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The application of psychology to evil ends is ancient, but today's popular concern about it is justified by the world scene, the rapid development of methods of mass communication, and the scale upon which psychological methods are being so abused. Dr. Meerloo is singularly well equipped to write upon the subject, being a psychiatrist of psychoanalytic orientation and an ex-inmate of a concentration camp. He has indeed a great deal of interest to say, but the book is spoiled by his attempting too much. Unfortunate, too, is his tendency to coin new terms, some of which such as “creeping collectivism”, “labelomania” and “quantellectual” are no more useful than pretty. However, he offers a very adequate review of the methods of individual and mass mental coercion, and in addition a trenchant criticism of Pavlovian reflexology, together with interesting observations on dictatorship, technology, justice, administration, and government.
Having given a terrifying picture of the mental dangers by which we are surrounded, Dr. Meerloo states clearly and sincerely his faith in the saving potential of psychology, defined as the way to internal democracy.
In an extensive bibliography he makes no mention of the work of Jung.