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diff --git a/31382-8.txt b/31382-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..101cb73 --- /dev/null +++ b/31382-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,21390 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Psychology, by Robert S. Woodworth + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Psychology + A Study Of Mental Life + +Author: Robert S. Woodworth + +Release Date: February 25, 2010 [EBook #31382] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PSYCHOLOGY *** + + + + +Produced by Don Kostuch + + + + +[Transcriber's notes] + This text is derived from an unedited version in the Internet Archive. + + Page numbers are indicated by numbers enclosed in curly braces, + e.g. {99}. They have been located where page breaks occurred in the + original book. + + Labels and text in a figure that are not mentioned in the figure + description are included as a comma separated list, as in "(Figure + text: cochlea, vestibule, 3 Canals)". + + Lengthy footnotes and quotations are indented. + + Obvious misspellings and typos are corrected but inconsistent spelling + is not resolved, as in coordinate and coördinate. + + Here are the definitions of some unfamiliar words (to me). + + amour propre + self-esteem; self-respect. + + esprit de corps + camaraderie, bonding, solidarity, fellowship. + + motility (motile) + moving or capable of moving spontaneously. + + unwonted + unusual. +[End Transcribers's notes] + + + +PSYCHOLOGY +A STUDY OF MENTAL LIFE + +BY +ROBERT S. WOODWORTH, Ph. D. +_Professor of Psychology in Columbia University_ + + +NEW YORK +HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY +1921 + + +COPYRIGHT, 1921 +BY +HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY + + +Printed in the U.S.A. + + + +PREFACE + +A few words to the reader are in order. In the first place, something +like an apology is due for the free way in which the author has drawn +upon the original work of many fellow-psychologists, without any +mention of their names. This is practically unavoidable in a book +intended for the beginner, but the reader may well be informed of the +fact, and cautioned not to credit the content of the book to the +writer of it. The author's task has been that of selecting from the +large mass of psychological information now available, much of it new, +whatever seemed most suitable for introducing the subject to the +reader. The book aims to represent the present state of a very active +science. + +Should the book appear unduly long in prospect, the longest and most +detailed chapter, that on Sensation, might perfectly well be omitted, +on the first reading, without appreciably disturbing the continuity of +the rest. + +On the other hand should any reader desire to make this text the basis +of a more extensive course of reading, the lists of references +appended to the several chapters will prove of service. The books and +articles there cited will be found interesting and not too technical +in style. + +Much advantage can be derived from the use of the "Exercises". The +text, at the best, but provides raw material. Each student's finished +product must be of his own making. The exercises afford opportunity +for the student to work over the material and make it his own. + +A first or preliminary edition of this book, in mimeographed sheets, +was in use for two years in introductory classes conducted by the +author and his colleagues, and was subjected to exceedingly helpful +criticism from both teachers and students. The revision of that +earlier edition into the present form has been very much of a +coöperative enterprise, and so many have coöperated that room could +scarcely be found for all their names. Professor A. T. Poffenberger, +Dr. Clara F. Chassell, Dr. Georgina I. Gates, Mr. Gardner Murphy, Mr. +Harold E. Jones and Mr. Paul S. Achilles have given me the advantage +of their class-room experience with the mimeographed book. Dr. +Christine Ladd-Franklin has very carefully gone over with me the +passages dealing with color vision and with reasoning. Miss Elizabeth +T. Sullivan, Miss Anna B. Copeland, Miss Helen Harper and Dr. A. H. +Martin have been of great assistance in the final stages of the work. +Important suggestions have come also from several other universities, +where the mimeographed book was inspected. + +R. S. W. +Columbia University +August, 1921 + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I + + PAGE + +WHAT PSYCHOLOGY IS AND DOES 1 + +Varieties of Psychology 2 + +Psychology as Related to Other Sciences 5 + +The Science of Consciousness 7 + +The Science of Behavior 8 + +Introspection 10 + +Objective Observation 11 + +General Lines of + Psychological Investigation 14 + +Summary and Attempt at a Definition 17 + +Exercises 19 + +References 20 + + +CHAPTER II + +REACTIONS 21 + +The Reaction Time Experiment 22 + +Reflex Action 24 + +The Nerves in Reflex Action 26 + +Internal Construction of the + Nerves and Nerve Centers 31 + +The Synapse 34 + +Coördination 37 + +Reactions in General 39 + +Exercises 42 + +References 44 + + +CHAPTER III + +REACTIONS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS 45 + +Different Sorts of Stimuli 47 + +The Motor Centers, Lower and Higher 49 + +How the Brain Produces + Muscular Movements 53 + +Facilitation and Inhibition 54 + +Super-motor Centers in the Cortex 56 + +Speech Centers 57 + +The Auditory Centers 59 + +The Visual Centers 62 + +Cortical Centers for the Other Senses 68 + +Lower Sensory Centers 64 + +The Cerebellum 66 + +Different Levels of Reaction 65 + +Exercises 67 + +References 67 + + +CHAPTER IV + +TENDENCIES TO REACTION 68 + +Purposive Behavior 70 + +Organic States that Influence Behavior 72 + +Preparation for Action 74 + +Preparatory Reactions 77 + +What the Preparatory + Reactions Accomplish 79 + +What a Tendency Is, + in Terms of Nerve Action 82 + +Motives 84 + +Exercises 86 + +References 88 + + +CHAPTER V + +NATIVE AND ACQUIRED TRAITS 89 + +The Source of Native Traits 90 + +Reactions Appearing at + Birth Must Be Native 91 + +Reactions That Cannot Be + Learned Must Be Native 92 + +Experimental Detection + of Native Reactions 93 + +Is Walking Native or Acquired? 95 + +Universality as a Criterion + of Native Reactions 97 + +Some Native Traits Are + Far from Being Universal 98 + +Why Acquired Traits Differ from + One Individual to Another 99 + +What Mental Traits Are Native? 100 + +Exercises 103 + +References 104 + + +CHAPTER VI + +INSTINCT 105 + +The Difference Between + an Instinct and a Reflex 107 + +An Instinct Is a Native + Reaction-Tendency 109 + +Fully and Partially + Organized Instincts 111 + +Instincts Are Not Ancestral Habits 113 + +Instincts Not Necessarily Useful + in the Struggle for Existence 114 + +The So-called Instincts of + Self-preservation and of Reproduction 115 + +Exercises 117 + +References 117 + + +CHAPTER VII + +EMOTION 118 + +Organic States That Are + Not Usually Classed as Emotions 119 + +How These Organic States + Differ from Regular Emotions 120 + +The Organic State in Anger 121 + +Glandular Responses During Emotion 122 + +The Nerves Concerned in + Internal Emotional Response 124 + +The Emotional State as + a Preparatory Reaction 125 + +"Expressive Movements," Another + Sort of Preparatory Reactions 126 + +Do Sensations of These Various + Preparatory Reactions Constitute + the Conscious State of Emotion? 128 + +The James-Lange Theory of the Emotions 129 + +Emotion and Impulse 130 + +Emotion Sometimes Generates Impulse 132 + +Emotion and Instinct 134 + +The Higher Emotions 136 + +Exercises 136 + +References 136 + + +CHAPTER VIII + +INVENTORY OF HUMAN INSTINCTS + AND PRIMARY EMOTIONS 137 + +Classification 138 + +Responses to Organic Needs 139 + +Instinctive Responses to Other Persons 145 + +The Play Instincts 151 + +Exercises 170 + +References 171 + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FEELINGS 172 + +Pleasantness and Unpleasantness + Are Simple Feelings 173 + +Felling-tone of Sensations 174 + +Theories of Feeling 175 + +Sources of Pleasantness + and Unpleasantness 178 + +Primary Likes and Dislikes 180 + +Other Proposed Elementary Feelings 184 + +Exercises 186 + +References 186 + + +CHAPTER X + +SENSATION 187 + +The Sense Organs 188 + +Analysis of Sensations 197 + +The Skin Senses 197 + +The Sense of Taste 201 + +The Sense of Smell 203 + +Organic Sensations 204 + +The Sense of Sight 204 + +Simpler Forms of the Color Sense 209 + +Visual Sensations as + Related to the Stimulus 212 + +Color Mixing 214 + +What Are the Elementary + Visual Sensations? 216 + +Theories of Color Vision 220 + +Adaptation 224 + +Rod and Cone Vision 226 + +After-images 226 + +Contrast 227 + +The Sense of Hearing 228 + +Comparison of Sight and Hearing 231 + +Theory of Hearing 234 + +Senses of Bodily Movement 236 + +Exercises 241 + +References 243 + + +CHAPTER XI + +ATTENTION 244 + +The Stimulus, or + What Attracts Attention 245 + +The Motor Reaction in Attention 248 + +The Shifting of Attention 251 + +Laws of Attention and + Laws of Reaction in General 256 + +Sustained Attention 257 + +Distraction 259 + +Doing Two Things at Once 260 + +The Span of Attention 261 + +Summary of the Laws of Attention 262 + +Attention and Degree of Consciousness 265 + +The Management of Attention 267 + +Theory of Attention 268 + +Exercises 270 + +References 270 + + +CHAPTER XII + +INTELLIGENCE 271 + +Intelligence Tests 272 + +Performance Tests 275 + +Group Testing 276 + +Some Results of the Intelligence Tests 278 + +Limitations of the Intelligence Tests 281 + +The Correlation of Abilities 288 + +General Factors in Intelligence 285 + +Special Aptitudes 288 + +Heredity of Intelligence + and of Special Aptitudes 289 + +Intelligence and the Brain 292 + +Exercises 294 + +References 295 + + +CHAPTER XIII + +LEARNING AND HABIT FORMATION 296 + +Acquired Reactions Are + Modified Native Reactions 297 + +Acquired Tendencies 299 + +Animal Learning 302 + +Summary of Animal Learning 310 + +Human Learning 311 + +Human Compared with Animal Learning 313 + +Learning by Observation 317 + +The Learning of Complex + Practical Performances 321 + +Higher Units and Overlapping 323 + +Moderate Skill Acquired in + the Ordinary Day's Work 326 + +Habit 328 + +Exercises 330 + +References 331 + + +CHAPTER XIV + +MEMORY 332 + +The Process of Memorizing 333 + +Economy in Memorizing 333 + +Unintentional Learning 346 + +Retention 348 + +Recall 364 + +Recognition 357 + +Memory Training 360 + +Exercises 364 + +References 365 + + +CHAPTER XV + +ASSOCIATION AND MENTAL IMAGERY 366 + +What Can Be Recalled 366 + +Memory Images 368 + +Limitations of Imagery 371 + +The Question of Non-Sensory Recall 373 + +Hallucinations 375 + +Free Association 376 + +Controlled Association 381 + +Examples of Controlled Association 384 + +Exercises 386 + +References 388 + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE LAWS OF ASSOCIATION 389 + +The Law of Exercise 389 + +The Law of Effect 391 + +Limitations of the Law of Exercise 393 + +Association by Similarity 395 + +Association by Contiguity 396 + +The Law of Combination 398 + +The Law of Combination in Recall 413 + +The Laws of Learning in + Terms of the Neurones 414 + +Exercises 418 + +References 418 + + +CHAPTER XVII + +PERCEPTION 418 + +Some Definitions 421 + +The Difference Between + Perception and Sensation 423 + +Perception and Image 425 + +Perception and Motor Reaction 427 + +What Sort of Response, + Then, Is Perception? 431 + +Practiced Perception 433 + +Corrected Perception 435 + +Sensory Data Serving as Signs + of Various Sorts of Fact 437 + +The Perception of Space 439 + +Esthetic Perception 443 + +Social Perception 444 + +Errors of Perception 446 + +Illusions 450 + +Exercises 460 + +References 461 + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +REASONING 462 + +Animal and Human Exploration 463 + +Reasoning Culminates in Inference 465 + +Varieties of Reasoning 468 + +Deductive and Inductive Reasoning 474 + +Psychology and Logic 476 + +Exercises 480 + +References 480 + + +CHAPTER XIX + +IMAGINATION 481 + +Beginnings of Imagination + in the Child 482 + +Preliminary Definition of Imagination 483 + +Play 485 + +The Play Motives 488 + +Empathy 491 + +Worry 497 + +Day Dreams 498 + +Dreams 499 + +Freud's Theory of Dreams 505 + +Autistic Thinking 508 + +Invention and Criticism 509 + +The Enjoyment of Imaginative Art 512 + +The Psychology of Inventive Production 517 + +Imagination Considered in General 519 + +Exercises 521 + +References 522 + + +CHAPTER XX + +WILL 523 + +Voluntary and Involuntary Action 524 + +Development of Voluntary Control 526 + +Ideomotor Action 527 + +Conflict and Decision 528 + +Obstruction and Effort 535 + +Thought and Action 539 + +Securing Action 541 + +The Influence of Suggestion 546 + +Exercises 551 + +References 561 + + +CHAPTER XXI + +PERSONALITY 552 + +Factors in Personality 553 + +The Self 555 + +Integration and Disintegration + of the Personality 558 + +The Unconscious, or, + the Subconscious Mind 561 + +Unconscious Wishes and Motives 565 + +Exercises 571 + +References 571 + +INDEX 573 + + +{1} + +PSYCHOLOGY + +CHAPTER I + +WHAT PSYCHOLOGY IS AND DOES + +THE SUBJECT-MATTER OF THE SCIENCE, ITS PROBLEMS AND ITS METHODS + + +Modern psychology is an attempt to bring the methods of scientific +investigation, which have proved immensely fruitful in other fields, +to bear upon mental life and its problems. The human individual, the +main object of study, is so complex an object, that for a long time it +seemed doubtful whether there ever could be real science here; but a +beginning was made in the nineteenth century, following the lead of +biology and physiology, and the work of the investigator has been so +successful that to-day there is quite a respectable body of knowledge +to assemble under the title of scientific psychology. + +Psychology, then, is a science. It is the science of--what shall we +say? "The science of the soul"--that is what the name means by +derivation and ancient usage. "The science of the mind" has a more +modern sound. "The science of consciousness" is more modern still. +"The science of behavior" is the most recent attempt at a concise +formula. + +None of these formulas is wholly satisfactory. Psychology does not +like to call itself the science of the soul, for that has a +theological tang and suggests problems that have so far not seemed +accessible to scientific investigation. Psychology does not like very +well to call itself the science {2} of the mind, as _the_ mind seems to +imply some thing or machine, and there is no such thing to be observed +(unless it be the brain and body generally), and, anyway, psychology +is distinctly a study of actions rather than of things. Psychology +does not like to limit itself to the study of consciousness, but finds +it necessary to study also unconscious actions. As to "behavior", it +would be a very suitable term, if only it had not become so closely +identified with the "behavioristic movement" in psychology, which +urges that consciousness should be entirely left out of psychology, or +at least disregarded. "Behavior psychology", as the term would be +understood to-day, means a part of the subject and not the whole. + +[Footnote: A series of waggish critics has evolved the following: +"First psychology lost its soul, then it lost its mind, then it lost +consciousness; it still has behavior, of a kind."] + +The best way of getting a true picture of psychology, and of reaching +an adequate definition of its subject-matter, would be to inspect the +actual work of psychologists, so as to see what kind of knowledge they +are seeking. Such a survey would reveal quite a variety of problems +under process of investigation, some of them practical problems, +others not directly practical. + + +Varieties of Psychology + + +Differential psychology. + +One line of question that always interests the beginner in psychology +is as to how people differ--how different people act under the same +circumstances--and why; and if we watch the professional +psychologist, we often find him working at just this problem. He tests +a great number of individuals to see how they differ, and tries to +discover on what factors their differences depend, how far on +heredity, how far on environment. The "psychologist" in such a place +as the children's court {3} is a specialist whose duty it is to test +the delinquent children that are brought before the court, with the +special object of measuring the intelligence of each individual child +and of helping in other ways to understand the child's peculiar +conduct and attitude. + +The "psychological examiner" in the Army, during the Great War, had the +same general object in view. It was desirable to measure the +intelligence of each recruit as he entered the service, since military +experience had shown that men of low intelligence made poor soldiers, +while those of high intelligence made the best officers and +non-commissioned officers, provided they also possessed good physique +and certain less measureable mental qualifications, such as courage +and leadership. + + +Applied psychology. + +The Army psychologists, like the court psychologist, were engaged in +applying scientific knowledge to the practical problems of life; and +there are many other applications of psychology, to education, to +medicine, to business and other occupations, as well as to the art of +right living. Scientific knowledge enables you to _predict_ and +_control_. Having devised scientific tests for intelligence, you can +predict of a six-year-old boy who tests low, that he will not get much +good from the regular classes in school; and thus you are in a +position to control the education of this boy for his own best +interests. In the Army, it happened during the earlier part of the war +that some companies or regiments made much slower progress in training +than others; and a whole Division was delayed for months because of +the backwardness of a single regiment. When the psychological tests +were introduced, these slow-learning units were found to contain a +disproportionate number of men of low intelligence. From that time on, +it was possible by aid of the tests to equalize the intelligence of +different units when first formed, and thus insure equal {4} progress +in training. This was a good example of "control". + +Most of us are attracted by the practical use of a science, and some +have no patience with any study that does not seem immediately +practical. But really any science, however much it is applied, must +remain fundamentally a pure science; that is, it must seek most of all +to know and understand. Practical scientific knowledge was usually +first obtained without any inkling of how it might be used. The +science of electricity is the most striking example of this. It began +as an attempt to understand certain curious phenomena, which seemed to +be nothing but curiosities; yet when the knowledge of these phenomena +had progressed to a certain point, abundant use was found for it. Much +the same is true of psychology, which began as a pure science and only +recently has found ways of applying its discoveries to practical +affairs. So the student beginning the science, though properly +desirous of making practical use of what he learns, should let himself +be governed for the present by the desire to know and understand, +confident that the more scientific (which is to say, the more +complete, systematic and reliable) his knowledge is, the more +available it will be for practical application. + + +General psychology. + +Our science is not concerned entirely with differences between people, +but asks also in what ways people are alike, and this is indeed its +central problem. How do "we" observe, learn, remember, imagine, think? +What sensations and feelings do we have, what emotions, what +instincts, what natural and acquired impulses to action? How are our +natural powers and impulses developed and organized as we grow up? +Psychology is concerned with the child as well as the adult, and it is +even concerned with the animal. It is concerned with the abnormal as +well as the normal human being. So you will find books and {5} courses +on animal psychology, child psychology, abnormal psychology. Now +general psychology--or just plain "psychology"--has to do with the +main laws and principles that hold in all these special fields. + + +Psychology as Related to Other Sciences + +A good definition of our science would distinguish it from other +sciences, especially from those neighboring sciences with which it is +in closest contact. + + +Psychology and sociology. + +There is no difficulty in framing a good logical distinction here. +Sociology studies the activities of a group of people taken as a +whole, while psychology studies the activities of the individuals. +Both might be interested in the same social act, such as an election, +but sociology would consider this event as a unit, whereas psychology +would break it up into the acts of the several voters. The distinction +is clear enough theoretically, but breaks down often in practice, as +sociology would like to know the motives that swayed individual +voters, while psychology on its side is interested to know what +decision was reached by the majority. All the social sciences, +including economics and politics, have a psychological side, since +they evidently are concerned to know the causes that govern human +conduct. Social psychology studies the individual in his social +relations. + + +Psychology and biology. + +Biology, being the science of living creatures, includes psychology, +which studies these creatures on the mental side. The science of life +includes the science of mental life. We may call psychology a part of +biology, or we may call it one of the biological sciences. It has very +close contact with several other branches of biology. Animal +psychology overlaps that part of zoology which studies the behavior of +animals. Genetic psychology, as it is sometimes called, i.e., the +study of mental heredity. {6} and