A Doctor's Report on Dianetics
Encyclopedia
A Doctor's Report on Dianetics: Theory and Therapy is a non-fiction
book analyzing Dianetics
. The book was authored by Joseph Augustus Winter, M.D.
, with an introduction by Frederick Perls, M.D.
, Ph.D.
The book was first published in hardcover by Julian Messner, in 1951, and published again in 1987, by Crown Publishing Group
. The work was the first book published that was critical of L. Ron Hubbard
.
of L. Ron Hubbard
's Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, but resigned in October 1950 over differences on how to employ the Dianetics techniques. Dr. Winter was also Medical Director of the Foundation. He also wrote the introduction to Hubbard's Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health
. Prior to his falling out with Hubbard, Dr. Winter stated that he had used Dianetics to cure his six-year-old son of fears of ghosts and the dark.
's concept of the engram
, writing that engrams can be formed in the prenatal stage, but he disagreed with Hubbard's concept of the "sperm dream", asserting that this was something purely imagined by the patient. This concept was later analyzed in Culture and Experience.
Dr. Winter also objected to patients recalling deaths from previous reincarnation
s, Hubbard's authoritarian attitude and disregard for usage of the scientific method
, and Hubbard's view that anyone could become an auditor
. According to Winter, repeated attempts to try to convince Hubbard to utilize a minimum standard upon which to test student applicants was not successful. Dr. Winter wrote that Hubbard's techniques did not always cure, but sometimes harmed the patient, and that he had yet to observe a single "Clear
". Though Hubbard claimed that a Clear had been obtained after twenty-four hours of therapy, Dr. Winter never observed an individual reach the state of Clear or display any of the unique abilities attributed to a Clear by Hubbard during his time practicing Dianetics. Dr. Winter also believed that some people became psychotic due to their involvement with Dianetics, and he included a case study in the book.
Dr. Winter also took time in his book to rebuke Hubbard's "Guk" program, which was a combination of vitamins and glutamic acid
that was meant to make dianetics subjects "run better".
, in Pastoral Psychology. Gardner analyzes the book extensively in Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science
. Gardner wrote that the "most revealing" material in A Doctor's Report on Dianetics, were the records of the author's own auditing
sessions. Aleksandrovich wrote in The Ways and Power of Love that though Dr. Winter wrote an enthusiastic "Introduction" to Hubbard's Dianetics, his own book exposed some of Hubbard's more "charlatanish" claims. The book was also reviewed in The American Journal of Psychology and The American Journal of Psychiatry. In a review of the book in Psychosomatic Medicine, Egloff wrote that Winter did a "relatively good, factual job" and provided a "fairly clear, dispassionate view of dianetics". The book is referenced in Stark's The Future of Religion, and in Gerbode's Beyond Psychology.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book analyzing Dianetics
Dianetics
Dianetics is a set of ideas and practices regarding the metaphysical relationship between the mind and body that was invented by the science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard and is practiced by followers of Scientology...
. The book was authored by Joseph Augustus Winter, M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, with an introduction by Frederick Perls, M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
The book was first published in hardcover by Julian Messner, in 1951, and published again in 1987, by Crown Publishing Group
Crown Publishing Group
-External links:*...
. The work was the first book published that was critical of L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
.
About the author
Dr. Winter had previously served on the Board of DirectorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
's Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, but resigned in October 1950 over differences on how to employ the Dianetics techniques. Dr. Winter was also Medical Director of the Foundation. He also wrote the introduction to Hubbard's Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health is a book by L. Ron Hubbard which sets out self-improvement techniques he developed, called Dianetics. The book is also one of the canonical texts of Scientology. It is colloquially referred to as Book One...
. Prior to his falling out with Hubbard, Dr. Winter stated that he had used Dianetics to cure his six-year-old son of fears of ghosts and the dark.
Main points
A Doctor's Report on Dianetics: Theory and Therapy gives credit to the concepts of Dianetics which the author adheres to, and also cites the particular issues that Dr. Winter disagrees with. Dr. Winter agreed with L. Ron HubbardL. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
's concept of the engram
Engram
Engram may refer to:*Engram , a hypothetical means by which memory traces are stored*Engram , a term used in Scientology and Dianetics for a "recording" of a past painful event not normally accessible to the conscious mind...
, writing that engrams can be formed in the prenatal stage, but he disagreed with Hubbard's concept of the "sperm dream", asserting that this was something purely imagined by the patient. This concept was later analyzed in Culture and Experience.
Dr. Winter also objected to patients recalling deaths from previous reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
s, Hubbard's authoritarian attitude and disregard for usage of the scientific method
Scientific method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
, and Hubbard's view that anyone could become an auditor
Auditing (Scientology)
Auditing was developed by L. Ron Hubbard, and is described by the Church of Scientology as "spiritual counseling which is the central practice of Dianetics and Scientology".-Description:...
. According to Winter, repeated attempts to try to convince Hubbard to utilize a minimum standard upon which to test student applicants was not successful. Dr. Winter wrote that Hubbard's techniques did not always cure, but sometimes harmed the patient, and that he had yet to observe a single "Clear
Clear (Scientology)
Clear in Dianetics and Scientology is one of two levels a practitioner can achieve on the way to personal salvation. A state of Clear is reached when a person becomes free of the influence of engrams, unwanted emotions or painful traumas not readily available to the conscious mind...
". Though Hubbard claimed that a Clear had been obtained after twenty-four hours of therapy, Dr. Winter never observed an individual reach the state of Clear or display any of the unique abilities attributed to a Clear by Hubbard during his time practicing Dianetics. Dr. Winter also believed that some people became psychotic due to their involvement with Dianetics, and he included a case study in the book.
Dr. Winter also took time in his book to rebuke Hubbard's "Guk" program, which was a combination of vitamins and glutamic acid
Glutamic acid
Glutamic acid is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids, and its codons are GAA and GAG. It is a non-essential amino acid. The carboxylate anions and salts of glutamic acid are known as glutamates...
that was meant to make dianetics subjects "run better".
Critical reception
The work was called an important new book on psychotherapyPsychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
, in Pastoral Psychology. Gardner analyzes the book extensively in Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science
Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science
Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science, also known just as In the Name of Science, was Martin Gardner's second book, and has become a classic in the literature of entertaining scientific skepticism...
. Gardner wrote that the "most revealing" material in A Doctor's Report on Dianetics, were the records of the author's own auditing
Auditing (Scientology)
Auditing was developed by L. Ron Hubbard, and is described by the Church of Scientology as "spiritual counseling which is the central practice of Dianetics and Scientology".-Description:...
sessions. Aleksandrovich wrote in The Ways and Power of Love that though Dr. Winter wrote an enthusiastic "Introduction" to Hubbard's Dianetics, his own book exposed some of Hubbard's more "charlatanish" claims. The book was also reviewed in The American Journal of Psychology and The American Journal of Psychiatry. In a review of the book in Psychosomatic Medicine, Egloff wrote that Winter did a "relatively good, factual job" and provided a "fairly clear, dispassionate view of dianetics". The book is referenced in Stark's The Future of Religion, and in Gerbode's Beyond Psychology.
External links
Reviews- The American Journal of Psychology, January 1952
- The American Journal of Psychiatry, July 1952