The New York herald., 1922-04-09
MODERN LATEST FAD OF ERCANLN7ELEC7U&

somewhat clearer by analogy with
botany. for example. The botanist
begins with certain facts which he
proposes 10 investigate. He selects a
plant as an object of study. First he
observes it in its natural surroundings,
noting various things about il, such as
its structure, its life conditions and so
forth. He finds that to exhaust the
possibilities OF study he must take the
plant TO his laboratory. where he can
control the conditions of growth. such
as temperature. humidity, light and SO
on. BY varying these conditions he
discovers certain facts Now he may
pick the plant to pieces and examine
II piece by piece under his microscope.
This detailed observation yields other
facts. When he has collected many
facts from thousands of observations
he draws certain hypothesis concern
ing plant life. But he does not stop
here. He goes on to make other
studies to test his hypothesis. Finally,
after months and years of investiga-
ton, he formulates law.
The psychologist does precisely the
same thing except that he is working
on a human being or a group of hu-
man beings. II in the above descrip-
ton you substitute man for plant
you have fair picture OF scientific
psychology. The analogy. >of course.
Is not perfect. no analogy is, but 1t
serves the purpose of making clear
the procedure of scientific psychology
There is one important aspect in
which psychology differs from other
sciences. The psychologist has a
double source of information in that
he can make observations on his sub
jects and can allow them to observe
themselves. Thus it is possible to study
psychology by studying ones own self.
From these two sources, the psycholo-
gist's observations Of the subject, and
the subjects observations of himself,
he draws certain conclusions concern
ing the mental life which when thor
oughly tested and tried are formulated
into what We can truly call psyche
logical laws. This is scientific psy-
chology.
Psychological Corporation
Shows Up the Parasites
Proof Of the scientific integrity of
the Psychological Corporation is found
in memorandum sent by it to nu-
aminations and advice. We quote from
this memorandum:
Owing to the recent organization
of the corporation we are not at pres
ent, either in our central office or
in our branches, prepared to under
take general examinations of indi-
viduals with view TO giving them in
formation concerning themselves or
advice on the work or occupation for
which they are the best fitted.
Psychology as a science can meas
ure the general intelligence of indi-
viduals and can detect certain defects,
such as color blindness, or certain
talents, such as musical ability. 1t can
determine the mental age of children,
or the place OF a typist among other
typists.
There is no scientific evidence that
character can be read or abilities pre-
dicted from the shape Of the head.
from the face. the palm, handwriting
phrenology, pysioSnomy, palmistry,
graphology and the like.
"At present the Psychological Cor
poration is only organizing tests for
clerical work and musical talent. two
directions in which we have confidence
in the adequacy of our methods"
Compare these modest statements
with the extravagant claims made by
the inhabitants of the psychological
underworld and you have fair picture
OF the difference between scientific
psychology and its numerous parasites.