Towards a General Theory of Social Psychology: Understanding Human Cruelty, Human Misery, and, Perhaps, a Remedy (A Theory of the Socialization Process)

by: Wendy Treynor, Ph.D.

Published by: Euphoria Press

Reviewed by Diane Snyder

We are familiar with the statement “when bad things happen to good people,” but this book will attempt to present an answer to the puzzle “why good people do bad (or evil) things.” The author, Wendy Treynor, Ph.D explains this in her theory of the socialization process.

The format of this work is more a published research paper and is esoteric to those who have a strong academic background in psychology. It is heavily laden with references throughout the text which disrupts the reading flow, but for another researcher on a similar topic, it would be an excellent source. There is an eight-page bibliography of her resources.

Listing ten statements or ideas, the book contains the chapters that explain these ideas that are grouped under: definitions, assumptions, propositions, derivation and implications. Under definitions, the important types of groups are presented and described and according to Dr. Treynor, these groups are the controlling factor in most of our lives. It is within these groups that we are given or acquire our acceptance, self-esteem and self-love and flourish–or we find rejection, shame and guilt and become depressed.
These groups define who we are and from that we form either a positive or negative perception of ourselves. In conforming to our groups, there can be conflict and to remain in the group/groups, we have to adjust or compromise–or leave the group, shift to another group or become our own one-person group.

The strength of this book is its extensive review of the literature and organization of information. The weakness is its simplicity (which the author addresses) and presenting over-simplistic remedies and answers to the puzzles. It also seems to slide through the promised understanding of human cruelty. Human misery is covered by the discussion on depression since it is one and the same.

This is not light reading and the book will best find its home on the shelves of a large university with graduate programs in psychology or social work.

Armchair Interviews agrees.