Schnier defends the artist, whom he considers much maligned at present. He points out that not all artists can be considered neurotic (Peter Paul Rubens is cited as an outstandingly healthy artist), and that for every neurotic artist one can cite a similarly neurotic scientist, engineer, surgeon, or prominent political figure. The author believes that one reason the artist is singled out is that through his work he is constantly exposed to the scrutiny of the public.

Schnier traces the relationship of both science and art to the pregenital component instincts (oral, anal, urethral) and partial impulses (looking, listening, showing off, cruelty). He refers frequently to the works of Bergler, Freud, Jones, Kris, Reik and Abraham, but he leans most heavily on the writings of Ella Sharpe