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In the preface, the author states that 'the second step in the science of psychiatry was made when Sigmund Freud brought forth in organized fashion the unconscious and the dynamic activity of
human thought and emotions'. All psychiatry today has been influenced by his dynamic concept. The author goes on to state that he has 'made an attempt to separate the chaff from the wheat', and 'to give as much of the school of psychoanalysis as is of logical and practical value'.
The book has the limitations of those who refuse to integrate into their clinical approach the fundamental concepts of the dynamic psychology of the unconscious, or are incapable of doing so. The text and the case studies are lacking in 'the basic concepts of the unconscious in disease', and it is difficult to comprehend how with these limitations the author can pretend to pass judgment upon what he considers to be 'the extremely fanciful superstructure of psychoanalysis'. His concept of the 'basic concepts of the unconscious' is not clear. He states that 'certain underlying attitudes, because of irritations which have existed since early childhood may continue to exist … these irritations are spoken of as being unconscious. Yet these unconscious memories may be elicited by conscious discussion with the patient as well as by other techniques.'
The sociopsychobiological resynthesis, impelled by the author's resistance to the unconscious, resolves itself essentially into 'removing the stress', 'removing the patient from stress' and 'common sense advice on how to deal with stress'. Changes in personality are to be brought about by persistent conscious effort, etc.
The interpretation of a classical sexual dream is illustrative of what occurs when a thorough understanding of the unconscious has been displaced by lip service. A female patient's manifest abhorrence of sexuality is entirely overlooked, and the interpretation of the dream is limited to the patient's dislike of her suitor due to other no