The Primal Whimper: More Readings from the Journal of Polymorphous Perversity

by Glenn C. Ellenbogen (Editor)

Offers a humorous look at intelligence tests, postgraduate work in psychology, sexual behavior, and psychological testing

197 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 1989

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the folks who brought you "Oral Sadism and the Vegetarian Personality", more hilarious readings from the Journal of Polymorphous Perversity. Both books are pretty damned funny, but this one had a higher 'hit rate', IMO.

The book contains:

Entertaining vignettes from clinical practice:
"The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Dishwasher"

tips on surviving the academic rat-race:
"Understanding Student Evaluations"
"Reviewerese"
"The Academic Speech : Quick and Easy Guidelines to the Disguise of Ignorance"

reviews of popular psychology books:
Loving or leaving, take it or leave it, these books offer profound, salient insights into the leaving and loving of men and women who either can't love, can't leave, or can't be left.

Updates to standard psychological tests:

new items for the Minnesota Multiphasic - answer each item as True of False

I am easily awakened by the firing of cannons.
My sex life is satisfactory, except when I am with another person.
I try to steal people's thoughts and ideas when they are not looking.
I frequently notice I am not trembling.
I think I would enjoy the work of a robot.

and - my personal favorite - the Friedberg Clinical Inventory (rate items from 1 - never - to 5 - always)

I play fetch with myself.
Diarrhea runs in my family.
I feel guilty after eating Jewish food.
I wish my portrait were painted on velvet.
I am suspicious of the 7 dwarfs' relationship with Snow White.
I eat out of a satellite dish.
I have the urge to hunt Audubon Society members.
I worry that when the Martians invade, there won't be enough parking spaces.
Geraldo Rivera searches for me.

What's not to love?

[David Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a totally hilarous humor book spoofs on Psychology and Psychotherapy. I wanted to be a Psychologist when I was in college , then I found out that they had the highest suicide rate, and that Christian ministers the lowest. I gave my life to Jesus sometime later ! This book will be meaningful esp to those who have studied Psyc or been around mental health workers. The title is parody on the Psyc classic "The Primal Scream"

David

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant satire.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got this from a pile of "to be recycled" books. Cute 'wink and a nod' to psychological research.