QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Abstract

PROF. T. H. PEAR criticizes severely but kindly in an interesting article those who profess social psychology*. The social psychologist too frequently fails to qualify for his job by obeying the old injunction of 'know thyself. Also in his attitude towards his subject he is too remote from the hurly-burly of everyday life, in fact, too 'pure'. Some sciences can be pursued advantageously with little contact with, or relation to, humanity, but such is not the case with social psychology. On the other hand, he must resist the temptation to slip into the attitude of the novelist, artist or even comfort lover.