James A.C. Brown
Encyclopedia
James Alexander Campbell Brown (1911–1964) was a psychiatrist
who was born in Edinburgh
, Scotland
.
He took a degree
in medicine
at Edinburgh University. He later traveled to Europe
where he studied in many countries. During the Second World War, he was a specialist in psychiatry in the Middle East
. As well as practicing in the army
, he also gained experience in mental hospitals, prisons and selection boards.
Later he became interested in the normal
individual's adjustment to society
. He joined a large industrial
concern
after the war, where he worked for seven years.
Even though he learned in a school of thought which considered mental illness
mainly as an individual and biological
problem, he later regarded it basically as a social
one. He took the view that the mental conflicts
of the neurotic are in large part induced by the sick society in which he or she lives. Thus, he felt that the efficiency of industry cannot be weighed solely in terms of the amount goods it produces or its financial
profits
, but also considering at what cost of human
health
and happiness
the goods were produced. He expressed this view in his work The Social Psychology of Industry (1954).
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
He took a degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at Edinburgh University. He later traveled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
where he studied in many countries. During the Second World War, he was a specialist in psychiatry in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. As well as practicing in the army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
, he also gained experience in mental hospitals, prisons and selection boards.
Later he became interested in the normal
Normality (behavior)
In behavior, normal refers to a lack of significant deviation from the average. The phrase "not normal" is often applied in a negative sense Abnormality varies greatly in how pleasant or unpleasant this is for other people.The Oxford English Dictionary defines "normal" as "conforming to a standard"...
individual's adjustment to society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
. He joined a large industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
concern
Concern (business)
A concern is a German type of business group. It results from the merger of several legally independent companies an economic entity under unified management. These associated companies called "Group" companies....
after the war, where he worked for seven years.
Even though he learned in a school of thought which considered mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
mainly as an individual and biological
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
problem, he later regarded it basically as a social
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
one. He took the view that the mental conflicts
Emotional conflict
"Emotional conflicts and the intervention of the unconscious are the classical features of...medical psychology" for C. G. Jung. Equally, 'Freud's concept of emotional conflict as amplified by Anna Freud...Erikson and others is central in contemporary theories of mental disorder in children,...
of the neurotic are in large part induced by the sick society in which he or she lives. Thus, he felt that the efficiency of industry cannot be weighed solely in terms of the amount goods it produces or its financial
FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL is the weekly English-language newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. Published by Intelligence Group LLC, FINANCIAL is focused on opinion leaders and top business decision-makers; It's about world’s largest companies, investing, careers, and small business. It is...
profits
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
, but also considering at what cost of human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and happiness
Happiness
Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological, religious, and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources....
the goods were produced. He expressed this view in his work The Social Psychology of Industry (1954).
Works
- The Social Psychology of Industry. Pelican Books, vol. no. 296. Penguin Books, Harmondsworth (Middlesex) 1954. 309 p.
- Techniques of Persuasion. From propaganda to brainwashing. Pelican Books, vol. no. 604. Penguin Books, Harmondsworth (Middlesex) 1963. 325 p.
- The Distressed Mind. The thinker's library, vol. no. 115. Watts & Co., London 1946. 154 p.
- The Evolution of Society. The thinker's library, vol. no. 122. Watts & Co., London 1947. 184 p.