Lawrence K. Frank opens the symposium by discussing Social Order and Psychiatry. He emphasizes that societies are not living organisms subject to special laws of their own; they are only techniques for organizing and perpetuating certain specific beliefs about the universe, human nature, conduct, and the relation of the individual to the group. Such an organization enables the individuals in a given culture to exploit the environment and to organize group living. Despite the rigidity with which these idealogies are inculcated into succeeding generations, a culture can and should be changed when it is evident that it does not provide maximum satisfaction and security for its participants. Democracy is organized around a belief in the worth and happiness of the individual personality. This is accepted as an ideal by all members of the symposium. The imperfection of our culture and its