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The method of group psychotherapy has grown, and this is one of the many recent books on the subject. The first part is historical and anthropological. Beginning 1905 in Boston, with Dr. J. H.
Pratt treating tubercular patients, and 1908 in Vienna, with Dr. Jacob L. Moreno, the history of the group method is brought up-to-date. The anthropological chapter stresses the importance of the group in man's intellectual development.
The second part outlines the dynamic essentials of group psychology. The formation of groups, group transferences, the position of the leader and the dynamics of therapy are discussed. Interrelationships of individual and group psychotherapy are described. A chapter on re-education places high value on the therapeutic efficacy of intellectual processes and their applicability to treating people in groups.
The third part gives methods of applying this therapy. First presented is Moreno's work, the importance of his concept of spontaneity, the dynamics of psychodrama with some criticism of its possible shortcomings, and the advantages of puppetry. The contributions of Schilder, Wender, Lazell, Pratt, Hadden, Harris, Sherman and others are reviewed in the chapter on affective re-education in outpatient clinics. The author has applied group therapy principally in a mental hospital, and this chapter is accordingly detailed with outlines of lectures, case histories, class discussions and psychodynamic formulations. The chapter on methods deals with the qualifications of the therapist, transference, abreactions, catharsis, resistance, the pedagogical approach, the selection of patients, size of the class, grouping of patients and frequency of class sessions.
This book is well organized and easy to read. Dr. Klapman places importance on the repressive inspirational approach in the group method, and uses case material freely to illustrate his points, and demonstrates the usefulness of group psychotherapy in state hospitals where the need for p