Citation

Cantril H. Am. Psychol. 1949; 4(3): 69-73.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1949, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0056475

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The author reviews impressions gathered from his half-year tour of duty with the Social Science Department of UNESCO. This organization launched a project known as a study of "Tensions Affecting International Understanding." The following impressions emerge: (1) the unquestioned advance of psychology and the social sciences in the U.S.A. as compared to any other country in the world; (2) the exemplary fortitude of many European scientists who survived almost unbearable conditions; (3) the language of science is universal and any narrow approach per se is doomed to fail in the long run. The project itself drafted at UNESCO General Assembly in 1947 is briefly described. The work of UNESCO is illustrated by the statement, "Causes of Tensions which make for War" which was signed by Gordon Allport, Gilberto Freyre, Georges Gurvitch, Max Horkheimer, Arne Naess, John Rickman, Harry S. Sullivan, Alexander Szalai. The author affirms his belief that social scientists can contribute toward developing a scientific morality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)