Advances in the Study of Behavior, Vol. 1

ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR, VOL. 1. Edited by Daniel S. Lehrman, Robert A. Hinde, and Evelyn Shaw. New York and London, Academic Press, 1965. The first volume of this series sets a high standard which one hopes will be maintained. In it six topics, rather diverse in nature, are treated extensively. The unity of the volume comes primarily from the general orientation which is ethnological, even though the authors are identified with other disciplines. In the first article, T. C. Schneirla presents a detailed statement of his theory of approach and withdrawal behavior, and shows how prenatal and immediately postnatal experience can give rise to behavior ordinarily regarded as instinctive. His buttressing of his arguments by experimental evidence is a scholarly challenge to those who would account for the same phenomena on purely genetic or constitutional grounds. Klopfer and Hailman in the last article of the book similarly place great stress on experience in a bird's selection of its habitat, while acknowledging the role of morphology in setting limits to the process of perception. Their presentation is well reasoned and well supported by experiment. Two chapters are addressed to the problem of orientation in space. Walk's article is concerned with the methods and data relevant to the problem of visual depth and distance perception. Schmidt-Koenig's article deals with the problem of homing in birds and of seasonal migration. In both instances a detailed exposition of the factors involved leaves one with some idea of the unsolved problems, but with the impression that the way to definite answers is still unclear. Prechtl, a neurologist, describes the neurological status of new-born human infants, and uses this information as a background to understanding behavior. His study of the Moro or embracing reflex is an instance in which the knowledge of neurology is extremely helpful in dealing with an act that might be easily regarded as being primarily behavioral. Gabriel Horn's chapter on selective perception or attention is a thoughtful review of the data of psychology and neurophysiology relevant to this topic. He marshals his evidence well and leads one to the conviction that a rapproachement between psychology and neurophysiology can be achieved without excessive strain upon one's credulity. In a sum, a successful start for this series. JOHN P. FLYNN