Evening star., 1927-10-30

| military strategy-he learned he could
! defend himself by attacking.
/ In a paper written several years
ago DR.. Fra nkWood Williams de-
scrihed admirably this defense mech
/ anism of attack. Fisuratirely speak
! ing Jim tand other Jims who use the
same weapons) defended himself
against the disConiforts of contending
with world that was slightly too
much for him by huckling around
! himself thick. protecting armor OF
! iluster. bravado and loud talking. by
means of which he hoped to frighten
off any one who dared oppose him.
AS the years passed Jim continues
tn get away" with his hluster and
hluiiing He obtained and was pro-
NOTED in several desirable positions
but somehow he always seemed to be
making change II appeared aa
though he could remain in one place
or among one group just so long be
fore they would get onto" him and
call his bluff Then he would move
on to another where neither he nor
his pet device were known. His
method Of blufiinc or putting himself
across" was the familiar one of brow
beating his subordinates. talking So
norUtISly and impreSSively-but al
belt "eSpectfully--to his Superiors and
bowling over bv sheer force of lung
power his opponents in an argument.
But one by one his friends and as
sociateS heGan To penetrate his armor
OF bOasting and blufFinS and to dis
cover what timid, shrinking hollow
shell lay beneath it. OF course, once
his armor was. penetrated and his Sc
cret exposed. James began 10 slip. One
can't continue long a clustering pose
1,1 -
affricht laugh instead of run away.
And so Jim began to fail.
As his buffing became less and less
successful Jim began to Erov bitter
and cynical He complained that the
world hadn't given him square deal.
that people. and especially employers,
were "out to get him" and that he
hadn't had q chance" He became
petulant and abusive and therefore
lost several good jobs. To his view,
being fired was but one more proof OF
the discrimination being pTaCticed
against him. His protective armor al
last failed him completely, and the
last any heard Of him was in the role
of leader of group of fiery "radi-
Gals" embittered sour, without dar-
ing to permit himself 10 haVe insight
into the true reasons for his diff
culties.
SO help. then. If it is to be invoked.
usually must come from some one
who has had special training in under
standing how To search for the roots
of the habit and not merely the symp-
private consulting room or in mental
hygiene clinic. is - logical person 10
extend help. and u is surprising what
even in chronic 'ases. he may be able
to do II pointing out ws;s Of retrs<.
ing success in many instances.
The psychiatrist will DE required, Of
course. to remove the patients psyche
logical crutches. but before doing so
he will have shown the dreamer or
the bluffev how to fashion others that
will prove more healthful and more
efficient substitutes. TIE correction of
these habits requires more than the
exercise of will power" The day
dreamer cannot exert sufficient will
power 10 change his habit until the
inferiOrity and sensitiveness that orig
inally produced 1t have been con.
quered and so transformed as to make
them serve their masters purpose.
True insight first must be obtained
as to just what lies behind the day.
dreaming or bluffing; and until true
insight is obtained, the habit will con-
tinue to impede progress like weeds
that entangle a swimmers lssA