Binger Studies Pressures On College Women

College girls today face emotional problems that often hinder them in their academic work, according to Dr. Karl A. L. Binger '10, consultant in psychiatry to the University Health Services.

In an article in the February Atlantic Monthly, Dr. Binger examines "The Pressures on College Girls Today." He confirmed last night that his "observations were based largely on my experience with Radcliffe girls."

Dr. Binger states in his article that girl's difficulty in adjusting to a highly competitive college is usually complicated by her need for a feeling of security.

Most girls, Dr. Binger claims, attempt to satisfy this need by "winning the affection and esteem of a young men they admire." But the young man is far less ready, says Dr. Binger, "for a real and rewarding relationship." For the girls, this leads to feelings of uncertainty and depression and a consequent loss of zest for academic work.

Moral Standards

Another emotional problem arises because traditional standards of conduct are often inadequate to govern relations between college men and women today.

While Dr. Binger offers no "sure solution" to this conflict, he claims that educators often ignore the fact that emotional pressures interfere with regular work. He therefore recommends that girls be encouraged to discuss their problems "with intelligent and reasonably mature adults" not only in the faculty but in the students body too.