Schizophrenia of the Individual and of Society, By Martti Siirala, (Publ. in German: Die Schizophrenie des Einzelnen und der Allgemeinheit). Van Den Broek I.  Ruprecht, Göttingen, 1961.  242 p.

This is not a textbook on schizophrenia. Nor does its title bear any relation to what non-psychiatric writings call schizophrenia, that is, almost any conflict situation, paradox, division or split. What is meant here is actual schizophrenia and the ideas expressed are pertinent, provocative and profound.

Siirala is a young Finnish psychoanalyst who was trained in Switzerland under Bally, Benedetti and Boss. His views are mainly existentialist. He sees schizophrenia less as a nosologic entity than a human situation which may be unrecognized by society if deviant behavior is not shown. Instead of the term “society” he uses Empfangswelt, literally translated as “receiving world.” Its meaning touches upon environment, milieu and society. Receiving clearly does not necessarily mean receptive; it may also be rejecting, molding and manipulative. It is the world around us which the individual mistakes for the only existing world. It often fails him in many ways, denies him opportunities for growth, praises qualities not worthy of praise, and may even be grossly exploitative. It is made up of a conglomerate of preconceived notions as to what human nature is supposed to be. These notions are part of a systematizing, “schematicizing” outlook.

Extreme examples of such distortions are totalitarian societies which he aptly calls “Principalities of Murder.” But neither are our democratic societies receptive to the heterodox; they often are as tightly closed to man's true nature. Conformity and adjustment become yardsticks for health, although this requires man's giving up what is the most precious in him. To adjust ultimately means to become impoverished, and thereby contributes to the perpetuation of a dehumanizing process. Important parts of our lives remain unlived; we keep owing them; we incur a debt. Our belonging to a given society makes us guilty of its guilt. We must acknowledge it before we can become healthier, more human and more helpful.

The schizophrenic attempts to esc