Chapter IV: Mental Health in Community Life

Abstract

SINCE the period under review covers the close of the war and the first postwar year, we find the problems of readjustment, rehabilitation, the effect of the war, and delinquency claiming a considerable share of research workers' time. Particular emphasis has been placed on studies of the effect of government and political systems on mental health and adjustment. Effects of Forms of Government and Political SystemsLeighton, Spicer, and others (32) in an interesting article pointed out how basic knowledge concerning human behavior and motivation can be incorporated in plans of government and public administration. In a more extensive study, Leighton (31) applied the analysis of human behavior to the administration of the Poston Japanese Relocation Center in Arizona. He analyzed the discontent which was appearing in the community at the time the study was undertaken and then proceeded to show how, from the factors underlying behavior, a program of administration was developed which met the needs of the members of the community more adequately.