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Working chiefly at the New York Psychiatric Institute, Dr. Despert here presents in a well organized brochure of 138 pages a mass of material, unevenly detailed although apparently rigorously and deeply studied.
The chief new situation is described as the ‘knife’ method. The child is given a knife, carefully instructed as to its use and dangers, and then is told to scrape a bit of cardboard and to collect the scrapings and mould them into some form according to the child's inclination. Daily sessions of half to one hour are planned in an isolated and closed room.
Thus the child's aggressive hostility impulses have a free play with the cutting and also its constructive capacities with the scrapings. Interviews and discussions are freely intermingled.
Other methods of gaining insight into conflicts are also taken up, drawing for example. There is an excellent discussion of its values and applicability for demonstrating emotional conflicts.
The study of Collective Fantasy, as seen in group play and as exemplified in the 32 children at the Institute provides some very informing material. The various techniques followed are all based upon psychoanalytic concepts, and the whole book gives the impression of a wholesome, sound and encouraging approach to methods of applied psychotherapy.
We have found it of great interest, originality and stimulation.