TEE CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGIST 287 



the choice and preparation for a vocation, social adjustment, the sci- 

 entific reduction of crime, and the increase in the sources of human 

 happiness — these are all possible, but distant goals of applied science. 



To illustrate more specifically the work of the consulting psychol- 

 ogist in one type of situation, we may take the first field of the four 

 just outlined, namely, mental pathology, bearing in mind that the func- 

 tions may vary greatly with differences in men, institutions, times, etc. 



The consulting psychologist in institutions for mental ills has two 

 fundamental t^'pes of function; one that of advice, and the other that 

 of research. Both are necessary for encouragement and growth of the 

 man himself and for the good of the institution. In the capacity of 

 adviser, he may be expected to place at the disposal of his superior 

 officers the latest gleaned and verified facts and theories on the issue 

 in hand and to lend such aid in their adaptation and introduction into 

 the routine of the institution as circumstances may permit ; and in the 

 capacity of investigator he may direct, or personally conduct, research 

 for the solution of pending problems. Thrown into tabular form his 

 duties and privileges of advice and research might be listed as follows : 



I. Advisory. 



1. Testing, classif3ring and sorting cases on admission. 



2. Planning and utilizing the case history. 



3. Systematic observation and experimenting on the progress of 



each case. 



4. Adapting treatment, training and adjustment. 



5. Technical instruction to the staff. 



6. Education of the public (information in regard to preventive 



measures). 



II. Research. 



1. Original experiments on the value of new types of treatment, 



training and adjustment. 



2. Intensive study of individual cases. 



3. Search for needed psychological facts by scientific experiments. 

 Thus, on the advisory side, he aids the superintendent, the staff 



and the public by making known and adapting applied psychological 

 principles ; and, on the side of research, he tests results of procedure in 

 scientific terms, is ever alert for the discovery of instructive cases 

 which may come under his observation, and directs psychological re- 

 search for immediate practical purposes. 



Perhaps the nature and scope of the work of the consulting psy- 

 chologist in this illustration from mental pathology may be further 

 specified by pointing out some limitations in a negative way. 



The consulting psychologist is not a general administrative oflBcer. 

 There is, perhaps, no better training for a superintendency or other 

 executive work in this type of institution than psychology; but, as in 



