380 BOOK REVIEWS

V. K. Kook and J. J. RAY: Aufhorirarianism Across Cultures. Himalaya Bombay, India (1983). 198 pages.

This is a short book, printed rather badly in India, containing both theoretical and empirical studies. There are chapters on authoritarianism in India, South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. As in all such edited books, the quality varies greatly, but for social psychologists some of the studies at least may be of some interest. Some of the claims in the book must be treated with some degree of scepticism, e.g. that: “the analysis of the deeper dynamics of the authoritarian man has withstood the ravages of time better (than the analysis of the social and political attitudes).” Nevertheless, the problem of authoritarianism across cultures is an important one, and this alone justifies the publication of the book.

H. J. EYSENCK

J. W. ATKINSON: Personality, Motivation and Action. Praeger, New York (1983). 432 pages

This book appears as one of a series, the so-called “Centennial Psychology Series”, which was inaugurated by Praeger, to commemorate scientific psychology’s one-hundredth anniversary. The general goals of the Series are to present, in both historical and contemporary perspective, the most important papers of distinguished contributors to psychological theory and research. The first 15 authors in the Series are Anne Anastasi, John Atkinson (the author of the present volume), Raymond B. Cattell, William Estes, Harry Harlow, Irving Janis, David McClelland, Neal Miller, Brenda Milner, Hobart Mowrer, Charles Osgood, Julian Rotter, Seymour Sarason, Benton Underwood, and the reviewer.

It consists of five major parts: an original introductory chapter, previously-published articles and original papers selected by the author, a concluding chapter, a brief autobiography and a complete bibliography of the author’s publications. The main content of each volume consists of articles and papers especially selected for the Series by the author. These papers trace the historical development of the author’s work over a period of 4&50 years. Each volume also provides a concise presentation of the author’s current research and theoretical viewpoint.

In his introductory chapter, Atkinson traces the historical development of his life’s work, from his beginning and collaborative studies with David McClelland and others at Wesleyan University more than 35 years ago, to current programmatic investigations using computer simulation to assess the implications of the theory of motivation for the study of personality. The book is an excellent example of how useful this whole series is going to be, not only to students wanting to become familiar with leading theoreticians and practitioners of psychology, but also to more senior workers who may benefit from having a detailed presentation of a particular psychologist’s life work presented in this admirable format. To see papers like these in context adds remarkably to their value, as does the commentary provided by the author. The series is an excellent new way of presenting important psychological theories, and will undoubtedly be taken up by libraries all over the world.

H. J. EYSENCK

J. W. HINTON (Ed.): Dangerousness: Problems of Assessment and Prediction. Allen & Unwin, London (1983). xi + 177 pages. f 15.00.

This book concerns itself with the joint problems of assessing and predicting dangerousness in abnormal and violent offenders serving indeterminate detention in mental hospitals. Eleven contributions are made from the areas of criminology, clinical psychology, forensic psychiatry, statistics, psychophysiology and biochemistry. Part One deals with ethical, philosophical and professional issues in the use of indeterminate detention for protecting the public, while Part Two covers psychological methods of assessing and treating dangerous offenders in secure hospitals and prisons. Part Three describes research using repertory grid and biochemical assessment techniques, while Part Four details statistical issues and the utility of a multidisciplinary approach in the prediction of dangerous re-offending.

Some of the contributions (notably Woodman on biochemical correlates, Blackburn on personality theory and Walker on libertarian and protectionist viewpoints) give interesting, balanced and clear accounts of their subject matter. In contrast Bottoms and Brownsword make an incoherent contribution on a libertarian view of indeterminate sentences, while Hinton’s introductory review of the book gives inaccurate and sometimes misleading summaries of subsequent chapters. Not all of the contributions deal with the central issues of assessment and prediction of dangerousness, while a more complete discussion of the relationship between the concepts of psychopathy and dangerousness would have made a useful addition.

In attempting to illustrate a wide range of approaches to dangerousness, this book can seem somewhat disjointed with little convergence between the contributions. This failing is partly overcome in a final chapter by Hinton in his defence of a multidisciplinary approach. In spite of its weaknesses any book which adopts an interdisciplinary biosocial research stance is worth commending, and this one in particular should have something to offer to everyone.

ADRIAN RAINE

V. A. PRICE: Type A Behavior Pattern, a Model for Research and Practice. Academic Press, London (1983). 307 pages.

This is an interesting book which summarizes a good deal of the research done on Type A behaviour patterns, and their relation to cardiovascular disease. It also attempts to provide a model, along the lines of cognitive social-learning theory,