development, dovetails with the +general biological science of genetics, so that we find biologists +gathering data on the heredity of feeble-mindedness or of musical +ability, while psychologists discuss the general theory of heredity. + + +Psychology and physiology. + +That one of all the sciences that has the closest contacts with +psychology is human and animal physiology. Broadly defined, physiology +is that part of biology that studies functions or activities; and, so +defined, it includes psychology as part of itself. In practice, +psychology devotes itself to desire, thought, memory, and such "mental +functions", while physiology concentrates its effort upon "bodily +functions" like digestion and circulation. But this is only a rough +distinction, which breaks down at many points. + +Where shall we class sensation? Is it "mental" or "bodily"? Both +sciences study it. Physiology is perhaps more apt to go into the +detailed study of the action of the sense organs, and psychology to +concern itself with the classification of sensations and the use made +of them for recognizing objects or for esthetic purposes. But the line +between the two sciences is far from sharp at this point. + +Speech, also, lies in both provinces. Physiology has studied the +action of the vocal organs and the location of the brain centers +concerned in speech, while psychology has studied the child's process +of learning to speak and the relation of speech to thought, and is +more apt to be interested in stuttering, slips of the tongue, and +other speech disturbances which are said to be "mental rather than +physical". + +It would be hard to mention any activity that is mental without being +physical at the same time. Even thinking, which seems as purely mental +as any, requires brain action; and the brain is just as truly a bodily +organ as the heart or stomach. Its activity is bodily activity and +lies properly within the field of physiology. + +{7} + +But it would be equally difficult to mention any function that is +exclusively bodily, and not mental at the same time, in some degree. +Take digestion for example: the pleasant anticipation of food will +start the digestive juices flowing, before any food is physically in +the stomach; while in anger or fear digestion comes to a sudden halt. +Therefore we find physiologists interested in these emotions, and +psychologists interested in digestion. + +We do not find any clean separation between our science and +physiology; but we find, on the whole, that psychology examines what +are called "mental" activities, and that it studies them as the +performances of the whole individual rather than as executed by the +several organs. + + +The Science of Consciousness + +Typically, the activities that psychology studies are conscious +performances, while many of those falling to physiology are +unconscious. Thus digestion is mostly unconscious, the heart beat is +unconscious except when disturbed, the action of the liver is entirely +unconscious. Why not say, then, that psychology is the study of +conscious activities? + +There might be some objection to this definition from the side of +physiology, which studies certain conscious activities itself--speech, +for example, and especially sensation. + +There would be objection also from the side of psychology, which does +not wish to limit itself to conscious action. Take the case of any act +that can at first be done only with close attention, but that becomes +easy and automatic after practice; at first it is conscious, later +unconscious, but psychology would certainly need to follow it from the +initial to the final stage, in order to make a complete study of the +practice effect. And then there is the "unconscious", or the +"subconscious mind"--a matter on which psychologists {8} do not wholly +agree among themselves; but all would agree that the problem of the +unconscious was appropriate to psychology. + +For all the objections, it remains true that the _typical_ mental +process, the typical matter for psychological study, is conscious. +"Unconscious mental processes" are distinguished from the unconscious +activity of such organs as the liver by being somehow _like_ the +conscious mental processes. + +It would be correct, then, to limit psychology to the study of +conscious activities and of activities akin to these. + + +The Science of Behavior + +No one has objected so strenuously to defining psychology as the +science of consciousness, and limiting it to consciousness, as the +group of animal psychologists. By energetic work, they had proved that +the animal was a very good subject for psychological study, and had +discovered much that was important regarding instinct and learning in +animals. But from the nature of the case, they could not observe the +consciousness of animals; they could only observe their behavior, that +is to say, the motor (and in some cases glandular) activities of the +animals under known conditions. When then the animal psychologists +were warned by the mighty ones in the science that they must interpret +their results in terms of consciousness or not call themselves +psychologists any longer, they rebelled; and some of the best fighters +among them took the offensive, by insisting that human psychology, no +less than animal, was properly a study of behavior, and that it had +been a great mistake ever to define it as the science of +consciousness. + +It is a natural assumption that animals are conscious, but after all +you cannot directly observe their consciousness, and you cannot +logically confute those philosophers {9} who have contended that the +animal was an unconscious automaton. Still less can you be sure in +detail what is the animal's sensation or state of mind at any time; to +get at that, you would need a trustworthy report from the animal +himself. Each individual must observe his own consciousness; no one +can do it from outside. The objection of the behaviorist to +"consciousness psychology" arises partly from distrust of this method +of inner observation, even on the part of a human observer. + +Indeed, we can hardly define psychology without considering its +_methods of observation_, since evidently the method of observation +limits the facts observed and so determines the character of the +science. Psychology has two methods of observation. + +When a person performs any act, there are, or may be, two sorts of +facts to be observed, the "objective" and the "subjective". The +objective facts consist of movements of the person's body or of any +part of it, secretions of his glands (as flow of saliva or sweat), and +external results produced by these bodily actions--results such as +objects moved, path and distance traversed, hits on a target, marks +made on paper, columns of figures added, vocal or other sounds +produced, etc., etc. Such objective facts can be observed by another +person. + +The subjective facts can be observed only by the person performing the +act. While another person can observe, better indeed than he can +himself, the motion of his legs in walking, he alone can observe the +sensations in the joints and muscles produced by the leg movement. No +one else can observe his pleased or displeased state of mind, nor +whether he is thinking of his walking or of something quite different. +To be sure, his facial expression, which is an objective fact, may +give some clue to his thoughts and feelings, but "there's no art to +read the mind's construction {10} in the face", or at least no sure +art. One may feign sleep or absorption while really attending to what +is going on around. A child may wear an angelic expression while +meditating mischief. To get the subjective facts, we shall have to +enlist the person himself as our observer. + + +Introspection + +This is observation by an individual of his own conscious action. It +is also called subjective observation. Notice that it is a form of +observation, and not speculation or reasoning from probabilities or +from past experience. It is a direct observation of fact. + +One very simple instance of introspection is afforded by the study of +after-images. Look for an instant at the glowing electric bulb, and +then turn your eyes upon a dark background, and observe whether the +glowing filament appears there; this would be the "positive +after-image". This simple type of introspection is used by physiology +in its study of the senses, as well as by psychology; and it gives +such precise and regular results that only the most confirmed +behaviorists refuse to admit it as a good method of observation. + +But psychology would like to make introspective observations on the +more complex mental processes as well; and it must be admitted that +here introspection becomes difficult. You cannot hope to make minute +observations on any process that lasts over a very few seconds, for +you must let the process run its natural course unimpeded by your +efforts at observing it, and then turn your "mental eye" instantly +back to observe it _retrospectively_ before it disappears. As a matter +of fact, a sensation or feeling or idea hangs on in consciousness for +a few seconds, and can be observed in this retrospective way. There is +no theoretical objection to this style of introspection, but it is +practically difficult and {11} tricky. Try it on a column of figures: +first add the column as usual, then immediately turn back and review +exactly what went through your mind in the process of adding---what +numbers you spoke internally, etc. Try again by introspecting the +process of filling in the blanks in the sentence: + +"Botany could not make use of introspection because ______ have +probably no ________ processes." + +At first, you may find it difficult to observe yourself in this way; +for the natural tendency, when you are aiming at a certain result, is +to reach the goal and then shift to something else, rather than to +turn back and review the steps by which you reached the goal. But with +practice, you acquire some skill in introspection. + +One difficulty with introspection of the more complex mental processes +is that individuals vary more here than in the simpler processes, so +that different observers, observing each his own processes, will not +report the same facts, and one observer cannot serve as a check upon +another so easily as in the simpler introspection of after-images and +other sensations, or as in the observations made in other sciences. +Even well trained introspectionists are quite at variance when they +attempt a minute description of the thought processes, and it is +probable that this is asking too much of introspection. We mustn't +expect it to give microscopic details. Rough observations, however, it +gives with considerable certainty. Who can doubt, for example, that a +well-practised act goes on with very little consciousness, or that +inner, silent speech often accompanies thinking? And yet we have only +introspection to vouch for these facts. + + +Objective Observation + +But to say, as used to be said, that psychology is purely an +introspective science, making use of no other sort of observation, is +absurd in the face of the facts. + +{12} + +We have animal psychology, where the observation is exclusively +objective. In objective observation, the observer watches something +else, and not himself. In animal psychology, the psychologist, as +observer, watches the animal. + +The same is true of child psychology, at least for the first years of +childhood. You could not depend on the introspections of a baby, but +you can learn much by watching his behavior. Abnormal persons, also, +are not often reliable introspectionists, and the study of abnormal +psychology is mostly carried on by objective methods. + +Now how is it with the normal adult human being, the standard subject +for psychology? Does he make all the observations on himself or may he +be objectively observed by the psychologist? The latter, certainly. In +fact, nearly all tests, such as those used in studying differential +psychology, are objective. That is to say that the person tested is +given a task to perform, and his performance is observed in one way or +another by the examiner. The examiner may observe the _time_ occupied +by the subject to complete the task, or the _quantity_ accomplished in +a fixed time; or he may measure the correctness and _excellence_ of +the work done, or the _difficulty_ of the task assigned. One test uses +one of these measures, and another uses another; but they are all +objective measures, not depending at all on the introspection of the +subject. + +What is true of tests in differential psychology is true of the +majority of experiments in general psychology: the performer is one +person, the observer another, and the observation is objective in +character. Suppose, for example, you are investigating a memory +problem; your method may be to set your subject a lesson to memorize +under certain defined conditions, and see how quickly and well he +learns it; then you give him another, equally difficult lesson to be +learned under altered conditions, and observe whether he {13} does +better or worse than before. Thus you discover which set of conditions +is more favorable for memorizing, and thence can infer something of +the way in which memorizing is accomplished. In the whole experiment +you need not have called on your subject for any introspections; and +this is a type of many experiments in which the subject accomplishes a +certain task under known conditions, and his success is objectively +observed and measured. + +There is another type of objective psychological observation, directed +not towards the success with which a task is accomplished, but towards +the changes in breathing, heart beat, stomach movements, brain +circulation, or involuntary movements of the hands, eyes, etc., which +occur during the course of various mental processes, as in reading, in +emotion, in dreaming or waking from sleep. + +Now it is not true as a matter of history that either of these types +of objective observation was introduced into psychology by those who +call themselves behaviorists. Not at all; experiments of both sorts +have been common in psychology since it began to be an experimental +science. The first type, the success-measuring experiment, has been +much more used than introspection all along. What the behaviorists +have accomplished is the definitive overthrow of the doctrine, once +strongly insisted on by the "consciousness psychologists", that +introspection is the only real method of observation in psychology; +and this is no mean achievement. But we should be going too far if we +followed the behaviorists to the extent of seeking to exclude +introspection altogether, and on principle. There is no sense in such +negative principles. Let us accumulate psychological facts by any +method that will give the facts. + +{14} + +General Laws of Psychological Investigation. + +Either introspective or objective observation can be employed in the +_experimental attack_ on a problem, which consists, as just +illustrated in the case of memory, in controlling the conditions under +which a mental performance occurs, varying the conditions +systematically, and noting the resulting change in the subject's +mental process or its outcome. Psychologists are inclined to regard +this as the best line of attack, whenever the mental activity to be +studied can be effectively subjected to control. Unfortunately, +emotion and reasoning are not easily brought under control, and for +this reason psychology has made slower progress in understanding them +than it has made in the fields of sensation and memory, where good +experimental procedure has been developed. + +Another general line of attack worthy to be mentioned alongside of the +experimental is the _comparative method_. You compare the actions of +individuals, classes or species, noting likenesses and differences. +You see what behavior is typical and what exceptional. You establish +norms and averages, and notice how closely people cluster about the +norm and how far individuals differ from it. You introduce tests of +various sorts, by which to get a more precise measure of the +individual's performance. Further, by the use of what may be called +double comparison, or "correlation", you work out the relationships of +various mental (and physical) traits. For example, when many different +species of animals are compared in intelligence and also in brain +weight, the two are found to correspond fairly well, the more +intelligent species having on the whole the heavier brains; from which +we fairly conclude that the size of the brain has something to do with +intelligence. But when we correlate brain weight and intelligence in +human individuals. {15} we find so many exceptions to the rule (stupid +men with large brains and gifted men with brains of only moderate +size) that we are forced to recognize the importance of other factors, +such as the perfection of the microscopic structure of the brain. + +Tests and correlations have become so prominent in recent +psychological investigation that this form of the comparative method +ranks on a par with the strict experimental method. A test is an +experiment, in a way, and at least is often based upon an experiment; +but the difference between the two lines of attack is that an +experiment typically takes a few subjects into the laboratory and +observes how their mental performances change with planfully changed +conditions; whereas a test goes out and examines a large number of +persons under one fixed set of conditions. An experiment belongs under +what we called "general psychology", and a test under "differential +psychology", since the first outcome of a test is to show how the +individual differs from others in a certain respect. The results may, +however, be utilized in various ways, either for such practical +purposes as guiding the individual's choice of an occupation, or for +primarily scientific purposes, such as examining whether intelligence +goes with brain size, whether twins resemble each other as much +mentally as they do physically, whether intellectual ability and moral +goodness tend on the whole to go together, or not. + +The _genetic method_ is another of the general lines of attack on +psychological problems. The object here is to trace the mental +development of the individual, or of the race. It may be to trace the +development either of mentality in general, or of some particular +mental performance. It may be to trace the child's progress in +learning to speak, or to follow the development of language in the +human species, from the most primitive tongues up to those of the +great {16} civilized peoples of to-day. It may be to trace the +improvement of a performance with continued practice. + +The value of the genetic method is easily seen. Usually the beginnings +of a function or performance are comparatively simple and easy to +observe and analyze. Also, the process of mental growth is an +important matter to study on its own account. + +The _pathological method_ is akin to the genetic, but traces the decay +or demoralization of mental life instead of its growth. It traces the +gradual decline of mental power with advancing age, the losses due to +brain disease, and the maladaptations that appear in insanity and +other disturbances. Here psychology makes close contact with +_psychiatry_ which is the branch of medicine concerned with the +insane, etc., and which in fact has contributed most of the +psychological information derived from the pathological method. + +The object of the pathological method is, on the one side, to +understand abnormal forms of mental life, with the practical object of +preventing or curing them, and on the other side, to understand normal +mental life the better. Just as the development of a performance +throws light on the perfected act, so the decay or disturbance of a +function often reveals its inner workings; for we all know that it is +when a machine gets out of order that one begins to see how it ought +to work. Failure sheds light on the conditions of success, +maladaptation throws into relief the mental work that has to be done +by the normal individual in order to secure and maintain his good +adaptation. According to the psychiatrists, mental disturbance is +primarily an affair of emotion and desire rather than of intellect; +and consequently they believe that the pathological method is of +special importance in the study of the emotional life. + +{17} + +Summary and Attempt at a Definition + +Having now made a rapid preliminary survey of the field of psychology, +and of the aims and methods of the workers in this field, we ought to +be in a position to give some sort of a definition. + +We conclude, then: psychology is a part of the scientific study of +life, being the science of mental life. Life consisting in process or +action, psychology is the scientific study of mental processes or +activities. A mental activity is typically, though not universally, +conscious; and we can roughly designate as mental those activities of +a living creature that are either conscious themselves or closely akin +to those that are conscious. Further, any mental activity can also be +regarded as a physiological activity, in which case it is analyzed +into the action of bodily organs, whereas as "mental" it simply comes +from the organism or individual as a whole. Psychology, in a word, is +the science of the conscious and near-conscious activities of living +individuals. + +Psychology is not interested either in dead bodies or in disembodied +spirits, but in living and acting individuals. + +One word more, on the _psychological point of view_. In everyday life +we study our acquaintances and their actions from a personal +standpoint. That is, we evaluate their behavior according as it +affects ourselves, or, perhaps, according as it squares or not with +our standards of right and wrong. We always find something to praise +or blame. Now, the psychologist has no concern with praise and blame, +but is a seeker after the facts. He would know and understand human +actions, rather than pass judgment on them. When, for example, he is +introduced into the school or children's court, for the purpose of +examining children that are "problems", his attitude differs +considerably from that of the {18} teacher or officer of the law; for +while they almost inevitably pass judgment on the child in the way of +praise or blame, the psychologist simply tries to understand the +child. The young delinquent brought into the laboratory of the court +psychologist quickly senses the unwonted atmosphere, where he is +neither scolded nor exhorted, but asked to lend his coöperation in an +effort to discover the cause why his conduct is as it is. Now, this +psychological attitude is not necessarily "better" than the other, but +it is distinctly valuable in its place, as seen from the fact that the +young delinquent often does coöperate. He feels that if the +psychologist can find out what is the trouble with him, this may help. +Nothing, indeed, is more probable; it is when we have the facts and +trace out cause and effect that we are in a fair way to do good. +Nothing is more humane than psychology, in the long run, even though +the psychologist may seem unfeeling in the course of his +investigation. + +To the psychologist, conduct is a matter of cause and effect, of +natural law. His business is to know the laws of that part of nature +which we call human nature, and to use these laws, as fast as +discovered, for solving the problems presented by the human individual +or group. For him, even the most capricious conduct has its causes, +even the most inexplicable has its explanation--if only the cause can +be unearthed, which he does not pretend he can always actually +accomplish, since causes in the mental realm are often very complex. +No one can be a psychologist all of the time; no one can or should +always maintain this matter-of-fact attitude towards self and +neighbor. But some experience with the psychological attitude is of +practical value to any one, in giving clearer insight, more +toleration, better control, and even saner standards of living. + +{19} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. A sample outline of the briefer sort is + here given: + +A. Subject-matter of psychology: mental activities. + + (1) A sub-class under vital activities. + + (2) Activities of individuals, as distinguished from + + (a) Activities of social groups (sociology). + + (b) Activities of single organs (physiology). + + (3) Either conscious, or closely related to conscious activities. + + (4) May be activities of human or animal, adult or child, + normal or abnormal individuals. + +B. Problems of psychology: + + (1) How individuals differ in their mental activities. + + (2) How individuals are alike in their mental activities. + + (3) Practical applications of either (1) or (2). + +C. Methods of psychology: + + (1) Methods of observing mental activities. + + (a) Introspective, the observing by an individual of his own actions. + + (b) Objective, the observation of the behavior of other individuals. + + (2) General lines of attack upon psychological problems. + + (a) Experimental: vary the conditions and see how the mental + activity changes. + + (b) Comparative: test different individuals or + classes and see how mental activity differs, etc. + + (c) Genetic: trace mental development. + + (d) Pathological: examine mental decay or disturbance. + +2. Formulate a psychological question regarding each of the following: + hours of work, genius, crime, baseball. + +3. Distinguish introspection from theorizing. + +4. What different sorts of objective fact can be observed in psychology? + +5. What is the difference between the physiology of hearing and the + psychology of hearing? + +6. State two reasons why it would be undesirable to limit psychology + to the introspective study of consciousness. + +{20} + +7. What is the difference between an experiment and a test, (a) in + purpose, (b) in method? + +8. Compare the time it takes you to add twenty one-place numbers, + arranged in a vertical column, and arranged in a horizontal line, + (a) Is this introspective or objective observation? Why so? (b) Is + it a test or an experiment? Why? + +9. Write a psychological sketch of some one you know well, taking + care to avoid praise and blame, and to stick to the psychological + point of view. + + + +REFERENCES + +Some of the good books on the different branches of psychology are +the following: + +On animal psychology: + + Margaret F. Washburn, _The Animal Mind_, 2nd edition, 1917. + + John B. Watson, _Behavior_, 1914. + +On child psychology: + + Norsworthy and Whitley, _The Psychology of Childhood_, 1918. + +On abnormal psychology: + + A. J. Rosanoff, _Manual of Psychiatry_, 5th edition, 1920. + +On applied psychology: + + Hollingworth and Poffenberger, _Applied Psychology_, 1917. + +On individual psychology, parts of: + + E. L. Thorndike, _Educational Psychology, Briefer Course_, 1914, + + Daniel Starch, _Educational Psychology_, 1919. + + + +{21} + +CHAPTER II + +REACTIONS + +REFLEXES AND OTHER ELEMENTARY FORMS OF REACTION, +AND HOW THE NERVES OPERATE IN CARRYING THEM OUT + +Having the field of psychology open before us, the next question is, +where to commence operations. Shall we begin with memory, imagination +and reasoning, or with will, character and personality, or with motor +activity and skill, or with feelings and emotions, or with sensation +and perceptions? Probably the higher forms of mental activity seem +most attractive, but we may best leave complicated matters till later, +and agree to start with the simplest sorts of mental performance. Thus +we may hope to learn at the outset certain elementary facts which will +later prove of much assistance in unraveling the more complex +processes. + +Among the simplest processes are sensations and reflexes, and we might +begin with either. The introspective psychologists usually start with +sensations, because their great object is to describe consciousness, +and they think of sensations as the chief elements of which +consciousness is composed. The behaviorists would prefer to start with +reflexes, because they conceive of behavior as composed of these +simple motor reactions. + +Without caring to attach ourselves exclusively to either +introspectionism or behaviorism, we may take our cue just here from +the behaviorists, because we shall find the facts of motor reaction +more widely useful in our further studies than the facts of sensation, +and because the facts of {22} sensation fit better into the general +scheme of reactions than the facts of reaction fit into any general +scheme based on sensation. + +A reaction is a _response_ to a _stimulus_. The response, in the +simplest cases, is a muscular movement, and is called a "motor +response". The stimulus is any force or agent that, acting upon the +individual, arouses a response. + +If I start at a sudden noise, the noise is the stimulus, and the +forcible contraction of my muscles is the response. If my old friend's +picture brings tears to my eyes, the picture (or the light reflected +from it) is the stimulus, and the flow of tears is the response, here +a "glandular" instead of a motor response. + + +The Reaction Time Experiment + +One of the earliest experiments to be introduced into psychology was +that on reaction time, conducted as follows: The experimenter tells +his "subject" (the person whose reaction is to be observed) to be +ready to make a certain movement as promptly as possible on receiving +a certain stimulus. The response prescribed is usually a slight +movement of the forefinger, and the stimulus may be a sound, a flash +of light, a touch on the skin, etc. The subject knows in advance +exactly what stimulus is to be given and what response he has to make, +and is given a "Ready!" signal a few seconds before the stimulus. With +so simple a performance, the reaction time is very short, and delicate +apparatus must be employed to measure it. The "chronoscope" or clock +used to measure the reaction time reads to the hundredth or thousandth +of a second, and the time is found to be about .15 sec. in responding +to sound or touch, about .18 sec. in responding to light. + +Even the simple reaction time varies, however, from one {23} +individual to another, and from one trial to another. Some persons can +never bring their record much below the figures stated, while a few +can get the time down to .10 sec, which is about the limit of human +ability. Every one is bound to vary from trial to trial, at first +widely, after practice between narrow limits, but always by a few +hundredths of a second at the least. It is curious to find the +elementary fact of variability of reaction present in such a simple +performance. + +What we have been describing is known as the "simple reaction", in +distinction from other experiments that demand more of the subject. In +the "choice reaction", there are two stimuli and the subject may be +required to react to the one with the right hand and to the other with +the left; for example, if a red light appears he must respond with the +right hand, but if a green light appears, with the left. Here he +cannot allow himself to become keyed up to as high a pitch as in the +simple reaction, for if he does he will make many false reactions. +Therefore, the choice reaction time is longer than the simple reaction +time--about a tenth of a second longer. + +The "associative reaction" time is longer still. Here the subject must +name any color that is shown, or read any letter that is shown, or +respond to the sight of any number by calling out the next larger +number, or respond to any suitable word by naming its opposite. He +cannot be so well prepared as for the simple, or choice reaction, +since he doesn't know exactly what the stimulus is going to be; also, +the brain process is more complex here; so that the reaction time is +longer, about a tenth of a second longer, at the best, than the choice +reaction. It may run up to two or three seconds, even in fairly simple +cases, while if any serious thinking or choosing has to be done, it +runs into many seconds and even into minutes. Here the brain process +is very {24} complex and involves a series of steps before the +required motor response can be made. + +These laboratory experiments can be paralleled by many everyday +performances. The runner starting at the pistol shot, after the +preparatory "Ready! Set!", and the motorman applying the brakes at the +expected sound of the bell, are making "simple" reactions. The boxer, +dodging to the right or the left according to the blow aimed at him by +his adversary, is making choice reactions, and this type is very +common in all kinds of steering, handling tools and managing +machinery. Reading words, adding numbers, and a large share of simple +mental performances, are essentially associative reactions. In most +cases from ordinary life, the _preparation_ is less complete than in +the laboratory experiments, and the reaction time is accordingly +longer. + + +Reflex Action + +The simple reaction has some points of resemblance with the "reflex", +which, also, is a prompt motor response to a sensory stimulus. A +familiar example is the reflex wink of the eyes in response to +anything touching the eyeball, or in response to an object suddenly +approaching the eye. This "lid reflex" is quicker than the quickest +simple reaction, taking about .05 second. The knee jerk or "patellar +reflex", aroused by a blow on the patellar tendon just below the knee +when the knee is bent and the lower leg hanging freely, is quicker +still, taking about .03 second. The reason for this extreme quickness +of the reflex will appear as we proceed. However, not every reflex is +as quick as those mentioned, and some are slower than the quickest of +the simple reactions. + +A few other examples of reflexes may be given. The "pupillary reflex" +is the narrowing of the pupil of the eye {25} in response to a bright +light suddenly shining into the eye. The "flexion reflex" is the +pulling up of the leg in response to a pinch, prick or burn on the +foot. Coughing and sneezing are like this in being protective +reflexes, and the scratching of the dog belongs here also. + +There are many internal reflexes: movements of the stomach and +intestines, swallowing and hiccoughing, widening and narrowing of the +arteries resulting in flushing and paling of the skin. These are +muscular responses; and there are also glandular reflexes, such as the +discharge of saliva from the salivary glands into the mouth, in +response to a tasting substance, the flow of the gastric juice when +food reaches the stomach, the flow of tears when a cinder gets into +the eye. There are also inhibitory reflexes, such as the momentary +stoppage of breathing in response to a dash of cold water. All in all, +a large number of reflexes are to be found. + +Most reflexes can be seen to be _useful_ to the organism. A large +proportion of them are protective in one way or another, while others +might be called regulative, in that they adjust the organism to the +conditions affecting it. + +Now comparing the reflex with the simple reaction, we see first that +the reflex is more deep-seated in the organism, and more essential to +its welfare. The reflex is typically quicker than the simple reaction. +The reflex machinery does not need a "Ready" signal, nor any +preparation, but is always ready for business. (The subject in a +simple reaction experiment would not make the particular finger +movement that he makes unless he had made ready for that movement.) +The attachment of a certain response to a certain stimulus, rather +arbitrary and temporary in the simple reaction, is inherent and +permanent in the reflex. Reflex action is involuntary and often +entirely unconscious. + +Reflexes, we said, are permanent. That is because they {26} are native +or inherent in the organism. You can observe them in the new-born +child. The reflex connection between stimulus and response is +something the child brings with him into the world, as distinguished +from what he has to acquire through training and experience. He does +acquire, as he grows up, a tremendous number of habitual responds that +become automatic and almost unconscious, and these "secondary +automatic" reactions resemble reflexes pretty closely. Grasping for +your hat when you feel the wind taking it from your head is an +example. These acquired reactions never reach the extreme speed of the +quickest reflexes, but at best may have about the speed of the simple +reaction. Though often useful enough, they are not so fundamentally +necessary as the reflexes. The reflex connection of stimulus and +response is something essential, native, closely knit, and always +ready for action. + + +The Nerves in Reflex Action + +Seeing that the response, in reflex action, is usually made by a +muscle or gland lying at some distance from the sense organ that +receives the stimulus--as, in the case of the flexion reflex, the +stimulus is applied to the skin of the hand (or foot), while the +response is made by muscles of the limb generally--we have to ask what +sort of connection exists between the stimulated organ and the +responding organ, and we turn to physiology and anatomy for our +answer. The answer is that the _nerves_ provide the connection. Strands +of nerve extend from the sense organ to the muscle. + +But the surprising fact is that the nerves do not run directly from +the one to the other. There is no instance in the human body of a +direct connection between any sense organ and any muscle or gland. The +nerve path from sense organ to muscle always leads through a _nerve +center_. One {27} nerve, called the sensory nerve, runs from the sense +organ to the nerve center, and another, the motor nerve, runs from the +center to the muscle; and the only connection between the sense organ +and the muscle is this roundabout path through the nerve center. The +path consists of three parts, sensory nerve, center, and motor nerve, +but, taken as a whole, it is called the _reflex arc_, both the words, +"reflex" and "arc", being suggested by the indirectness of the +connection. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--The connection from the back of the hand, +which is receiving a stimulus, and the arm muscle which makes the +response. The nerve center is indicated by the dotted lines.] + + +The _nervous system_ resembles a city telephone system. What passes +along the nerve is akin to the electricity that {28} passes along the +telephone wire; it is called the "nerve current", and is electrical +and chemical in nature. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--(From Martin's "Human Body.") General view of +the nervous system, showing brain, cord, and nerves.] + + +All nerve connections, like the great majority of telephone +connections, are effected through the centers, called "centrals" in +{29} the case of the telephone. Telephone A is connected directly with +the central, telephone B likewise, and A and B are indirectly +connected, through the central switchboard. That is the way it is in +the nervous system, with "nerve center" substituted for "central", and +"sense organ" and "muscle or gland" for "telephones A and B." + + +[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Location of the cord, cerebrum and cerebellum. +The brain stem continues the cord upward into the skull cavity. +(Figure text: cerebrum, cerebellum, cord, tongue)] + + +The advantage of the centralized system is that it is a _system_, +affording connections between any part and any other, and unifying the +whole complex organism. + +The _nerve centers_ are located in the brain and spinal cord. The +brain lies in the skull and the cord extends from the brain down +through a tube in the middle of the {30} backbone. Of the brain many +parts can be named, but for the present it is enough to divide it into +the "brain stem", a continuation of the spinal cord up along the base +of the skull cavity, and the two great outgrowths of the brain stem, +called "cerebrum" and "cerebellum". The spinal cord and brain stem +contain the lower or reflex centers, while the cerebellum, and +especially the cerebrum, contain the "higher centers". The lower +centers are directly connected by nerves with the sense organs, glands +and muscles, while the higher centers have direct connections with the +lower and only through them with the sense organs, glands and muscles. +In other words, the sensory nerves run into the cord or brain stem, +and the motor nerves run out of these same, while interconnecting +nerve strands extend between the lower centers in the cord and brain +stem and the higher centers in the cerebrum and cerebellum. + +The spinal cord contains the reflex centers for the limbs and part of +the trunk, and is connected by sensory and motor nerves with the limbs +and trunk. The brain stem contains the reflex centers for the head and +also for part of the interior of the trunk, including the heart and +lungs, and is connected with them by sensory and motor nerves. The +nerve center that takes part in the flexion reflex of the foot is +situated in the lower part of the cord, that for the similar reflex of +the hand lies in the upper part of the cord, that for breathing lies +in the lower or rear part of the brain stem, and that for winking lies +further forward in the brain stem. + +Big movements, such as the combined action of all four legs of an +animal in walking, require cord and brain stem to work together, and +throw into relief what is really true even of simpler reflexes, namely +that a reflex is a _coordinated_ movement, in the sense that different +muscles cooperate in its execution. + +{31} + +Internal Construction of the Nerves and Nerve Centers + +We shall understand nerve action better if we know something of the +way in which the nervous system is built. A nerve is not to be thought +of as a unit, nor are the brain and cord to be thought of as mere +masses of some peculiar substance. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 4.--A motor nerve cell from the spinal cord, +highly magnified. (Figure text: dendrites, cell body, axon, +termination of axon in muscle)] + + +A nerve is a bundle of many slender insulated threads, just as a +telephone cable, running along the street, {32} is a bundle of many +separate wires which are the real units of telephonic communication. A +nerve center, like the switchboard in a telephone central, consists of +many parts and connections. + +The whole nervous system is essentially composed of _neurones_. A +neurone is a nerve cell with its branches. Most nerve cells have two +kinds of branches, called the _axon_ and the _dendrites_. + +The nerve cell is a microscopic speck of living matter. Its dendrites +are short tree-like branches, while its axon is often several inches +or even feet in length. The axon is the "slender thread", just spoken +of as analogous to the single telephone wire. A nerve is composed of +axons. [Footnote: The axon is always protected or insulated by a +sheath, and axon and sheath, taken together, are often called a "nerve +fiber".] The "white matter" of the brain and cord is composed of +axons. Axons afford the means of communication between the nerve +centers and the muscles and sense organs, and between one nerve center +and another. + +The axons which make up the motor nerves are branches of nerve cells +situated in the cord and brain stem; they extend from the reflex +center for any muscle out to and into that muscle and make very close +connection with the muscle substance. A nerve current, starting from +the nerve cells in the reflex center, runs rapidly along the axons to +the muscle and arouses it to activity. + +The axons which make up the optic nerve, or nerve of sight, are +branches of nerve cells in the eye, and extend into the brain stem. +Light striking the eye starts nerve currents, which run along these +axons into the brain stem. Similarly, the axons of the nerve of smell +are branches of cells in the nose. + +The remainder of the sensory axons are branches of nerve cells that +lie in little bunches close alongside the cord or {33} brain stem. +These cells have no dendrites, but their axon, dividing, reaches in +one direction out to a sense organ and in the other direction into the +cord or brain stem, and thus connects the sense organ with its "lower +center". + + +[Illustration: Fig. 5.