Theory and Observation in Psychiatric Research

As I began to think about and plan this paper, I became quite concerned over the realization which developed that nearly all I would have to say would be critical. Such a role for myself I found unpleasant and I felt sorry I had accepted Dr. Winokur's invitation. It's one thing to express critical ideas in an informal discussion of give and take among colleagues and another to formalize it in a prepared paper¹ and reveal to everyone a jaundiced eye and dyspeptic face. The only partial consolation is that my audience is not made up principally of psychiatrists and hence, I may escape with my unconscious motives for taking this tack still largely unrecognized—or perhaps I underestimate the influence my profession has had upon yours.