Citation

French TM. Am. J. Sociol. 1939; 44(6): 922-931.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1939, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/218179

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Psychic conflict and social conflict may profitably be regarded as analogous phenomena. Moreover, most social conflicts usually involve large numbers of individuals in psychic conflicts, either overt or latent. Out of these emotional conflicts arise mass delusions and mass phobias analogous to those encountered by the psychiatrist in individual patients. The therapeutic effect of insight upon individual neuroses suggests an analogous possibility of favorably influencing "social neuroses" by free public discussion.