--Sensory and motor axons, and their nerve +cells. The arrows indicate the direction of conduction. (Figure text: +eye, brain stem, skin, cord, muscle)] + + +Where an axon terminates, it broadens out into a thin plate, or breaks +up into a tuft of very fine branches ( the "end-brush"), and by this +means makes close contact with the muscle, the sense organ, or the +neurone with which it connects. + +{34} + +The Synapse + +Now let us consider the mode of connection between one neurone and +another in a nerve center. The axon of one neurone, through its +end-brush, is in close contact with the dendrites of another neurone. +There is contact, but no actual growing-together; the two neurones +remain distinct, and this contact or junction of two neurones is +called a "synapse". The synapse, then, is not a thing, but simply a +junction between two neurones. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 6.--The synapse between the two neurones lies just +above the arrow.] + +The junction is good enough so that one of the two neurones, if itself +active, can arouse the other to activity. The end-brush, when a nerve +current reaches it from its own nerve cell, arouses the dendrites of +the other neurone, and thus starts a nerve current running along those +dendrites to their nerve cell and thence out along its axon. + +Now here is a curious and significant fact: the dendrites are +receiving organs, not transmitting; they pick up messages from the +end-brushes across the synapse, but send out no messages to those +end-brushes. Communication across a synapse is always in one +direction, from end-brush to dendrites. + +This, then, is the way in which a reflex is carried out, the pupillary +reflex, for example. Light entering the eye starts a nerve current in +the axons of the optic nerve; these axons terminate in the brain stem, +where their end-brushes arouse the dendrites of motor nerve cells, and +the axons of these {35} cells, extending out to the muscle of the +pupil, cause it to contract, and narrow the pupil. + +Or again, this is the way in which one nerve center arouses another to +activity. The axons of the cells in the first center (or some of them) +extend out of this center and through the white matter to the second +center, where they terminate, their end-brushes forming synapses with +the cells of the second center. Let the first center be thrown into +activity, and immediately, through this connection, it arouses the +second. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 7.--Different forms of synapse found in the +cerebellum, "a" is one of the large motor cells of the cerebellum (a +"Purkinje cell"), with its dendrites above and its axon below; and +"b," "c" and "d" show three forms of synapse made by other neurones +with this Purkinje cell. In "b," the arrow indicates a "climbing +axon," winding about the main limbs of the Purkinje cell. In "c," the +arrow points to a "basket"--an end-brush enveloping the cell body; +while "d" shows what might be called a "telegraph-wire synapse." +Imagine "d" superimposed upon "a": the axon of "d" rises among the +fine dendrites of "a," and then runs horizontally through them; and +there are many, many such axons strung among the dendrites. Thus the +Purkinje cell is stimulated at three points: cell body, trunks of the +dendrites, and twigs of the dendrites.] + + +The "gray matter" comprises the nerve centers, lower and higher. It is +made up of nerve cells and their dendrites, of the beginnings of axons +issuing from these cells and of the terminations of incoming axons. +The white matter, as was said before, consists of axons. An axon +issues from the {36} gray matter at one point, traverses the white +matter for a longer or shorter distance, and finally turns into the +gray matter at another point, and thus nerve connection is maintained +between these two points. + +There are lots of nerve cells, billions of them. That ought to be +plenty, and yet--well, perhaps sometimes they are not well developed, +or their synapses are not close enough to make good connections. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 8.--A two-neurone reflex arc. (Figure text: +stimulus, skin, sensory axon, bit of the spinal cord, motor axon, +muscle)] + + +Examined under the microscope, the nerve cell is seen to contain, +besides the "nucleus" which is present in every living cell and is +essential for maintaining its vitality and special characteristics, +certain peculiar granules which appear to be stores of fuel to be +consumed in the activity of the cell, and numerous very fine fibrils +coursing through the cell and out into the axon and dendrites. + +The _reflex arc can now be described_ more precisely than before. +Beginning in a sense organ, it extends along a sensory axon (really +along a team of axons acting side by side) to its end-brush in a lower +center, where it crosses a synapse and enters the dendrites of a motor +neurone and so {37} reaches the cell body and axon of this neurone, +which last extends out to the muscle (or gland). The simplest reflex +arc consists then of a sensory neurone and a motor neurone, meeting at +a synapse in a lower or reflex center. This would be a two-neurone +arc. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 9.--A three-neurone arc, concerned in respiration. +This also illustrates how one nerve center influences another. +(Figure text: white matter, gray matter, lung, respiratory center in +the brain stem, diaphragm, motor center in cord for the diaphragm)] + + +Very often, and possibly always, the reflex arc really consists of +three neurones, a "central" neurone intervening between the sensory +and motor neurones and being connected through synapses with each. The +central neurone plays an important rôle in coördination. + + +COÖRDINATION + +The internal structure of nerve centers helps us see how coördinated +movement is produced. The question is, how {38} several muscles are +made to work together harmoniously, and also how it is possible that a +pin prick, directly affecting just a few sensory axons, causes a big +movement of many muscles. Well, we find the sensory axon, as it enters +the cord, sending off a number of side branches, each of which +terminates in an end-brush in synaptic connection with the dendrites +of a motor nerve cell. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 10.--Coördination brought about by the branching +of a sensory axon. (Figure text: cord, sensory neurone, motor neurone)] + + +Thus the nerve current from a single sensory neurone is distributed to +quite a number of motor neurones. Where there are central neurones in +the arc, their branching axons aid in distributing the excitation; and +so we get a big movement in response to a minute, though intense +stimulus. + +But the response is not simply big; it is definite, coordinated, +representing team work on the part of the muscles as distinguished +from indiscriminate mass action. That means selective distribution of +the nerve current. The axons of the sensory and central neurones do +not connect with any and every motor neurone indiscriminately, but +link up with selected groups of motor neurones, and thus harness +together teams that will work in definite ways, producing {39} flexion +of a limb in the case of one such team, and extension in the case of +another. Every reflex has its own team of motor neurones, harnessed +together by its outfit of sensory and central neurones. The same motor +neurone may however be harnessed into two or more such teams, as is +seen from the fact that the same muscle may participate in different +reflex movements; and for a similar reason we believe that the same +sensory neurone may be utilized in more than one reflex arc. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 11.--Coördination brought about by the branching +of the axon of a central neurone. (Figure text: sensory, central, +motor)] + + +The most distinctive part of any reflex arc is likely to be its +central neurones, which are believed to play the chief part in +coördination, and in determining the peculiarities of any given +reflex, such as its speed and rhythm of action. + + +Reactions in General + +Though the reflex is simple by comparison with voluntary movements, it +is not the simplest animal reaction, for it is coördinated and depends +on the nervous system, while the simplest animals, one-celled animals, +have no nervous system, any more than they have muscles or organs of +any {40} kind. Without possessing separate organs for the different +vital functions, these little creatures do nevertheless take in and +digest food, reproduce their kind, and move. Every animal shows at +least two different motor reactions, a positive or approaching +reaction, and a negative or avoiding reaction. + +The general notion of a reaction is that of a _response_ to a +_stimulus_. The stimulus acts on the organism and the organism acts +back. If I am struck by a wave and rolled over on the beach, that is +passive motion and not my reaction; but if the wave stimulates me to +maintain my footing, then I am active, I respond or react. + +Now there is no such thing as wholly passive motion. Did not Newton +teach that "action and reaction are equal"?--and he was thinking of +stones and other inanimate objects. The motion of a stone or ball +depends on its own weight and shape and elasticity as much as on the +blow it receives. Even the stone counts for something in determining +its own behavior. + +A loaded gun counts for more than a stone, because of the stored +energy of the powder that is set free by the blow of the hammer. The +"reaction" of the gun is greater than the force acting on it, because +of this stored energy that is discharged. + +An animal reaction resembles the discharge of the gun, since there is +stored energy in the animal, consisting in the chemical attraction +between food absorbed and oxygen inspired, and some of this energy is +utilized and converted into motion when the animal reacts. The +stimulus, like the trigger of the gun, simply releases this stored +energy. + +The organism, animal or human, fully obeys the law of conservation of +energy, all the energy it puts out being accounted for by stored +energy it has taken in in food and oxygen. But at any one time, when +the organism receives {41} a stimulus, the energy that it puts forth +in reaction comes from inside itself. + +There is another way in which the organism counts in determining its +reaction. Not only does it supply the energy of the response, but its +own internal arrangements determine how that energy shall be directed. +That is to say, the organism does not blow up indiscriminately, like a +charge of dynamite, but makes some definite movement. This is true +even of the simplest animals, and the more elaborate the internal +mechanism of the animal, the more the animal itself has to do with the +kind of response it shall make to a stimulus. The nervous system of +the higher animals, by the connections it provides between the +stimulus and the stores of energy in the muscles, is of especial +importance in determining the nature of the response. + +Stimuli are necessary to arouse the activity of the organism. Without +any stimulus whatever, it seems likely that the animal would relapse +into total inactivity. It should be said, however, that stimuli, such +as that of hunger, may arise within the organism itself. The stimulus +may be external or internal, but some stimulus is necessary in order +to release the stored energy. + +In general, then, a reaction consists in the release by a stimulus of +some of the stored energy of an animal, and the direction of that +energy by the animal's own internal mechanism of nerves and muscles +(and, we may add, bones and sinews) into the form of some definite +response. + +{42} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline of the chapter, being at the same time a "completion + test". Complete the following outline by filling in the blank + spaces (usually a single word will fill the blank, but sometimes two + words will be better): + + A. Definition: A reaction is a response to a ___________. + The stimulus energy stored in the organism, and the __________ + has a definite form determined by the organism's own machinery + of ________ and ______. + + + + B. Among very prompt reactions are the reflex and the "simple + reaction". The reflex differs from the "simple reaction" in that: + + (1) It usually takes less________. + + (2) It requires no___________, + + (3) The machinery for it is ________in the organism. + + C. The machinery for a reflex consists of: + + (1) a________ organ. + + (2) a ________nerve. + + (3) a nerve ________, + + (4) a _________nerve. + + (5) a muscle or _________. + + D. The sensory and motor nerves consist of ________ which are + branches of ______. The cells for the motor nerves lie in the + ________, and those for the sensory nerves lie in two cases in + the _________, and in all other cases in bunches located close + beside the _________or ________, + + E. The neurone is the _______ of which the nervous ______ is + composed. It consists of a ________ and of two sorts of + branches, the ________ and the ________. Internally, the neurone + shows a peculiar structure of ________ and ________. + + F. Communication from one neurone to another occurs across + a _____ called the synapse. The _________of an axon here comes + into close contact with the ______or with the _________of + another neurone. The communication takes place from the + ________of the first neurone to the ___________ of the second. + + G. The "nerve current" in a reflex therefore runs the following + course: from the sense organ into a ________ axon, along this to + its _________ in a nerve, and across a _________ there into the + _________ of a neurone, and thence {43} out along the _______of + this neurone to the ________or _________ that executes the + reflex. This is a two-neurone _________, but often there is a + third, ________neurone between the _________ and the + _____________. + + H. Coördination is effected by the ________ of the axons of the + sensory and ________ neurones, by which means the nerve current + is ______ to a team of ________ and so to a team of _________. + +2. Is the reaction time experiment, as described in the text, an + introspective or an objective experiment? + +3. Mention two cases from common life that belong under the + "simple reaction", two that belong under "choice reaction", and two + that belong under the "associative reaction". + +4. Arrange the reflexes mentioned in the text under the two heads + of "protective" and "regulative". + +5. Draw diagrams of (a) the neurone, (b) a synapse, (c) a reflex + arc, and (d) a coördinated movement. Reduce each drawing to the + simplest possible form, and still retain everything that is + essential. + +6. What part of the nervous system lies (a) in the forehead and + top of the head, (b) in the very back of the head, (c) along the + base of the skull, (d) within the backbone, (e) in the arm? + +7. Using a watch to take the time, see how long it takes you to + name the letters in a line of print, reading them in reverse order + from the end of the line to the beginning. Compare with this time + the time required to respond to each letter by the letter following + it in the alphabet (saying "n" when you see m, and "t" when you see + s, etc.). Which of these two "stunts" is more like reflex action, + and how, nevertheless, does it differ from true reflex action? + +8. The pupillary reflex. Describe the reaction of the pupil of the + eye to light suddenly shining into the eye. This response can best + be observed in another person, but you can observe it in yourself + by aid of a hand mirror. On another person you can also observe the + "crossed" pupillary reflex, by throwing the light into one eye only + while you watch the other eye. What sort of connection do you + suppose to exist between the two eyes, making this crossed reflex + possible? + +9. The lid reflex, or wink reflex, (a) Bring your hand suddenly + close to another person's eye, and notice the response of the + eyelid, (b) See whether you can get a crossed reflex here, (c) See + whether your subject can voluntarily prevent (inhibit) the lid + reflex, (d) See whether the reflex occurs when he gives the + stimulus himself, by moving his own hand suddenly up to his eye. + (e) What other stimulus, besides the visual one that you have been + using, will arouse the same response? + +{44} + +REFERENCES + +C. Judson Herrick, in his _Introduction to Neurology_, 2nd edition, +1918, gives a fuller and yet not too detailed account of the neurone +in Chapter III, and of reflex action in Chapter IV. + +Percy G. Stiles, in his _Nervous System and Its Conservation_, 1915, +discusses these matters in Chapters II, III and IV. + +Ladd and Woodworth's _Elements of Physiological Psychology_, 1911, has +chapters on these topics. + +{45} + + +CHAPTER III + +REACTIONS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS + +HOW SENSATIONS, PERCEPTIONS AND THOUGHTS MAY BE CONSIDERED AS FORMS OF +INNER RESPONSE, AND HOW THESE HIGHER REACTIONS ARE RELATED IN THE +NERVOUS SYSTEM TO THE SIMPLER RESPONSES OF THE REFLEX LEVEL. + +Having defined a reaction as an act of the individual aroused by a +stimulus, there is no reason why we should not include a great variety +of mental processes under the general head of reactions. Any mental +process is an activity of the organism, and it is aroused by some +stimulus, external or internal; therefore, it is a reaction. + +I hear a noise--now, while the noise, as a physical stimulus, comes to +me, my hearing it is my own act, my sensory reaction to the stimulus. +I recognize the noise as the whistle of a steamboat--this recognition +is clearly my own doing, dependent on my own past experience, and may +be called a perception or perceptive response. The boat's whistle +reminds me of a vacation spent on an island--clearly a memory +response. The memory arouses an agreeable feeling--an affective +response, this may be called. In its turn, this may lead me to imagine +how pleasant it would be to spend another vacation on that island, and +to cast about for ways and means to accomplish this result--here we +have imagination and reasoning, aroused by what preceded just as the +sensation was aroused by the physical stimulus. + +In speaking of any mental process as an act of the individual, we do +not mean to imply that he is always _conscious_ {46} of his activity. +Sometimes he feels active, sometimes passive. He feels active in hard +muscular work or hard thinking, while he feels passive in reflex +action, in sensation, and in simply "being reminded" of anything +without any effort on his own part. But he is active in everything he +does, and he does everything that depends on his being alive. Life is +activity, and every manifestation of life, such as reflex action or +sensation, is a form of vital activity. The only way to be inactive is +to be dead. + +But vital activity is not "self-activity" in any absolute sense, for +it is _aroused_ by some stimulus. It does not issue from the +individual as an isolated unit, but is his _response_ to a stimulus. +That is the sense of calling any mental process a reaction; it is +something the individual does in response to a stimulus. + +To call a sensation a form of reaction means, then, that the sensation +is not something done to the person, nor passively received by him +from outside, but something that he himself does when aroused to this +particular form of activity. What comes from outside and is received +by the individual is the stimulus, and the sensation is what he does +in response to the stimulus. It represents the discharge of internal +stored energy in a direction determined by his own inner mechanism. +The sensation depends on his own make-up as well as on the nature of +the stimulus, as is especially obvious when the sensation is abnormal +or peculiar. Take the case of color blindness. The same stimulus that +arouses in most people the sensation of red arouses in the color-blind +individual the sensation of brown. Now what the color-blind individual +_receives_, the light stimulus, is the same as what others receive, +but he responds differently, _i.e._, with a different sensation, +because his own sensory apparatus is peculiar. + +The main point of this discussion is that all mental {47} phenomena, +whether movements, sensations, emotions, impulses or thoughts, are a +person's acts, but that every act is a response to some present +stimulus. This rather obvious truth has not always seemed obvious. +Some theorists, in emphasizing the spontaneity and "self-activity" of +the individual, have pushed the stimulus away into the background; +while others, fixing their attention on the stimulus, have treated the +individual as the passive recipient of sensation and "experience" +generally. Experience, however, is not received; it is lived, and that +means done; only, it is done in response to stimuli. The concept of +reaction covers the ground. + +While speaking of sensations and thoughts as belonging under the +general head of reactions, it is well, however, to bear in mind that +all mental action tends to arouse and terminate in muscular and +glandular activity. A thought or a feeling tends to "express itself" +in words or (other) deeds. The motor response may be delayed, or +inhibited altogether, but the tendency is always in that direction. + + +Different Sorts of Stimuli + +To call all mental processes reactions means that it is always in +order to ask for the stimulus. Typically, the stimulus is an external +force or motion, such as light or sound, striking on a sense organ. +There are also the internal stimuli, consisting of changes occurring +within the body and acting on the sensory nerves that are distributed +to the muscles, bones, lungs, stomach and most of the organs. The +sensations of muscular strain and fatigue, and of hunger and thirst, +are aroused by internal stimuli, and many reflexes are aroused in the +same way. + +Such internal stimuli as these are like the better known external +stimuli in that they act upon sense organs; but it {48} seems +necessary to recognize another sort of stimuli which act directly on +the nerve centers in the brain. These may be called "central stimuli" +and so contrasted with the "peripheral stimuli" that act on any sense +organ, external or internal. To do this is to take considerable +liberty with the plain meaning of "stimulus", and calls for +justification. What is the excuse for thus expanding the notion of a +stimulus? + +The excuse is found in the frequent occurrence of mental processes +that are not directly aroused by any peripheral stimulus, though they +are plainly aroused by something else. Anything that arouses a thought +or feeling can properly be called its stimulus. Now it often happens +that a thought is aroused by another, just preceding thought; and it +seems quite in order to call the first thought the stimulus and the +second the response. A thought may arouse an emotion, as when the +thought of my enemy, suddenly occurring to mind, makes me angry; the +thought is then the stimulus arousing this emotional response. + +If hearing you speak of Calcutta makes me think of India, your words +are the stimulus and my thought the response. Well, then, if I _think_ +of Calcutta in the course of a train of thought, and next think of +India, what else can we say than that the thought of Calcutta acts as +a stimulus to arouse the thought of India as the response? In a long +train of thought, where A reminds you of B and B of C and C of D, each +of these items is, first, a response to the preceding, and, second, a +stimulus to the one following. + +There is no special difficulty with the notion of "central stimuli" +from the physiological side. We have simply to think of one nerve +center arousing another by means of the tract of axons connecting the +two. Say the auditory center is aroused by hearing some one mention +your friend's name, {49} and this promptly calls up a mental picture +of your friend; here the auditory center has aroused the visual. What +happens in a train of thought is that first one group of neurones is +aroused to activity, and then this activity, spreading along the axons +that extend from this group of neurones to another, arouses the second +group to activity; and so on. The brain process may often be +exceedingly complex, but this simple scheme gives the gist of it. + +The way nerve currents must go shooting around the brain from one +center or group of neurones to another, keeping it up for a long time +without requiring any fresh peripheral stimulus, is remarkable. We +have evidence of this sort of thing in a dream or fit of abstraction. +Likely enough, the series of brain responses would peter out after +awhile, in the absence of any fresh peripheral stimulus, and total +inactivity ensue. But response of one brain center to nerve currents +coming from another brain center, and not directly from any sense +organ, must be the rule rather than the exception, since most of the +brain neurones are not directly connected with any sense organ, but +only with other parts of the brain itself. All the evidence we have +would indicate that the brain is not "self-active", but only +responsive; but, once thrown into activity at one point, it may +successively become active at many other points, so that a long series +of mental operations may follow upon a single sensory stimulus. + + +The Motor Centers, Lower and Higher + +A "center" is a collection of nerve cells, located somewhere in the +brain or cord, which gives off axons running to some other center or +out to muscles or glands, while it also receives axons coming from +other centers, or from sense organs. These incoming axons terminate in +end-brushes and so form synapses with the dendrites of the local {50} +nerve cells. The axons entering any center and terminating there +arouse that center to activity, and this activity, when aroused, is +transmitted out along the axons issuing from that center, and produces +results where those axons terminate in their turn. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 12.--Side view of the left hemisphere of the +brain, showing the motor and sensory areas (for the olfactory area, +see Fig. 18). The visual area proper, or "visuo-sensory area," lies +just around the corner from the spot marked "Visual," on the middle +surface of the hemisphere, where it adjoins the other hemisphere. +(Figure text: frontal lobe, parietal lobe, central fissure, occipital +lobe, motor area, somesthetic area, auditory area, fissure of Sylvius, +temporal lobe, brain stem, cerebellum)] + + +The _lower_ motor centers, called also reflex centers, are located in +the cord or brain stem, and their nerve cells give rise to the axons +that form the motor nerves and connect with the muscles and glands. A +muscle is thrown into action by nerve currents from its lower motor +center. + +The principal _higher_ motor center is the "motor area" of the brain, +located in the cortex or external layer of gray matter, in the +cerebrum. More precisely, the motor area is a long, narrow strip of +cortex, lying just forward of what is called the "central fissure" or +"fissure of Rolando". + +{51} + +If you run your finger over the top of the head from one side to the +other, about halfway back from the forehead, the motor areas of the +two cerebral hemispheres will lie close under the path traced by your +finger. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 13.--(After Cajal.) Type of the brain cells that +most directly control muscular movement. (Figure text: Axon. Giant +pyramid cell from the motor area of the cerebral cortex, magnified 35 +diameters. Cell body of same farther magnified)] + + +The motor area in the right hemisphere is connected with the left half +of the cord and so with the muscles of the left half of the body; the +motor area of the left hemisphere similarly affects {52} the right +half of the body. Within the motor area are centers for the several +limbs and other motor organs. Thus, at the top, near the middle line +of the head (and just about where the phrenologists located their +"bump of veneration"!), is the center for the legs; next below and to +the side is the center for the trunk, next that for the arm, next that +for head movements, and at the bottom, not far from the ears, is the +center for tongue and mouth. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 14.--The nerve path by which the motor area of the +cortex influences the muscles. The upper part of this path, consisting +of axons issuing from the giant pyramids of the motor area and +extending down into the spinal cord, is the pyramidal tract. The lower +part of the path consists of axons issuing from the motor cells of the +cord and extending out to the muscles. The top of the figure +represents a vertical cross-section of the brain, such as is given, on +a larger scale, in Fig. 18. (Figure text: cortex, cord, muscles)] + + +The largest nerve cells of all are found in the motor area, and are +called, from their shape, the "giant pyramids". They have large +dendrites and very long axons, which latter, {53} running in a thick +bundle down from the cortex through the brain stem and cord, +constitute the "pyramidal tract", the principal path of communication +from the cerebrum to the lower centers. The motor area of the brain +has no direct connection with any muscle, but acts through the +pyramidal tract on the lower centers, which in turn act on the +muscles. + + +How The Brain Produces Muscular Movements + +The motor area is itself aroused to action by nerve currents entering +it through axons coming from other parts of the cortex; and it is by +way of the motor area that any other part of the cortex produces +bodily movement. There are a few exceptions, as, for example, the +movements of the eyes are produced generally by the "visual area" +acting directly on the lower motor centers for the eye in the brain +stem; but, in the main, any motor effect of brain action is exerted +through the motor area. The motor area, as already mentioned, acts on +the lower motor centers in the cord and brain stem, and these in turn +on the muscles; but we must look into this matter a little more +closely. + +A lower motor center is a group of motor and central neurones, lying +anywhere in the cord or brain stem, and capable of directly arousing a +certain coördinated muscular movement. One such unit gives flexion of +the leg, another gives extension of the leg, a third gives the rapid +alternation of flexion and extension that we see in the scratching +movement of the dog. Such a motor center can be aroused to activity by +a sensory stimulus, and the resulting movement is then called a +reflex. + +The lower center can be aroused in quite another way, and that is by +nerve currents coming from the brain, by way of the motor area and the +pyramidal tract. Thus flexion of the leg can occur voluntarily as well +as reflexly. The same {54} muscles, and the same motor neurones, do +the job in either case. In the reflex, the lower center is aroused by +a sensory nerve, and in the voluntary movement by the pyramidal tract. + +The story is told of a stranger who was once dangling his legs over +the edge of the station platform at a small backwoods town, when a +native called out to him "Hist!" (hoist), pointing to the ground under +the stranger's feet. He "histed" obediently, which is to say that he +voluntarily threw into play the spinal center for leg flexion; and +then, looking down, saw a rattler coiled just beneath where his feet +had been hanging. Now even if he had spied the rattler first, the +resulting flexion, though impulsive and involuntary, would still have +been aroused by way of the motor area and the pyramidal tract, since +the movement would have been a response to _knowledge_ of what that +object was and signified, and knowledge means action by the cerebral +cortex, which we have seen to affect movement through the medium of +the motor area. But if the snake had made the first move, the same leg +movement on the man's part, made now in response to the painful +sensory stimulus, would have been the flexion reflex. + + +Facilitation and Inhibition + +Not only can the motor area call out essentially the same movements +that are also produced reflexly, but it can prevent or _inhibit_ the +execution of a reflex in spite of the sensory stimulus for the reflex +being present, and it can reinforce or _facilitate_ the action of the +sensory stimulus so as to assist in the production of the reflex. We +see excellent examples of cerebral facilitation and inhibition in the +case of the knee jerk. This sharp forward kick of the foot and lower +leg is aroused by a tap on the tendon running in front {55} of the +knee. Cross the knee to be stimulated over the other leg, and tap the +tendon just below the knee cap, and the knee jerk appears. So purely +reflex is this movement that it cannot be duplicated voluntarily; for, +though the foot can of course be voluntarily kicked forward, this +voluntary movement does not have the suddenness and quickness of the +true reflex. For all that, the cerebrum can exert an influence on the +knee jerk. Anxious attention to the knee jerk inhibits it; gritting +the teeth or clenching the fist reinforces it. These are cerebral +influences acting by way of the pyramidal tract upon the spinal center +for the reflex. + +Thus the cortex controls the reflexes. Other examples of such control +are seen when you prevent for a time the natural regular winking of +the eyes by voluntarily holding them wide open, or when, carrying a +hot dish which you know you must not drop, you check the flexion +reflex which would naturally pull the hand away from the painful +stimulus. The young child learns to control the reflexes of +evacuation, and gradually comes to have control over the breathing +movements, so as to hold his breath or breathe rapidly or deeply at +will, and to expire vigorously in order to blow out a match. + +The coughing, sneezing and swallowing reflexes likewise come under +voluntary control. In all such cases, the motor area facilitates or +inhibits the action of the lower centers. + + +Super-motor Centers in the Cortex + +Another important effect of the motor area upon the lower centers +consists in combining their action so as to produce what we know as +skilled movements. It will be remembered that the lower centers +themselves give coördinated movements, such as flexion or extension of +the whole limb; but still higher coördinations result from cerebral +control. {56} When the two hands, though executing different +movements, work together to produce a definite result, we have +coördination controlled by the cortex. Examples of this are seen in +handling an ax or bat, or in playing the piano or violin. A movement +of a single hand, as in writing or buttoning a coat, may also +represent a higher or cortical coördination. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 15.--(From Starr.) Axons connecting one part of +the cortex with another. The brain is seen from the side, as if in +section. At "A" are shown bundles of comparatively short axons, +connecting near-by portions of the cortex; while "B," "C," and "D" +show bundles of longer axons, connecting distant parts of the cortex +with one another. The "Corpus Callosum" is a great mass of axons +extending across from each cerebral hemisphere to the other, and +enabling both hemispheres to work together. "O. T." and "C. N." are +interior masses of gray matter, which can be seen also in Fig. 18. "O. +T." is the thalamus, about which more later.] + + +Now it appears that the essential work in producing these higher +coördinations of skilled movement is performed not by the motor area, +but by neighboring parts of the cortex, which act on the motor area in +much the same way as the motor area acts on the lower centers. Some of +these {57} skilled-movement centers, or super-motor centers, are +located in the cortex just forward of the motor area, in the adjacent +parts of the frontal lobe. Destruction of the cortex there, through +injury or disease, deprives the individual of some of his skilled +movements, though not really paralyzing him. He can still make simple +movements, but not the complex movements of writing or handling an +instrument. + +It is a curious fact that the left hemisphere, which exerts control +over the movements of the right hand and right side of the body +generally, also plays the leading part in skilled movements of either +hand. This is true, at least, of right-handed persons; probably in the +left-handed the right hemisphere dominates. + +Motor power may be lost through injury at various points in the +nervous system. Injury to the spinal cord, destroying the lower motor +center for the legs, brings complete paralysis. Injury to the motor +area or to the pyramidal tract does not destroy reflex movement, but +cuts off all voluntary movement and cerebral control. Injury to the +"super-motor centers" causes loss of skilled movement, and produces the +condition of "apraxia", in which the subject, though knowing what he +wants to do, and though still able to move his limbs, simply cannot +get the combination for the skilled act that he has in mind. + + +Speech Centers + +Similar to apraxia is "aphasia" or loss of ability to speak. It bears +the same relation to true paralysis of the speech organs that hand +apraxia bears to paralysis of the hand. Through brain injury it +sometimes happens that a person loses his ability to speak words, +though he can still make vocal sounds. The cases differ in severity, +some retaining the ability to speak only one or two words which {58} +from frequent use have become almost reflex (swear words, sometimes, +or "yes" and "no"), while others are able to pronounce single words, +but can no longer put them together fluently into the customary form +of phrases and sentences, and still others can utter simple sentences, +but not any connected speech. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 16.--Side view of the left hemisphere, showing the +location of the "speech centers." The region marked "Motor" is the +motor speech center, that marked "Auditory" the auditory speech +center, and that marked "Visual" the visual speech center. (Figure text: +central fissure, motor area, auditory area, visual area, fissure of +Sylvius, brain stem, cerebellum)] + + +In pure cases of _motor aphasia_, the subject knows the words he +wishes to say, but cannot get them out. The brain injury here lies in +the frontal lobe in the left hemisphere, in right-handed people, just +forward of the motor area for the mouth, tongue and larynx. This +"motor speech center" is the best-known instance of a super-motor +center. It coördinates the elementary speech movements into the +combinations called words; and perhaps there is no other motor +performance so highly skilled as this of speaking. It is acquired so +early in life, and practised so constantly, that {59} we take it quite +as a matter of course, and think of a word as a simple and single +movement, while in fact even a short word, as spoken, is a complex +movement requiring great motor skill. + +There is some evidence that the motor speech center extends well +forward into the frontal lobe, and that the front part of it is +related to the part further back as this is to the motor area back of +it. That is to say, the back of the speech center combines the motor +units of the motor area into the skilled movements of speaking a word, +while the more forward part of the speech center combines the word +movements into the still more complex movement of speaking a sentence. +It is even possible that the very front part of the speech center has +to do with those still higher combinations of speech movements that +give fluency and real excellence of speaking. + + +The Auditory Centers + +Besides the motor aphasia, just mentioned, there is another type, +called _sensory aphasia_, or, more precisely, auditory aphasia. In +pure auditory aphasia there is no inability to pronounce words or even +to speak fluently, but there is, first, an inability to "hear words", +sometimes called word deafness, and there is often also an inability +to find the right words to speak, so that the individual so afflicted, +while speaking fluently enough and having sense in mind, misuses his +words and utters a perfect jargon. One old gentleman mystified his +friends one morning by declaring that he must go and "have his +umbrella washed", till it was finally discovered that what he wanted +was to have his hair cut. + +The cortical area affected in this form of aphasia is located a little +further back on the surface of the brain than {60} the motor speech +center, being close to the auditory area proper. The latter is a small +cortical region in the temporal lobe, connected (through lower +centers) with the ear, and is the only part of the cortex to receive +nerve currents from the organ of hearing. The auditory area is, +indeed, the organ of hearing, or an organ of hearing, for without it +the individual is deaf. He may make a few reflex responses to loud +noises, but, consciously, he does not hear at all; he has no auditory +sensations. + +In the immediate neighborhood of the auditory area proper (or of the +"auditory-sensory area", as it may well be called), are portions of +the cortex intimately connected by axons with it, and concerned in +what may be called auditory perceptions, i.e., with recognizing and +understanding sounds. Probably different portions of the cortex near +the auditory-sensory center have to do with different sorts of +auditory perception. At least, we sometimes find individuals who, as a +result of injury or disease affecting this general region, are unable +any longer to follow and appreciate music. They cannot "catch the +tune" any longer, though they may have been fine musicians before this +portion of their cortex was destroyed. In other cases, we find, +instead of this music deafness, the word deafness mentioned just +above. + +The jargon talk that so often accompanies word deafness reminds us of +the fact that speech is first of all auditory to the child. He +understands what is said to him before he talks himself, and his +vocabulary for purposes of understanding always remains ahead of his +speaking vocabulary. It appears that this precedence of auditory +speech over motor remains the fact throughout life, in most persons, +and that the auditory speech center is the most fundamental of all the +speech centers, of which there is one more not yet mentioned, used in +reading. + +{61} + +[Illustration: Fig. 17.--(From Cajal.) Magnified sections through the +cortex, to show the complexity of its inner structure. One view shows +nerve cells and their dendrites, with only a few axons, while the +other shows axons, outgoing and incoming, and some of their fine +branches. Imagine one view superimposed upon the other, and you get +some idea of the intricate interweaving of axons and dendrites that +occurs in the cortex.] + +{62} + +The Visual Centers + +There is a visual-sensory area in the occipital lobe, at the back of +the brain, that is connected with the eye in the same way as the +auditory center is connected with the ear. Without it, the individual +still shows the pupillary reflex to light, but has no sensations of +sight. He is blind. