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This book is written by the man who recently threatened the American Medical Association with the anti-trust laws because he considered that the Association was obstructing efforts to provide more adequate medical service for certain groups. But the chief
interest of the book is by no means in this connection. It is a book which is of the most direct interest to psychoanalysts as well as to everyone who has any concern either with social psychology or with the problems of the particular society in which he lives. It is to be hoped that this book is symptomatic of an increasing application of the scientific method, particularly of the fundamentals of psychoanalytic observation, to the problems of social organization.
The main point of the book is the introduction of the concept of what the author calls 'the subconscious mind' in the study of social phenomena. His concept of this subconscious mind is not identical with the psychoanalytic unconscious, but it is close enough to it to make the book an unusual and very important contribution. In the opinion of the reviewer, it is the fact that the author does not take the next step and actually utilize psychoanalytic knowledge of man's unconscious mental life and the unconscious elements in his behavior that keeps the book from being a great work.
The central idea is that 'thinking men' do not consciously and deliberately choose a form of social organization or a system of government. Instead, these organizations develop 'subconsciously' out of practical needs, rituals and ideologies. It is therefore possible to distinguish between, on the one hand, practical needs and on the other, the ideologies, ceremonies and rituals which Arnold calls the folklore. He shows that one of the greatest difficulties in seeing social realities derives from the fact that the observer becomes involved in folklore. For example: America developed the folklore of 'private property' and of 'rugged individualism', and at least until 193