Psychologists Discuss World Tensions in a Conference Dedicating Gerry Hall
To mark the dedication of Gerry Hall, new home of Dartmouth's Psychology Department, and of Filene Auditorium, the adjoining teaching facility, the College held the twoday Filene Conference on "The Role of Psychology in the Resolution of International Conflict" on May 18 and 19.
Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, undersecretary of the United Nations for special political affairs and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, was chairman of the conference, planned and directed by Prof. William M. Smith, chairman of the Dartmouth Psychology Department. Nine other distinguished psychologists and public affairs specialists, identified in the photographs on these pages, joined Dr. Bunche in four panel sessions on Friday and Saturday.
Two dedicatory programs were held during the conference. On Friday morning Prof. John W. Masland, Provost of the College, presided at the program dedicating Gerry Hall, named in memory of Edwin Peabody Gerry, Class of 1869; and John F. Meek '33, Vice President and Treasurer of the College, was the speaker. That afternoon the speakers at the Filene Auditorium dedication included President Emeritus Ernest Martin Hopkins, lifetime friend of the late Lincoln Filene; George E. Ladd Jr., Mr. Filene's son-in-law and a trustee of the Filene Foundation; and H. Clifford Bean '16, representing the Class of 1916, of which Mr. Filene was an honorary and active member.
In the panel sessions of the psychology conference the participants discussed various aspects of the premise stated by Dr. Bunche, that "international relations are a reflection of human relations." The knowledge of psychology must be called on, it was agreed, to dissipate the fears and tensions of men and to try to get the peoples of all nations to think in terms of political realities instead of concentrating on what they want to see and hear for their own self-interest.
Dr. Charles E. Osgood '39 cited several paradoxes in the world today, including the fact that the greater the power of destruction the less people are willing to face the terrors of that power. He proposed a "gradual walk backward" out of the dilemma by using every small opportunity to promote mutual trust and dissipate fears.
Dartmouth Alumni in the Conference . . .
Dr. Ralph Bunche, general chairman of the conference, checks over the program with Prof. William M. Smith, head of Dartmouth's Psychology Department.
Mrs. George E. Ladd Jr., daughter of thelate Lincoln Filene, with her husband,who spoke at the exercises dedicating theLincoln Filene Auditorium.
President Emeritus Hopkins, who spoke at the dedication, shown withMrs. Ladd, a close friend for many years, and Provost John W. Masland.
ion expert, writer on world tensions,and former professor at Princeton.
Howland Sargeant '32, former StateDepartment official, now directingFree World broadcasts to Russia.
Charles E. Osgood '39, director ofcommunications research at Illinois.
Leonard Doob '29, propaganda expert, who has taught at Yale since 1934.
Leonard C. Mead '36, expert in experimental and engineering psychology,who is coordinator of research at Tufts.
