A Pragmatic Attitude

Abstract

Marie, an 11-year-old female, was referred to our center for treatment by a school counselor because of periodic episodes of school refusal, excessive social withdrawal, and an extreme need for reassurance. When her mother brought her in for treatment, she described Marie as being “scared of everything.” Even such an ordinary thing as going to sleep at night was a major event—her mother had to stay with Marie in her room until the girl fell asleep. She said that ever since she could remember Marie was different from other kids in this type of excessive fearfulness, timidity, and her constant need for reassurance. Marie, she said, spent a lot of time worrying about little things and making these little things into big things. She worried about her grades even though she was just finishing the year as an “A” student in a gifted program. In fact, her mother said, she wouldn’t be surprised if Marie spent this summer as she did last summer—worrying about the teacher she’ll get in the fall.

No particular results then, so far, but only an attitude of orientation, is what the pragmatic method means. The attitude of looking away from first things, principles, “categories,” supposed necessities; and of looking toward last things, fruits, consequences, facts.

—William James, 1907