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 18.--Vertical cross-section through the brain, +showing the cortex on the outside, the thalamus and other interior +masses of gray matter, some of the paths to and from the cortex, and +the callosum or bridge of axons connecting the two cerebral +hemispheres. The "Motor path" is the pyramidal tract, only the +beginning of which is shown here, its further course being indicated +in Fig. 14. (Figure text: tactile path, motor path, auditory path, +callosum, thalamus, olfactory area)] + + +This visual-sensory area occupies only a small portion of the +occipital lobe, and yet practically the whole lobe is concerned with +vision. Some portions of the lobe are concerned in perceiving words in +reading, and without them the individual is "word blind". Other +portions are concerned in perceiving (recognizing, understanding) seen +objects, and without them the individual is "object blind". Other {63} +portions are concerned in perceiving color relations, and still other +portions in perceiving spatial relations through the sense of sight +and so knowing where seen objects are and being able to guide one's +movements by sight. + + +Cortical Centers for the Other Senses + +There is an olfactory area in a rather secluded part of the cortex, +and this is related to the sense of smell in the same general way. +Probably there is a similar taste center, but it has not been +definitely located. Then there is a large and important area called +the "somesthetic", connected with the body senses generally, i.e., +chiefly with the skin and muscle senses. This area is located in a +narrow strip just back of the central fissure, extending parallel to +the motor area which lies just in front of the fissure, and +corresponding part for part with it, so that the sensory area for the +legs lies just behind the motor area for the legs, and so on. +Destruction of any part of this somesthetic area brings loss of the +sensations from the corresponding part of the body. + +Just behind this direct sensory center for the body, in the parietal +lobe, are portions of the cortex concerned in perceiving facts by aid +of the body senses. Perception of size and shape by the sense of +touch, perception of weight by the muscle sense, perception of degrees +of warmth and cold by the temperature sense, are dependent on the +parietal lobe and disappear when the cortex of this region is +destroyed. It appears that there is a sort of hierarchy of centers +here, as in the motor region and probably also in the visual and +auditory regions. Skill in handling objects is partly dependent on the +"feel" of the objects and so is impaired by injuries to the parietal +lobe, as well as by injury to the frontal lobe; and knowing how to +manage a fairly complex situation, as in lighting a fire when you have +the various {64} materials assembled before you, seems also to depend +largely on this part of the cortex. + + +Lower Sensory Centers + + +[Illustration: Fig. 19.--Sensory path from the skin of any portion of +the trunk or limbs. The path consists of three neurones, the cell body +of the first lying just outside the spinal cord, that of the second +lying in the cord, and that of the third lying in the thalamus. The +last part of this path is the "Tactile path," shown in Fig. 18. +(Figure text: cortex, thalamus, cord, skin)] + + +As already indicated, no portion of the cortex, not even the sensory +areas, is directly connected with any sense organ. The sensory axons +from the skin, for example, terminate in the spinal cord, in what may +be called the lowest sensory centers. Here are nerve cells whose axons +pass up through the cord and brain stem to the thalamus or interbrain, +where they terminate in a second sensory center. And cells here send +their axons up to the somesthetic area of the cortex. + +{65} + +The thalamus is remarkable as an intermediate center for all the +senses, except smell; but exactly what is accomplished by this big +intermediate sensory center remains rather a mystery, though it +certainly appears that the thalamus has something to do with feeling +and emotion. + + +The Cerebellum + +Regarding the cerebellum, there is much knowledge at hand, but it is +difficult to give the gist of it in a few words. On the one hand, the +cerebellum receives a vast number of axons from the lower sensory +centers; while, on the other hand, it certainly has nothing to do with +conscious sensation or perception. Its use seems to be motor. It has +much to do with maintaining the equilibrium of the body, and probably +also with maintaining the steadiness and general efficiency of +muscular contraction. Though it has no known sensory or intellectual +functions, it is very closely connected with the cerebrum, receiving a +tremendous bundle of axons from different parts of the cerebrum, by +way of the brain stem. Possibly these are related to motor activity. +The phrenologists taught that the cerebellum was the center for the +sexual instinct, but there is no evidence in favor of this guess. + + +Different Levels of Reaction + +Let a noise strike the ear and start nerve currents in along the +auditory nerve, passing through the lowest and intermediate centers +and reaching the auditory-sensory area of the cortex. When this last +is aroused to activity, we have a sensation of sound, which is the +first conscious reaction to the external stimulus. Axons running from +the auditory-sensory to the near-by cortex give a perception of some +fact indicated by the external stimulus, and this perception is a {66} +second and higher conscious reaction, which, to be sure, ordinarily +occurs so quickly after the first that introspection cannot +distinguish one as first and the other as second; but the facts of +brain injury, already mentioned, enable us to draw the distinction. +The perceived fact may call up a mental image, or a recognition of +some further fact less directly signified by the noise; these would be +reactions of still higher order. Much of the cortex is apparently not +very directly connected with either the sensory or the motor areas, +and probably is concerned somehow in the recognition of facts that are +only very indirectly indicated by any single sensory stimulus, or with +the planning of actions that only indirectly issue in muscular +movement. + +On the sensory and intellectual side, the higher reactions follow the +lower: sensation arouses perception and perception thought. On the +motor side, the lower reactions are aroused by the higher. Thus the +speech center arouses the motor centers for the speech organs, +combining the action of these into the speaking of a word; and in a +similar way, it seems, the intention to speak a sentence expressing a +certain meaning acts as a stimulus to call up in order the separate +words that make the sentence. A general plan of action precedes and +arouses the particular acts and muscular movements that execute the +plan. + +{67} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline of the chapter. Fill in sub-topics under each of the + following heads: + + A. Mental processes of all kinds are reactions. + + B. The stimulus that directly arouses a mental process is often + "central". + + C. Brain activities of all sorts influence the muscles by way + of the motor area and the lower motor centers. + + D. Brain action in skilled movement. + + E. Brain action in speech. + + F. Brain action in sensation. + + G. Brain action in recognizing seen or heard objects. + + H. Relations of reactions of different levels. + +2. Define and illustrate these classes of stimuli: + + A. Peripheral: + + (1) External. + + (2) Internal. + + B. Central. + +3. Show by a diagram how one cortical center arouses another. + Compare the diagram in Fig. 9, p. 37. + +4. Facilitation of the patellar reflex or "knee jerk". Let your + subject sit with one leg hanging freely from the knee down. With + the edge of your hand strike the patellar tendon just below the + knee cap. (a) Compare the reflex movement so obtained with a + voluntary imitation by the subject. Which is the quicker and + briefer? (b) Apply a fairly strong auditory stimulus (a sudden + noise) a fraction of a second before the tap on the tendon, and see + whether the reflex response is reinforced, (c) Ask the subject to + clench his fists or grit his teeth, and tap the tendon as he does + so. Reinforcement? (d) Where is the reflex center for the patellar + reflex, and whence comes the reinforcing influence? + +5. Construct a diagram showing the different centers and connections + involved in making the skilled movement of writing; and consider + what loss of function would result from destruction of each of the + centers. + + +REFERENCES + +Herrick's _Introduction to Neurology_, 1918, Chapter XX, on the +"Functions of the Cerebrum". + +Stile's _Nervous System and Its Conservation_, Chapters X, XI +and XII. + + +{68} + + +CHAPTER IV + +TENDENCIES TO REACTION + +HOW MOTIVES INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR, AND HOW THEY FIT INTO A PSYCHOLOGY +WHICH SEEKS TO ANALYZE BEHAVIOR INTO REACTIONS. + +One advantage of basing our psychology on _reactions_ is that it keeps +us "close to the ground", and prevents our discussions from sailing +off into the clouds of picturesque but fanciful interpretation. +Psychology is very apt to degenerate into a game of blowing bubbles, +unless we pin ourselves down to hard-headed ways of thinking. The +notion of a reaction is of great value here, just because it is so +hard-headed and concrete. Whenever we have any human action before us +for explanation, we have to ask what the stimulus is that arouses the +individual to activity, and how he responds. Stimulus-response +psychology is solid, and practical as well; for if it can establish +the laws of reaction, so as to predict what response will be made to a +given stimulus, and what stimulus can be depended on to arouse a +desired response, it furnishes the "knowledge that is power". Perhaps +no more suitable motto could be inscribed over the door of a +psychological laboratory than these two words, "Stimulus-Response." + +Such a motto would not frighten away the modern introspectionists, for +they, no less than the behaviorists, could find a congenial home in a +stimulus-response laboratory. They would begin by studying sensations, +and, advancing to more complex responses, would observe the conscious +processes entering into the response. + +{69} + +But, however useful the reaction may be as affording a sound basis for +psychological study, we must not allow it to blind our eyes to any of +the real facts of mental life; and, at first thought, it seems as if +_motives, interests_ and _purposes_ did not fit into the +stimulus-response program. Many hard-headed psychologists have fought +shy of such matters, and some have flatly denied them any place in +scientific psychology. But let us see. + + + _S ---> R_ + +[Illustration: Fig. 20.--The symbol of stimulus-response psychology. +_S_ means the stimulus, and _R_ the response. The line between is the +connection from stimulus to response.] + + +Suppose we are looking out on a city street during the noon hour. We +see numbers of people who--lunch over, nothing to do till one +o'clock!--are standing or walking about, looking at anything that +chances to catch their eye, waving their hands to friends across the +street, whistling to a stray dog that comes past, or congregating +about an automobile that has broken down in the crowded thoroughfare. +These people are responding to stimuli, obviously enough, and there is +no difficulty in fitting their behavior into the stimulus-response +scheme. + +But here comes some one who pays little attention to the sights and +sounds of the street, simply keeping his eyes open enough to avoid +colliding with any one else. He seems in a hurry, and we say of him, +"He must have business on hand; he has to keep an appointment or catch +a train". He is not simply responding to the stimuli that come to him, +but has some purpose of his own that directs his movements. + +Here is another who, while not in such a hurry, is not idling by any +means, since he peers closely at the faces of the men, neglecting the +women, and seems to be looking for some one in particular; or, +perhaps, he neglects men and {70} women alike, and looks anxiously at +the ground, as if he had lost something. Some inner motive shuts him +off from most of the stimuli of the street, while making him extra +responsive to certain sorts of stimuli. + + +Purposive Behavior + +Now it would be a great mistake to rule these purposeful individuals +out of our psychology. We wish to understand busy people as well as +idlers. What makes a man busy is some inner purpose or motive. He +still responds to present stimuli--otherwise he would be in a dream or +trance and out of all touch with what was going on about him--but his +actions are in part controlled by an inner motive. + +To complete the foundations of our psychology, then, we need to fit +purpose into the general plan of stimulus and response. At first +thought, purpose seems a misfit here, since-- + +First, a purpose is an inner force, whereas what arouses a response +should be a stimulus, and typically an external stimulus. We do not +wish to drop back into the old "self-activity" psychology, which +thought of the individual as originating his acts from within himself. +But if we could show that a purpose is itself an inner response to +some external stimulus, and acts in its turn as a "central stimulus" +to further reactions, this difficulty would disappear. + +Second, while a typical reaction, like the reflex or the simple +reaction of the experiment, is prompt and over with at once, a purpose +persists. It keeps the busy man, in our illustration, hurrying all the +way down the street and around the corner and how much farther we +cannot say. It is very different from a momentary response, or from a +stimulus that arouses a momentary response and nothing more. + +Third, what persists, in purposive behavior, is the tendency {71} +towards some end or goal. The purposeful person wants something he has +not yet got, and is striving towards some future result. Whereas a +stimulus pushes him from behind, a goal beckons to him from ahead. +This element of action directed towards some end is absent from the +simple response to a stimulus. + +In short, we have to find room in our stimulus-response psychology for +action persistently steered in a certain direction by some cause +acting from within the individual. We must find room for _internal_ +states that _last_ for a time and _direct_ action. In addition, we +sometimes, though not always, need to find room for conscious +foreknowledge of the goal towards which the action is directed. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 21.--The stimulus-response scheme complicated to +allow for the existence of T, an inner motive or tendency, which, +aroused by an external stimulus, itself arouses a motor response. If +the reaction-tendency were linked so firmly to a single response as to +arouse that response with infallible certainty and promptness, then it +would be superfluous for psychology to speak of a tendency at all. But +often quite a series of responses, R1, R2, etc., follows upon a single +stimulus, all tending towards the same end-result, such as escape; and +then the notion of a "tendency" is by no means superfluous.] + + +"Purpose" is not the best general term to cover all the internal +factors that direct activity, since this word rather implies foresight +of the goal, which demands the intellectual ability to imagine a +result not present to the senses. This highest level of inner control +over one's behavior had best be left for consideration in later +chapters on imagination and will. There are two levels below this. In +the middle level, the individual has an inner steer towards a certain +result, though without conscious foresight of that result. At the +lowest level, we can scarcely speak of the individual as being +directed towards any precise goal, but still his {72} internal state +is such as to predispose him for certain reactions and against other +reactions. + +The lowest level, that of organic states, is typified by fatigue. The +middle level, that of internal steer, is typified by the hunting dog, +striving towards his prey, though not, as far as we know, having any +clear idea of the result at which his actions are aimed. The highest +level, that of conscious purpose, is represented by any one who knows +exactly what he wants and means to get. + +No single word in the language stands out clearly as the proper term +to cover all three levels. "Motives" would serve, if we agree at the +outset that a motive is not always clearly conscious or definite, but +may be any inner state or force that drives the individual in a given +direction. "Wants" or "needs" might be substituted for "motives", and +would apply better than "motives" to the lowest of our three levels. +"Tendencies", or "tendencies to reaction", carries about the right +meaning, namely that the individual, because of his internal state, +tends towards a certain action. "Determining tendencies" (perhaps +better, "directive tendencies") is a term that has been much used in +psychology, with the meaning that the inner tendency determines or +directs behavior. Much used also are "adjustment" and "mental set", +the idea here being to liken the individual to an adjustable machine +which can be set for one or another sort of work. Often "preparation" +or "readiness for action" is the best expression. + + +Organic States that Influence Behavior + +Beginning at the lowest of our three levels, let us observe not even +the simplest animal, but a single muscle. If we give a muscle electric +shocks as stimuli, it responds to each shock by contracting. To a weak +stimulus, the response is weak; {73} to a strong stimulus, strong. But +now let us apply a long series of equal shocks of moderate intensity, +one shock every two seconds. Then we shall get from the muscle what is +called a "fatigue curve", the response growing weaker and weaker, in +spite of the continued equality of the stimuli. How is such a thing +possible? Evidently because the inner condition of the muscle has been +altered by its long-continued activity. The muscle has become +fatigued, and physiologists, examining into the nature of this +fatigue, have found the muscle to be poisoned by "fatigue substances" +produced by its own activity. Muscular contraction depends on the +oxidation of fuel, and produces oxidized wastes, of which carbon +dioxide is the best known; and these waste products, being produced in +continued strong activity faster than the blood can carry them away, +accumulate in the muscle and partially poison it. The "organic state" +is here definitely chemical. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 22.