How Jews Think

Today most learned Jews apparently prefer to dwell on the vagueness of biological racial distinctions and the fallacy of "Aryanism" rather than search for signs of a mental orientation that sets Jews of whatever nationality apart from non-Jews. But not Abraham Aron Roback, thoughtful and erudite Jewish psychology professor at Boston's Institute of Advertising, onetime instructor at Harvard. To the current issue of Character and Personality Dr. Roback contributed a report on characteristics of Jewish habits of thought and modes of expression.

"Paradoxical though it be," says Dr. Roback, "most of the major Jewish philosophers of the present day are not willing to own up to any Jewish influence." Henri Bergson stoutly denied that either his style or his ideas revealed any Semitic traits. Lucien Levy-Bruhl, distinguished anthropologist, thought his work was typically French. But the question, Dr. Roback thought, was not likely to be settled by comparing the work of known authors. He hit on the idea of trying to sort Jews from non-Jews in the writings of unknown persons. Accordingly he persuaded a colleague to let him have 64 examination papers, with names removed, from psychology classes at Harvard and Radcliffe.

On 43 of these papers he correctly spotted the students as Jewish or non-Jewish. In 21 cases he missed. A mathematician showed him that the probability of this performance having resulted from pure chance was only 3 in 1,000.

Dr. Roback concluded that, in written examinations, Jewish students:

1) Generally chose, where an option was permitted, broad historical topics in preference to technical and restricted questions.

2) Were more "expansive" (not necessarily more verbose), more prone to illustrate from personal experience, less matter-of-fact.

3) Were more likely to intrude personal points of view.

4) Had more flexibility or elasticity of style.

5) Wrote simpler and more legible hands.

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