begins with a historical introduction with considerable stress on the contributions of French scientists. For example, the usual Weber-Fechner Law is attributed to one Bouguer, 1698-1758. The point of view is frankly behavioristic. The author states that "there is no science but behavior." He classified psychology with biology rather than philosophy. Introspection is a verbal reaction and a form of behavior He carries this point of view through systematically as far as the headings of the different "parts" and chapters are concerned, but uses conventional terminology rather indiscriminately in the text. Part I deals with the reaction processes and the forms of behavior. Part II presents the affective reactions and the orientations of conduct. Part III involves perceptive reaction and the organization of experience. Part IV deals with the intellectual reactions and elaboration of experience. Errors in memory are mentioned, as well as common associations. Part V deals with levels of activity and the use of experience. The last part deals with mental stages and types. The reviewer states that the work is frankly behavioristic in trend, but does not go into much argument. The treatment, on the whole, is rather categorical and disputed matters are not elucidated. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)