Toward a Dynamic Psychology of Cognition: Edna Heidbreder. Psychological Rev., LII, 1945, pp. 1–22.

The process of thinking and the formation of concepts has always entertained the attention of intellectual persons. Nevertheless few hypotheses about these processes have endured or been susceptible to experimental verification. Heidbreder has presented a general theory of cognition which she admits is based on speculation as well as experimental evidence and one which she hopes will bring back into focus the cognitive aspects of behavior. The use of the word 'dynamic' is meant to include all significant determinants of behavior on a psychological level, of which cognitive processes form a part. Such processes are divided into two classes, the perception of concrete objects and the attainment of concepts. The perception of concrete objects is taken to be the 'typical and dominant reponse' and the attainment of concepts is taken to be a modification of object perception. It is believed that all cognitive reactions can be made meaningful in terms of these two processes or responses. The significance of the review is not easily apparent and perhaps bears out the author's contention that intellectual determinants of behavior have for too long been neglected as fertile ground for psychological research.