Better Snarl a Bit

Ulcers and high blood pressure are popularly supposed to be the chief occupational diseases of U.S. business executives. Last week, at a meeting of Chicago's Industrial Relations Association, Dr. David Slight, Illinois state psychiatrist and onetime University of Chicago professor, told why. A generation or two ago, said he, the successful executive, like as not, was a roaring, highhanded type who grabbed what he wanted and didn't worry about shoving other people around in the process. But the 1949 executive, said Dr. Slight, feels bound by the new labor-management gospel to watch his step.

"Foremost in his makeup is vitality, drive, and aggressiveness," said Dr. Slight. "But he is expected to shut down these drives and be a man of diplomacy. The tycoon has not much place nowadays. The executive must be a compromiser. Therefore, a great deal of his innate drive cannot be expressed outwardly."

Specifically, the executive must "listen to a lot of claptrap from union stewards who are riding him, and face pressure from government officials. After that, the executive must express benign, gentle, persuasive attitudes."

With labor leaders, he said, things are different. While fully as aggressive and ambitious as business executives, they are able "to vent their spleen . . . [They] can get out and express their indignation."

But the executive, who is primarily a rugged individualist, must crush his ego for group decisions "in order to be one of the boys." Said Dr. Slight: "Thus the aggressive vitality drive that makes the executive ambitious is thwarted, and it must go somewhere, so it goes inside, producing diarrhea, headaches, blurring of vision ringing in the ears," and ultimately ulcers,* high blood pressure, or both.

* For other news of ulcers, see MEDICINE.

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