The recent emphasis upon the role of mental conflicts in determining behavior has been of great benefit in stimulating the study of the borderline mental disorders and of the neuroses. The recognition that conflicts do not usually arise suddenly but develop gradually as the individual meets more and more difficult problems, as he matures, has influenced psychiatrists to make detailed studies of child development. It has also influenced them to make accurate studies of the personal and social backgrounds of adults in the attempt to trace the origin of their maladjustments. Thus, in many cases, evidence has been uncovered which shows that many maladjustments and neurotic conditions are due to mental conflicts which had their origin in childhood, but which did not cause undue emotional tension and consequent maladjustment until adolescence or adulthood. Studies of the mechanism of mental conflicts have shown that only few maladjustments are due to a single conflict.^

Usually the basis for many maladjustments is the formation of a pattern of conflicts, the pressure of which causes the individual to assume either symbolic emotional maladjustment or overt maladjustments. The separation of various conflicts for discussion in this book has been made principally because they can be evaluated much more easily in this manner. An attempt has been made to evaluate the most prominent theories regarding the role of mental conflicts, and to systematize those data which appear to have an objective basis. In addition, the experimental literature has been carefully scrutinized, and those reports which appeared of scientific interest have been included in the discussions, often, however, in very brief statements. The reader must consider much of the material in this field as highly theoretical. It is hoped, however, that out of a scientific evaluation of the material a clearer concept may be obtained of the nature and role of mental conflict.^

A systematic evaluation of the material should also function as a stimulus to further objective and experimental work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved).