I'EBEUAKT 4, 1921] 



SCIENCE 



109 



method of comparison to the materials of 

 observation. In this branch of psychology, 

 the development of behavior and of minS 

 in the individual and also in the race is 

 studied by means of objective methods 

 similar to those of physiology, and by the 

 method of self-observation whenever it is 

 applicable. Genetic psychology is even 

 more intimately related to the medical sci- 

 ences and their practical aipplications than 

 is introspective psychology. 



The name behaviorism has been applied 

 to a recent development which, in effect, 

 is a revolt against the introspective 

 method. By the application of objective 

 methods identical with or similar to those 

 of physiology, it undertakes to discover 

 and describe the various phenomena of 

 mental life and to formulate their laws. 

 In its extreme form, it is merely the ex- 

 tension of physiology to include all types 

 and aspects of human activity and experi- 

 ence. It may be pointed out in this con- 

 nection that the science of physiology has 

 made few attempts to study forms of 

 activity other than reflexes. Behaviorism 

 would alter this situation by subjecting 

 instinctive, habitual, and voluntary actions 

 to scientific analysis and measurement. 



It has been asserted that the general 

 science of psychology is neither psychical 

 research, on the one hand, nor its logical 

 extreme behaviorism, on the other hand. 

 Instead, like medicine, it is inclusive of 

 what is valuable in the methods and re- 

 liable in the results of all of its branches, 

 aspects, or special developments. For psy- 

 chology in its medical relations, the term 

 psychobiology is proposed. This term sug- 

 gests the study of experience as biological 

 phenomenon. In introspective psychology, 

 in genetic psychology, and in behaviorism, 

 there is much that should be valuable to 

 medicine. Assuming that it comprehended 

 the important scientific procedures and the 



established facts and principles of the 

 several branches of psychology, psychobiol- 

 ogy would constitute a natural bridge be- 

 tween physiology and psychiatry. On the 

 one hand, it would appear as a mere ex- 

 tension of physiology to include human 

 behavior and experience, and on the other 

 hand, it would exhibit kinship to psychiatry 

 in the utilization of the subjective or intro- 

 spective method. Whether or not it be con- 

 sidered a distinct science, psychobiology 

 would serve to link the basic functional 

 science of physiology with neurology and 

 psychiatry. 



The history of medicine clearly enough 

 indicates gradual emancipation froni super- 

 stition and the slow achievement of that 

 immense body of knowledge which renders 

 medical treatment increasingly certain and 

 safe. Throughout this history, mental dis- 

 orders have been less intelligently, less sci^ 

 entifically, and less satisfactorily treated 

 than have most others. One obvious reason 

 for this condition of affairs is the lack in 

 medical schools of any provision for the 

 training of students in psychobiology. 

 Medicine, hy its passive attitude toward 

 the development of this science, has per- 

 mitted, if it has not also encour£iged, the 

 development of numerous one-sided and 

 extreme sects whose avowed purpose is the 

 cure of human ills by psychological means. 

 There exist to-day several species of psy- 

 chotherapy or psychological medicine, and, 

 in addition, such religious movements as 

 the Emmanuel Church Movement, which 

 perhaps would not have developed and 

 certainly would not have flourished so re- 

 markably had medicine provided in its 

 schools and hospitals for the development 

 of psychobiology as it has for the develop- 

 ment of physiology. 



Granted that medicine needs psychobiol- 

 ogy, and that the status of the science, al- 

 though unsatisfactory in many respects, is 