--Fatigue curve of a muscle. The vertical lines +record a series of successive contractions of the muscle, and the +height of each line indicates the force of the contraction. Read from +left to right.] + + +This simple experiment is worth thinking over. Each muscular +contraction is a response to an electric stimulus, but the force of +the contraction is determined in part by the internal state of the +muscle. Fatigue is an _inner_ state of the muscle that _persists_ for +a time (till the blood carries away the wastes), and that +_predisposes_ the muscle _towards_ a certain kind of response, namely, +weak response. Thus the three characteristics of purposive behavior +that seemed so {74} difficult to fit into the scheme of stimulus and +response are all here in a rudimentary form. + +But notice this fact also: the inner condition of _muscular fatigue is +itself a response_ to external stimuli. It is part and parcel of the +total muscular response to a stimulus. The total response includes an +internal change of condition, which, persisting for a time, is a +factor in determining how the muscle shall respond to later stimuli. +These facts afford, in a simple form, the solution of our problem. + +Before leaving the muscle, let us take note of one further fact. If +you examine the "fatigue curve" closely, you will see that a perfectly +fresh muscle _gains_ in strength from its first few responses. It is +said to "warm up" through exercise; and the inner nature of this +warming up has been found to consist in a moderate accumulation of the +same products which, in greater accumulation, produce fatigue. The +warmed-up condition is then another instance of an "organic state". + +There will be more to say of "organic states" when we come to the +emotions. For the present, do not the facts already cited compel us to +enlarge somewhat the conception of a reaction as we left it in the +preceding chapters? Besides the external response, there is often an +internal response to a stimulus, a changed organic state that persists +for a time and has an influence on behavior. The motor response to a +given stimulus is determined partly by that stimulus, and partly by +the organic state left behind by just preceding stimuli. You cannot +predict what response will be made to a given stimulus, unless you +know the organic state present when the stimulus arrives. + + +Preparation for Action + +At the second level, the inner state that partly governs the response +is more neural than chemical, and is directed {75} specifically +towards a certain end-result. As good an instance as any is afforded +by the "simple reaction", described in an earlier chapter. If the +subject in that experiment is to raise his finger promptly from the +telegraph key on hearing a given sound, he must be _prepared_, for there +is no permanent reflex connection between this particular stimulus and +this particular response. You tell your subject to be ready, whereupon +he places his finger on the key, and gets all ready for this +particular stimulus and response. The response is determined as much +by his inner state of readiness as by the stimulus. Indeed, he +sometimes gets too ready, and makes the response before he receives +the stimulus. + +The preparation in such a case is more specific, less a general +organic state, than in the previous cases of fatigue, etc. It is +confined for the most part to the nervous system and the sense organ +and muscles that are to be used. In an untrained subject, it includes +a conscious purpose to make the finger movement quickly when the sound +is heard; but as he becomes used to the experiment he loses clear +consciousness of what he is to do. He is, as a matter of fact, ready +for a specific reaction, but all he is conscious of is a general +readiness. He feels ready for what is coming, but does not have to +keep his mind on it, since the specific neural adjustment has become +automatic with continued use. + +Examples of internal states of preparedness might be multiplied +indefinitely, and it may be worth while to consider a few more, and +try out on them the formula that has already been suggested, to the +effect that preparation is an inner adjustment for a specific +reaction, set up in response to some stimulus (like the "Ready!" +signal), persisting for a time, and predisposing the individual to +make the specified reaction whenever a suitable stimulus for it +arrives. The preparation may or may not be conscious. It might be +named "orientation" or "steer", with the meaning that {76} the +individual is headed or directed towards a certain end-result. It is +like so setting the rudder of a sailboat that, when a puff of wind +arrives, the boat will respond by turning to the one side. + +The runner on the mark, "set" for a quick start, is a perfect picture +of preparedness. Here the onlookers can see the preparation, since the +ready signal has aroused visible muscular response in the shape of a +crouching position. It is not simple crouching, but "crouching to +spring." But if the onlookers imagine themselves to be seeing the +whole preparation--if they suppose the preparation to be simply an +affair of the muscles--they overlook the established fact that the +muscles are held in action by the nerve centers, and would relax +instantly if the nerve centers should stop acting. The preparation is +neural more than muscular. The neural apparatus is set to respond to +the pistol shot by strong discharge into the leg muscles. + +What the animal psychologists have called the _delayed reaction_ is a +very instructive example of preparation. An animal is placed before a +row of three food boxes, all looking just alike, two of them, however, +being locked while the third is unlocked. Sometimes one is unlocked +and sometimes another, and the one which at any time is unlocked is +designated by an electric bulb lighted above the door. The animal is +first trained to go to whichever box shows the light; he always gets +food from the lighted box. When he has thoroughly learned to respond +in this way, the "delayed reaction" experiment begins. Now the animal +is held while the light is burning, and only released a certain time +after the light is out, and the question is whether, after this delay, +he will still follow the signal and go straight to the right door. It +is found that he will do so, provided the delay is not too long--how +long depends on the animal. With rats the delay cannot exceed 5 +seconds, with cats it can reach 18 {77} seconds, with dogs 1 to 3 +minutes, with children (in a similar test) it increased from 20 +seconds at the age of fifteen months to 50 seconds at two and a half +years, and to 20 minutes or more at the age of five years. + +Rats and cats, in this experiment, need to keep their heads or bodies +turned towards the designated box during the interval between the +signal and the release; or else lose their orientation. Some dogs, +however, and children generally, can shift their position and still, +through some inner orientation, react correctly when released. The +point of the experiment is that the light signal puts the animal or +child into a state tending towards a certain result, and that, when +that result is not immediately attainable, the state persists for a +time and produces results a little later. + + +Preparatory Reactions + +In the delayed reaction, the inner orientation does little during the +interval before the final reaction, except to maintain a readiness for +making that reaction; but often "preparatory reactions" occur before +the final reaction can take place. Suppose you whistle for your dog +when he is some distance off and out of sight. You give one loud +whistle and wait. Presently the dog swings around the corner and +dashes up to you. Now, what kept the dog running towards you after +your whistle had ceased and before he caught sight of you? Evidently +he was directed towards the end-result of reaching you, and this +directing tendency governed his movements during the process. He made +many preparatory reactions on the way to his final reaction of jumping +up on you; and these preparatory reactions were, of course, responses +to the particular trees he had to dodge, and the ditches he had to +jump; but they were at the same time governed by the inner state set +up in him by your {78 } whistle. This inner state favored certain +reactions and excluded others that would have occurred if the dog had +not been in a hurry. He passed another dog on the way without so much +as saying, "How d'ye do?" And he responded to a fence by leaping over +it, instead of trotting around through the gate. That is to say, the +inner state set up in him by your whistle _facilitated_ reactions that +were preparatory to the final reaction, and _inhibited_ reactions that +were not in that line. + +A hunting dog following the trail furnishes another good example of a +directive tendency. Give a bloodhound the scent of a particular man +and he will follow that scent persistently, not turning aside to +respond to stimuli that would otherwise influence him, nor even to +follow the scent of another man. Evidently an inner neural adjustment +has been set up in him predisposing him to respond to a certain +stimulus and not to others. + +The homing of the carrier pigeon is a good instance of activity +directed in part by an inner adjustment, since, when released at a +distance from home, he is evidently "set" to get back home, and often +persists and reaches home after a very long flight. Or, take the +parallel case of the terns, birds which nest on a little island not +far from Key West. Of ten birds taken from their nests and transported +on shipboard out into the middle of the Gulf of Mexico and released +500 miles from home, eight reappeared at their nests after intervals +varying from four to eight days. How they found their way over the +open sea remains a mystery, but one thing is clear: they persisted in +a certain line of activity until a certain end-result was reached, on +which this line of activity ceased. + +One characteristic of tendencies that has not previously been +mentioned comes out in this example. When a tendency has been aroused, +the animal (or man) is tense and {79} restless till the goal has been +reached, and then quiets down. The animal may or may not be clearly +conscious of the goal, but he is restless till the goal has been +attained, and his restlessness then ceases. In terms of behavior, what +we see is a series of actions which continues till a certain result +has been reached and then gives way to rest. Introspectively, what we +feel (apart from any clear mental picture of the goal) is a +restlessness and tenseness during a series of acts, giving way to +relief and satisfaction when a certain result has been reached. + +A hungry or thirsty animal is restless; he _seeks_ food or drink, +which means that he is making a series of preparatory reactions, which +continues till food or drink has been found, and terminates in the +end-reaction of eating or drinking. + + +What the Preparatory Reactions Accomplish + +The behavior of a hungry or thirsty individual is worth some further +attention--for it is the business of psychology to interest itself in +the most commonplace happenings, to wonder about things that usually +pass for matters of course, and, if not to find "sermons in stones", +to derive high instruction from very lowly forms of animal behavior. +Now, what is hunger? Fundamentally an organic state; next, a sensation +produced by this organic state acting on the internal sensory nerves, +and through them arousing in the nerve centers an adjustment or +tendency towards a certain end-reaction, namely, eating. Now, I ask +you, if hunger is a stimulus to the eating movements, why does not the +hungry individual eat at once? Why, at least, does he not go through +the motions of eating? You say, because he has nothing to eat. But he +could still make the movements; there is no physical impossibility in +his making chewing and swallowing movements without the presence of +food. {80} Speaking rationally, you perhaps say that he does not make +these movements because he sees they would be of no use without food +to chew; but this explanation would scarcely apply to the lower sorts +of animal, and besides, you do not have to check your jaws by any such +rational considerations. They simply do not start to chew except when +food is in the mouth. Well, then, you say, chewing is a response to +the presence of food in the mouth; and taking food into the mouth is a +response to the stimulus of actually present food. The response does +not occur unless the stimulus is present; that is simple. + +Not quite so simple, either. Unless one is hungry, the presence of +food does not arouse the feeding reaction; and even food actually +present in the mouth will be spewed out instead of chewed and +swallowed, if one is already satiated. Try to get a baby to take more +from his bottle than he wants! Eating only occurs when one is _both_ +hungry and in the presence of food. Two conditions must be met: the +internal state of hunger and the external stimulus of food; then, and +then only, will the eating reaction take place. + +Hunger, though a tendency to eat, does not arouse the eating movements +while the stimulus of present food is lacking; but, for all that, +hunger does arouse immediate action. It typically arouses the +preparatory reactions of seeking food. Any such reaction is at the +same time a response to some actually present stimulus. Just as the +dog coming at your whistle was responding every instant of his +progress to some particular object--leaping fences, dodging trees--so +the dog aroused to action by the pangs of hunger begins at once to +respond to present objects. He does not start to eat them, because +they are not the sort of stimuli that produce this response, but he +responds by dodging them or finding his way by them in his quest for +food. The responses that the hungry dog makes to other objects than +{81} food are preparatory reactions, and these, if successful, put the +dog in the presence of food. That is to say, the _preparatory +reactions provide the stimulus that is necessary to arouse the +end-reaction_. They bring the individual to the stimulus, or the +stimulus to the individual. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 23.--A stimulus arouses the tendency towards the +end-reaction, R, but (as indicated by the dotted line), T is not by +itself sufficient to arouse R; but T can and does arouse P, a +preparatory reaction, and P (or some external result directly produced +by P), coöperating with T, gives rise to R.] + + +What we can say about the modus operandi of hunger, then, amounts to +this: Hunger is an inner state and adjustment predisposing the +individual to make eating movements in response to the stimulus of +present food; in the absence of food, hunger predisposes to such other +responses to various stimuli as will bring the food stimulus into +play, and thus complete the conditions necessary for the eating +reaction. In general, _an aroused reaction-tendency predisposes the +individual to make a certain end-reaction when the proper stimulus for +that reaction is present; otherwise, it predisposes him to respond to +other stimuli, which are present, by preparatory reactions that +eventually bring to bear on the individual the stimulus required to +arouse the end-reaction_. + +Let us apply our formula to one more simple case. While reading in the +late afternoon, I find the daylight growing dim, rise and turn on the +electric light. The stimulus that sets this series of acts going is +the dim light; the first, inner response is a _need_ for light. This +need tends, by force of habit, to make me turn the button, but it does +not make me execute this movement in the air. I only make this +movement when the button is in reaching distance. My first {82} +reaction, rising from my chair, is preparatory and brings the button +close enough to act as a stimulus for the hand reaction. The button +within reach is not by itself sufficient to arouse the turning +reaction, nor is the need for light alone sufficient. The two +conditions must be present together, and the preparatory reaction is +such that, given the need, the other condition will be met and the +reaction then aroused. + + +What a Tendency Is, in Terms of Nerve Action + +Very little need be added to our neural conception of a reaction in +order to get a satisfactory conception of a tendency to reaction. +Principally, we must add this fact, that a nerve center aroused to +activity does not always discharge instantly and completely into the +muscles, or into some other center, and come to rest itself. It does +so, usually, in the case of a reflex, and in other momentary +reactions; as when A makes you think of B, and B at once of C, and so +on, each thought occupying you but a moment. But a tendency means the +arousing of a nerve center under conditions which do not allow that +center to discharge at once. The center remains in a condition of +tension; energy is dammed up there, unable to find an outlet. + +We have already seen what the conditions are that cause this damming +up of energy. The center that is aroused tends to arouse in turn some +lower motor center, but by itself does not have complete control over +that lower center, since the lower center also requires a certain +external stimulus in order to arouse it to the discharging point. +Until the proper external stimulus arrives to complete the arousal of +the lower center, the higher center cannot discharge its energy. + +When there is an "organic state" present, such as hunger or thirst, +this may act as a persistent stimulus to the sensory nerves and +through them to the higher center in {83} question; and then we can +readily understand how it is that the center remains active until the +organic state is relieved. But where there is no such persistent +organic stimulus, as there can scarcely be in the case of the +bloodhound or of the man hurrying to a train or seeking in the crowd +for a friend, there we have to suppose that a center, once aroused to +activity and prevented from complete discharge, remains active by +virtue of energy dammed up in itself. There is pretty good +physiological evidence that this sort of thing is a fundamental fact; +for there are certain rhythmical reflexes, like scratching or +stepping, that, when started going by a momentary sensory stimulus, +keep it up for a time after the stimulus has ceased. There seems to be +no doubt that a nerve center, once aroused, may stay aroused for a +time. + +The "dammed-up energy" here is not to be confused with the "stored +energy" spoken of under the head of reactions. We said, in that +connection, that a stimulus released energy stored in the organism. +That, however, was _potential_ energy, dormant within the organism +till aroused; but what we have here in mind is active or _kinetic_ +energy. Stored energy is like that of coal in the bin; dammed-up +energy is like that of steam in the boiler. + +Dammed-up energy in the nerve centers accounts for the persistence of +a tendency to reaction after the stimulus has ceased. It accounts for +the "delayed reaction" and similar cases. But how shall we account for +preparatory reactions? We have a nerve center in an active state, +tending to discharge into a certain lower motor center, but unable to +do so because a peripheral stimulus is necessary, in addition, in +order to arouse this lower center. Then we find the higher center +discharging into _other_ lower centers, and so giving rise to +preparatory reactions. More precisely, what we find is that the higher +center facilitates the response {84} of certain lower centers to their +proper peripheral stimuli, while inhibiting the response of other +lower centers to their appropriate stimuli. This is the same sort of +thing that we observe in all control exerted by a higher center over a +lower. It means that the higher center, besides its main line of +connection with the lower center that will give the end-reaction, has +minor lines of connection with certain other lower centers; some of +these centers it facilitates and others it inhibits. These connections +between the main and the subordinate centers may have been established +by inborn nature, or by previous training, as will be explained in +later chapters. + +The action of the main center on the subordinate centers concerned in +executing preparatory reactions does not relieve the tension in the +main center. The dammed-up energy stays there till the proper stimulus +is procured for arousing the end-reaction, and then escapes through +its main channel of discharge, and the main center then finally comes +to rest. + +It may fairly be urged that no violence has been done to the general +conception of a reaction by these additions, and also that with the +additions the notion of a reaction has room for tendencies or inner +adjustments. So that we conclude that stimulus-response psychology is +adequate to the job, and will do justice to all forms of human +behavior. It has a place for sensations, perceptions and thoughts, as +we saw in the preceding chapter, and it has a place also for purposes, +desires and motives generally. + + +Motives + +In the present chapter, desirous of "keeping close to the ground", we +have said little of distinctively human motives. That will come later. +In general, a motive is a tendency towards a certain end-result or +end-reaction, a tendency which is itself aroused by some stimulus, and +which {85} persists for a time because its end-reaction is not at once +made. The end-reaction is not made at once because it can only be +aroused by an appropriate stimulus, acting in conjunction with the +motive. But the motive, persisting in its inner activity, facilitates +reactions to certain stimuli and inhibits others. The reactions it +facilitates are preparatory to the end-reaction, in that they provide +the necessary conditions for that reaction to occur, which means that +they bring to bear on the individual the necessary stimulus which can +arouse the end-reaction. The restlessness that characterizes an +individual driven by an inner motive gives way to rest and +satisfaction when the end-result is reached. + +Motives range from the primitive or primal, like hunger, to the very +advanced, such as zeal for a cause. They range from the momentary, +illustrated by the need for more light in reading, to the great +permanent forces of life, like _amour propre_ and _esprit de corps_. +But the permanent motives are not always active; they sleep and are +awakened again by appropriate stimuli. + +In everyday speech we are apt to use the words "motive" and "reason" +interchangeably, as in asking some one what his "motive", or what his +"reason" is for doing so and so. A motive, however, is not necessarily +a reason, nor a reason a motive. A reason is thought-out and +conscious, which a motive need not be. On the other hand, a reason +does not become a motive unless it takes hold of us and arouses a +genuine tendency towards the planned result. You may prove to me, +logically, the desirability of a course of action, but your reasons do +not necessarily make me desire it. You can give a child excellent +reasons for studying his lessons, but you have to stir some real +motive of child life in order to get action. In the highest type of +conduct, to be sure, motive and reason pull together, reason showing +the way to the goal at which motive is aimed. + +{86} + +EXERCISES + +1. Complete the following outline of the chapter, by filling in + main headings to fit the subordinate headings that are given below: + + A. _________ + + (1) It keeps close to the facts. + + (2) It has room for introspective as well as behavior study. + + (3) It can be applied practically. + + B. _________ + + (1) A stimulus is typically external, a purpose internal. + + (2) A stimulus typically acts for a moment, a purpose persists + for some time. + + (3) A stimulus is not directed towards a result, a purpose is + so directed. + + + C. _________ + + (1) Organic or physiological states that predispose towards + certain forms of behavior. + + (2) Inner adjustments towards certain results, without + foresight of the results. + + (3) Conscious purpose. + + D. _________ + + (1) They are aroused by stimuli. + + (2) They persist for a time. + + (3) They influence the response to other stimuli. + + + E. _________ + + (1) They are neural rather than chemical. + + (2) They amount to a preparation or readiness for a certain + response. + + (3) They persist sometimes for only a few seconds, sometimes + for many minutes at least. + + F. _________ + + (1) A whole series of acts may be set going by a single stimulus. + + (2) The series comes to an end when a certain result has been + reached. + + (3) Each act in the series is a response to some particular + stimulus, and yet would not be aroused by that stimulus + except for