Citation

Dunham HW. Am. J. Sociol. 1942; 48(3): 387-397.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1942, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/219186

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The short period since our entrance into the present world-conflict provides a perspective for only a tentative evaluation of the effect of the war in terms of broken minds and warped personalities among our people. On the basis of certain current observations an attempt is made, however, to show the manner in which different segments of our population have reacted psychologically to the war. While there appears to be only a slight reflection of the war as registered in first admissions to mental hospitals, it is of some significance to note that the mental disease rate has been slightly upward in two coastal states (New York and Washington), while a downward trend is noted in the Middle West. Certain evidence indicates that a high state of national morale tends to offset the development of mental afflictions among the people during wartime. As a summary to the current appraisal five hypothetical propositions are suggested which might prove useful as a starting-point for research in this area.