New-York tribune., 1921-09-04
.HE most significant feature of
modern psychology is its inter
II esting applicability to the prac-
teal problems of life. There WAS

timo when psychology was regarded
almost as branch of metaphysics.
Now it is becoming more and more
clear that the psychological laboratory
has much to tell US about the shaping
of human behavior in everyday life.
The tests widely employed in the
United States army to determine the
relative mental efficiency and alertness
of the men are being copied in some
large industrial esta blishments.
The so-called new psychology OBJ
viously has a wide field of utility in
the field of industry The human fac
tor is, after all, the most important,
as it is the most. complex and variable
element in the processes of produc-
tion. The progressive employer is
coming to realize that contented work
ers are one of the best possible in
vestments.
Mr.. Drever makes it very clear that
psychology in industry is not the
equivalent of what is generally known
as scientific management. Scientific
management at least, in the earlier
stages of its development, laid itself
open to the charge of overlooking the
human side CT industry. 1t was looked
upon with aversion and suspicion by
the workers, who looked upon it as a
oil
the employer to exploit them more
efficiently.
Now, the industrial psychologist, as
Mr.. Drever interprets his function, is
absolutely devoid of prejudice as be-
tween employer and worker He is not
primarily interested in profits or
wages. His chief concern is to secure
the greatest amount of production with
the least expenditure of human energy.
HIS conclusions may seem to favor
now labor, now capital; but they are
scientific conclusions, reached after a n
objective examination of the facts in
the case.
The author gives a number of ex-
amples showing the contribution which
psychology has made to the smooth and
efficient functioning of industry. vo-
cational tests help to select the right
man for the right job. Intelligence
tests are an aid in the same direction.
study of the amount of work pro-
duced under varying circumstances re-
veals the degree Of fatigue which must
be taken into account in apportionine
work. The two concluding chapters deal
with the psychology Of advertising and
salesmanship.
Mr.. Drever's other work, "The Psy-
chology Of Everyday Life" is clear
and Intelligent summary Of the funda-
mental principles of modern psychol-
ogy, admirably adapted for the use Of
the reader who is unable to make an
exhaustive study Of the subject. The
author Acknowledges particular indebt-
edness to the work of McDougall, Stout,
Morton Prince, Itchener, William James,
White, Phster and Freud.
Since the war an unusually large
humper OF books dealing with spirit
istic phenomena have made their ap-
pearance. Some advocates of spirit
ism, such as Conan Doyle and Sir Oil
YER Lodge, claim for it almost the au-
thority of new religion. Admitting
the reality Of some spiritistic mani
festations, Mr.. Drever contends that
psychology is able to furnish a plausi-
Bile and satisfactory Interpretation for
them He is inclined to dispute the
more extrayagant claims of the spirit
ualists. He is not awed by the au-
thority Of Sir Oliver Lodges name.
The mere fact" he writes, 'that an
eminent physicist or chemist has pro-
nounced in favor Of spiritistic solu-
ton tof psychological phcnomenal can
carry no more weight than would be