Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 2.djvu/79

 BOOK REVIEWS 235

between the two books. Mr. Wilfrid Lay has endeavoured to obtain some grasp of, and insight into, psycho-analytic theory and to present con- sidered and coherent views : whereas, of 'Psychoanalysis and Behaviour' it is impossible to say other than that it presents the greatest confusion of ideas and a quite undigested mass of seemingly hastily-acquired material, set out in would-be popular form, the result of which can merely serve as a hindrance to genuine psycho-analytic study.

Man's Unconscious Passion. By Wilfrid Lay.

Just as iij the author's first book, 'Man's Unconscious Conflict' we find in this volume some really interesting and useful lines of thought followed up. The main thesis dealt with, as indicated by the title is the genesis and development ot sexual impulses and emotions and the relation between unconscious and consciousness in this respect. The author attempts to trace out with care, and sometimes with very telling illustration, the profound effect of the deep unconscious complexes in the relations of man and woman : the significance of such things as a 'split' in the love-impulses (so characteristic of modern life), of 'platonic' friendship and love, of prostitution, of Don Juanism, of family emotional relationships, and so forth. He has undoubtedly made use of Freudian theory to penetrate into the meaning of these very important matters which assume a very different aspect from the new light shed by the discoveries concerning the unconscious, and has much to say which can be turned to use. Unfortunately the book is marred throughout by superficiality of treatment, and that very unscientific air so often found in American works on psychology — a curious familiar 'it's all quite simple' attitude, even when the author is declaring how profound his subject is. Far too sweeping generalizations are made, summed up from two or three facts, or some slight disquisition, and throughout there is a kind of ticketing, labelling, and neat disposing ot profound matters. The language is curious: sometimes colloquial and familiar, sometimes grandiloquent and stagey. An example of the former is the following: "Figuratively speaking, the woman in the matrimonial roadster must be given time in which to sit comfortably, wrap herself well, dispose of necessary baggage and prepare her mind for the trip. But a large number of young husbands are speed friends and make a quick get-away themselves, while the wife still has her foot on the running- board." (p. 12*7). In direct contradiction to this slangy phraseology, we read as follows, on page 41: "If she (i. e. the kittenish woman) cannot be playful with her husband, because for example he has a frown 'set' in the concrete of his ossified soul, she lacks just that amount of emotional outlet in the very place where it ought to be let out", etc.

One cannot help feeling that if Mr. Lay would produce rather less (four volumes have appeared since 'Man's Unconscious Conflict', - all