SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND THE METHOD OF THE INSTINCTIVISTS.

One criticism of the theory of instincts as the basis of human behavior was that lists of instincts were based almost entirely upon the opinions and chance observations of psychologists rather than upon objective investigation. While the discarding of lists of instincts undoubtedly has marked a step in advance in the theory of social psychology, another and similar laxity remains, the tendency of social psychologists to create in lieu of instincts lists of wishes, dispositions, desires,prepotent reflexes and the like. There are at least twenty-three different desires given by social psychologists. Only one, sex, is accepted by all. The various lists range from four to fourteen as the total number of desires. These lists as they now stand are open to some serious challenges. No method is stated by which desires were discovered. Even as opinions the lists are weak. They do not represent consensus of opinion as to what constitutes innate human nature. As opinions, the lists are weak also in that all have been made by men. Women social psychologists are few in number, but it is altogether probable that if they were to make lists of desires, there would be a difference from those made by men.