SOCIAL SCIENCE FIELD IS TO BE DEVELOPED

Southland Times, Issue 23740, 11 February 1939, Page 16

SOCIAL SCIENCE FIELD IS TO BE DEVELOPED

One of the most interesting developments in the field of social science in Australia is associated with the arrival of Dr Anita Muhl, of San Diego, California, at Melbourne to initiate an important experiment in the co-ordina-tion of social services relating to child development problems. One of the best known and most distinguished psychiatrists in the United States, Dr Muhl visited Australia early this year for a holiday tour. Miss Una Cato, who was then her hostess, was familiar personally with the work that Dr Muhl had done in the United States, both in association with Government enterprises and in private practice, and after Dr Muhl’s return to America approached the University of Melbourne with a suggestion that she should be invited to Return to Melbourne for a period of three years to undertake special courses, under the auspices of the university, the cost of which Miss Cato offered to defray. The university, after some consideration, since the proposal represented an important precedent, decided to accept Miss Cato’s offer, and Dr Muhl accepted the invitation. CHILD DEVELOPMENT The fundamental purpose of her new work will be to co-ordinate all community interests which deal with children in relation to child development problems, Dr Muhl said. “My work will be done partly at the University of Melbourne and partly with the community. The work at the university will include a course in psychiatry for the senior students in the medical school and a post-graduate course for doctors. I will hold classes in behaviour problems for children at a seminary for graduate teachers, and will work in co-operation with the school of social studies, and with the Free Kindergarten Union in relation to the pre-school child development movement. I have undertaken to remain for three years, and the rest depends on how far the community is interested in this project.” In the minds of uninformed people the terms “psychologist” and “psychiatrist” are frequently regarded as synonymous. Dr Muhl, whose university degrees include bachelor of science, doctor of medicine, and doctor of philosophy, and who is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, points out that in the United States a psychiatrist must have a medical degree, while a psychologist need not. Dr Muhl has been appointed an official delegate from the American Association for the Advancement of Science to the meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association to be held in Canberra this month. She has been commissioned to report the proceedings at the conference for scientific journals in the United States.