academic psychology later developed. Yet, in a longer talk containing guesses, I

would be criticizing much academic psychology. This sort of intrusion into a

professional territory by an amateur would be sure to be resented by professors

who would rejoice in finding my errors and might be prompted to respond to my

published criticism by providing theirs. Why should I care about new criticism?

Well, who likes new hostility from articulate critics with an information

advantage?

 

Third, a longer version of my ideas would surely draw some disapproval from

people formerly disposed to like me. Not only would there be stylistic and

substantive objections, but also there would be perceptions of arrogance in an

old man who displayed much disregard for conventional wisdom while “popping-off”

on a subject in which he had never taken a course. My old Harvard Law classmate,

Ed Rothschild, always called such a popping-off “the shoe button complex,” named

for the condition of a family friend who spoke in oracular style on all subjects

after becoming dominant in the shoe button business.

 

Fourth, I might make a fool of myself.