the active adjustment towards the end-result. +{87} + (4) The end-result cannot be reached until a particular + stimulus helps the adjustment to arouse the end-reaction. + + (5) The preliminary acts in the series bring the required + stimulus that can give the end-reaction. + + G. _______ + + (1) It may be kept active by a continuing peripheral stimulus. + + (2) It may be unable to discharge fully because its main path of + discharge is blocked. + + H. _______ + + (1) The main center has minor connections with other + centers, in addition to its main path of discharge. + + (2) The persisting activity of the main center influences + other centers by way of facilitation and inhibition. + +2. Fill in the blanks in the following paragraph: + + "A motive or (1) is a reaction that has not yet come off. It has + been (2) by some stimulus, and it tends towards a certain (3), + which however it is unable of itself to produce, but requires the + assistance of another (4) which is not yet present. The motive + gives rise to (5) responses, which, if (6), finally bring the + required (7), and this, combined with the (8) arouses the (9), and + so brings the whole (10) of acts to a close." + +3. Cite cases illustrating the importance of preparatory adjustment + (a) for securing prompt reaction, and + (b) for securing keen observation. + +4. Cite a case where some need or desire gives rise to a series of + preparatory reactions. + +5. Cite a case where a need or desire leads to the omission + (inhibition) of acts that would otherwise have occurred. + +6. What is meant by the last sentence in the chapter? + +7. An experiment on the "delayed reaction". Take two sheets of + paper, and on each write the letters A, B, C, D, E, and F, + scattering them irregularly over the sheet. The task, in general, + is now to take aim at one of the letters, while your hand, holding + a pencil, is raised to the side of your head, and then to close the + eyes and strike at the letter aimed for. First aim at A, and mark + the point hit with an a, then the same with B, and so on. With the + first sheet, strike as soon as you have got your aim and closed + your eyes; but with the second sheet, aim, close your eyes, and + count ten slowly before striking, keeping the eyes closed till the + stroke has been made. Two sorts of observation should now be made: + first, introspective--record at once what you can of the way you + kept your aim during the delay. Second, objective--measure the + errors, and determine how much the delay affected your aim. What + conclusions can you draw from the experiment? + +{88} + +REFERENCES + +On the "delayed reaction", see Walter S. Hunter, "The Delayed Reaction +in Animals and Children", _Behavior Monographs_, No. 6, 1913. A brief +summary of this work can also be found in Hunter's _General +Psychology_, 1919, pp. 31-33. + +On the homing of pigeons and terns, see Watson and Lashley, _An +Historical and Experimental Study of Homing_, published by the +Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1915. + +Interesting examples of changed organic states affecting the behavior +of unicellular animals are given by Jennings in his _Behavior of the +Lower Organisms_, 1906, and by Margaret F. Washburn in _The Animal +Mind_, 2nd edition, 1917, pp. 246-257. + + +{89} + + +CHAPTER V + +NATIVE AND ACQUIRED TRAITS + +SOME RESPONSES ARE PROVIDED BY NATURE, WHILE +OTHERS HAVE TO BE LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE + +John Doe is a strongly built man, over six feet high, with big bones +and muscles, erect, vigorous, with plenty of color in his face, +dark-haired, blue-eyed, clean-shaven, with a scar on his cheek, broad +face and large ears. He is easy-going, even-tempered, fond of children +and also of women, rather slangy and even profane in his talk, has a +deep, sonorous voice and can carry the bass in a chorus. He is handy +with tools, can drive or repair an automobile, is a fairly good carpet +salesman, but much prefers out-of-door work. Rather free in spending +his money, he has never run into debt except on one occasion, which +turned out badly for him. Which of these traits of John Doe are native +and which are acquired? How far are his physical, mental and moral +characteristics the result of his "original nature" and how far have +they been ingrained in him or imposed upon him by his training and +environment? + +The distinction between native and acquired is clearest in the field +of anatomy. Hair color and eye color are evidently native, and so, in +the main, is the size of the body, though undoubtedly growth may be +stunted by poor nutrition, and the individual fail to reach his +"natural" height and weight. On the other hand, scars, tan, and the +after-effects of disease or injury, are evidently acquired. Of +movements, the native character of the reflexes has already been +noted, and it is clear that skill in handling tools or {90} managing +the voice is learned, though the individual may have a natural +aptitude for these performances. Temperament and emotional traits we +usually think of as belonging to a man's "nature", though we have to +admit that a naturally cheerful disposition may be soured by ill +treatment. On the other hand, while we reckon habits, such as +profanity, or free spending, or an erect carriage, as belonging with +the acquired traits, we know that some natures are prone to certain +habits, and other natures to other habits. Thus the effects of +"nature" and "experience" are almost inextricably interwoven in the +behavior of an adult person. + +Difficult as it certainly is to separate the native from the acquired +in human action, the attempt must be made. We cannot dodge so +fundamental a problem. Scientifically it is important as the +starting-point of a genetic study; we must know where the individual +starts in order to understand the course of his development. +Practically it is important because there is reason to believe that +native traits are deeply seated and not easily eradicated, even though +they can be modified and specialized in different ways. If a habit is +not simply a habit, but at the same time a means of gratifying some +natural tendency, then it is almost imperative to find a substitute +gratification in order to eliminate the habit. The individual's nature +also sets limits beyond which he cannot be brought by no matter how +much training and effort; and this is true of mental development as +well as of physical. + + +The Source of Native Traits + +"Native" means a little more than "congenital." A child may be born +blind, having been infected by disease germs shortly before birth; he +may be congenitally an idiot because of head injury during a difficult +birth; or his mentality may have been impaired, during his uterine +life, by {91} alcohol reaching his brain from a drunken mother. Such +traits are congenital, but acquired. Native traits date back to the +original constitution of the child, which was fully determined at the +time when his individual life began, nine months before birth. The +"fertilized ovum", formed by the combination of two cells, one from +each of the parents, though microscopic in size and a simple sphere in +shape, somehow contains the determiners for all the native or +inherited traits of the new individual. + +It is very mysterious, certainly. This microscopic, featureless +creature is already a human individual, with certain of its future +traits--those that we call "native"--already settled. It is a human +being as distinguished from any other species, it is a white or +colored individual, male or female, blonde or brunette, short or tall, +stocky or slender, mentally gifted or deficient, perhaps a "born" +musician or adventurer or leader of men. These and all other native +traits are already determined and latent within it; and the only +question, regarding such traits, is whether the environment is going +to be such as to enable this young individual to live and mature and +unfold what is latent within it. + + +Reactions Appearing at Birth Must Be Native + +For the first few months of the individual's existence, sheltered as +it is within the mother's body, there is no chance for any +acquisition, except of certain abnormalities such as were alluded to +above. What occurs during this prenatal period is natural development, +not learning or any effect of experience. The traits displayed by the +new-born child are, accordingly, native traits. His breathing, crying, +starting at a noise, squirming, stretching, grasping, sucking and +swallowing, and other movements made from birth on, are to be counted +as native reactions, that is to say, as {92} reactions executed by +sensory, muscular and nervous machinery that have become ready for use +by the mere process of natural growth. This is the first and clearest +sign of a native trait, that it shall appear at birth. + + +Reactions That Cannot Be Learned Must Be Native + +But native traits continue to make their appearance as the child's +development proceeds after birth. Inherited anatomical traits, like +stature and build, hair color, beard, and shape of nose, though +certainly determined by native constitution, do not fully make their +appearance till maturity. In fact, what does maturity mean, except +that the natural characteristics have finally reached their complete +development? And it is as true of internal structure as of external, +that natural development, far from being complete at birth, keeps on +till maturity. The neurones continue to grow, and their synapses in +the nerve centers to become closer knit, just by virtue of natural +growth; and thus reflex arcs, and other reaction machinery, one by one +reach the ready-to-use stage during the individual's growing-up, +especially during the first few years. With the growth to a functional +condition of their sensori-neuro-muscular mechanisms, mental and motor +reactions that are native, though not present at birth, make their +appearance. The native intelligence of the child gradually unfolds, +likewise his special native "gifts" and his inherited emotional and +impulsive traits. + +Of course it is more difficult to make sure that a trait is native +when it does not appear till some time after birth, for the chance of +acquiring it by a process of learning has to be taken into account. If +you can so control the conditions under which the young individual +grows as to eliminate the possibility of learning a certain act, then +you can {93} make sure whether the act is acquired or provided by the +native constitution. + + +Experimental Detection of Native Reactions + +Take the question whether birds learn to fly or simply come to fly +when their natural development has gone far enough. The newly hatched +bird cannot fly; its muscles are not strong enough, its wings are not +feathered, and its nerve mechanism for coördinating the wing movements +has still some growth to make before being ready for use. But, under +ordinary conditions, the young bird has some chance to _learn_ flying, +by watching the old birds fly and by trying and gradually getting the +motion. The old birds, after a time, push the young ones from the nest +and seem, to our eyes, to be teaching them to fly. Experiment enables +us to decide the question. One of the earliest experiments in animal +psychology was made by Spalding in 1873. He took newly hatched birds +from the nest and shut each one separately in a little box that gave +it no chance to stretch its wings or to see other birds fly. Here he +fed and cared for them till the age at which flying usually begins, +and then released them. Off they flew, skilfully managing wings and +tail, swooping around the trees and soon disappearing from sight. A +very successful experiment!--and conclusive. The little birds had had +no chance to learn to fly, yet they flew. Flying must have come to +them in the natural course of growth. + +Compare with this experiment another one no less successful, though it +turned out differently. To discover whether the song of the oriole is +fixed by nature or learned by imitation, Scott took some little ones, +just hatched, and brought them up away from older birds. After a time, +when growth had advanced to a certain stage, the birds began {94} to +sing. The elementary notes and rattles characteristic of the oriole +made their appearance, but were combined in unusual ways, so that the +characteristic song of the oriole did not appear, but a new song. When +these birds had grown up in the laboratory, other new-hatched orioles +were brought up with them, and adopted this new song; so that the +laboratory became the center for a new school of oriole music. The +experiment showed that the elements of the oriole's song were provided +by nature, while the combination of these elements was acquired by +imitation. + +Probably this last is about the result one would get in the analogous +case of human speech, if a similar experiment should be tried on +children. Without an experiment, we have certain facts that point to a +conclusion. The child uses his vocal organs from birth on; and before +he reaches the age when he imitates the speech of others, he produces +various vowels and consonants, and even puts them together into simple +compounds, as "da-da" and "goo-goo." So far, deaf children do about +the same as others, affording additional evidence that so much of +speech is native. To get real speech, however, further combinations of +the speech movements must be made, and the combinations (words) must +have meaning attached to them. These higher achievements are evidently +the result of learning, since the child uses the words that it hears +spoken, and attaches the same meanings to them as people do about it. +The child comes to speak the language of those about it, without +regard to the speech of its ancestors. His "native language" is +therefore acquired, though the elements of vocal utterance are truly +native, and apparently are alike all over the world without regard to +the various languages spoken. + +{95} + +Is Walking Native or Acquired? + +As another example of this same general problem of distinguishing +native from acquired reactions, and of the kind of evidence that +throws light on the problem in the absence of direct experiment, let +us consider the child's walking. Does the child learn to walk, or does +it simply _come_ to walk when its natural development has gone far +enough? We think the child learns to walk because it begins very +imperfectly and usually takes several weeks before it can be described +as really walking of itself. We even think we teach it to walk, though +when we examine our teaching we soon convince ourselves that we do not +know _how_ we walk, and that what we are doing with the baby is to +stimulate and encourage him to walk, protect him from hurting himself, +etc., rather than teaching him as we later teach the child to write. +An experiment to settle the matter might be conducted along the lines +of Spalding's experiment on the young birds. We might prevent the baby +from making any attempt to walk till it had fully reached the normal +age for walking, and then turn it loose and see whether it walked of +itself. + +Such an experiment has never been made under strict laboratory +conditions; but here is a well-attested case that approximates to an +experiment. A little girl of seven months, a very active child, seemed +to want to get on her feet; but the doctor decided that her feet were +too small to use, and directed that she be put back in long dresses. +For four months she was kept in long dresses, and great care was +exercised never to place her on the floor without them. Then, one day, +she was set down without her dress, and immediately up she got and +walked; and from that moment she was very agile on her feet. + +Another rather different case, but tending towards the {96} same +conclusion, is that of a little girl who, in contrast to the +preceding, gave her parents some anxiety because, up to the age of +seventeen months, she wouldn't walk. She would stand holding on, but +not trust herself to her feet alone. One noon her father came in from +his work and, removing his cuffs, laid them on the table. The little +girl crept to the table, and raised herself to a standing position, +holding on to the table. She then took a cuff in one hand, and +inserted the other hand into it, thus, for the first time, standing +unsupported. She put on the other cuff in like manner, and then +marched across the room, as proud as you please. For a few days she +could walk only with cuffs, but after that was able to dispense with +them. There are a few other cases, differing in details, but agreeing +on the main point, that the baby walked well on its first trial and +went through nothing that could properly be interpreted as a process +of learning. + +It would really be very surprising if the human infant were left to +learn locomotion for himself, while all other animals have this power +by nature. Just because the human infant matures slowly, and learns a +vast deal while maturing, is no reason for overlooking the fact that +it does mature, i.e., that its native powers are gradually growing and +reaching the condition of being ready for use. The most probable +conception of "learning to walk," in the light of the evidence, is +about as follows. At the age when the child's bones and muscles have +become strong enough for walking, the nerve connections for +coördinating this complex movement have also just about reached the +stage of development when they are ready for business. The numerous +synapses in the nerve centers that must be traversed by nerve currents +in order to arouse the muscles to this particular act are not, we may +suppose, all ready at the same instant, and it takes some little time +for them to pass from {97} the stage when they will first conduct to +the stage when, having grown more, they conduct perfectly. In other +words, the neural mechanism for walking can function imperfectly +before it can function perfectly. It takes several weeks of growth to +pass from the barely functional condition to the fully functional +condition; and it is during these weeks that the child seems to be +learning to walk, while really his exercise of the partially developed +neural mechanisms has no effect except to hasten their growth to some +extent. + + +Universality as a Criterion of Native Reactions + +The fundamental sign or criterion of a native trait, in accordance +with what we have been saying, is that it shall make its appearance +when there has been no chance to acquire it through experience. This +is the one perfect criterion; but unfortunately it cannot always be +applied, especially with a slowly maturing and much-learning species +such as the human. We need other criteria, and one of some value is +the criterion of _universality_. + +Consider, for example, the attraction between the sexes, and ask +whether this represents a native tendency, or whether each individual +acquires it, as he does his "native language", by learning from his +elders. Before the body reaches sexual maturity, there has been +abundant opportunity for the quick-learning child to observe sex +attraction in older people. Yet it is highly improbable that the +liking for the other sex which he begins to show strongly in youth is +simply an acquired taste. It is improbable because the attraction +between the sexes is so universal not only among mankind but among +birds and mammals and, indeed, practically throughout the animal +kingdom. + +Fighting is a similar case. Not so universal as the sex instinct, it +still appears almost universally among birds and mammals. + +{98} + +The human individual is an animal, and some of his native traits are +universal among animals. He is a vertebrate, and some of his traits, +though not present in all animals, are universal among vertebrates. He +is a mammal, with mammalian traits; a primate, with primate traits; a +man with human traits; a Chinaman or Indian or European with racial +traits; belongs to a more or less definite stock or breed within the +race, and possesses the traits that are common to members of that +stock; and the same with family traits. The criterion of universality, +in the light of these facts, comes down to this: that _when all +individuals having the same descent show a trait in common, that +trait is to be regarded as belonging to their native +constitution--unless evidence can be brought forward to the contrary_. + +Smoking is universal among many Malay peoples, but we know, as a +historical fact, that it was introduced among them after the discovery +of America, not very many generations ago. Superstition is universal +among some peoples, but we see the superstitious beliefs and practices +taught by the older to the younger generation. Similarly with any +specific language. It may very well be true in such cases that the +universal practice appeals to some native tendency of the people; but +the specific practice is handed down by tradition and not by +inheritance. + + +Some Native Traits Are Far from Being Universal + +Though the universality of a trait creates a certain presumption in +favor of its being native, the opposite is not always true, for a +trait may be native and yet appear in only a fraction of those who +have a common descent. Eye color is certainly native, and yet one of +two brothers may have blue eyes and the other brown. Mental deficiency +runs in families, but usually some members of such families have {99} +normal mentality. Genius is almost certainly a native trait, but it is +the reverse of universal. The fact is that, along with certain traits +that appear in all, the native constitution of a stock provides also +for traits that appear only sporadically. Enough has been said to show +that the criterion of universality is one that needs to be applied +with judgment. + + +Why Acquired Traits Differ from One Individual to Another + +Acquired traits are on the whole much less universal, much more +individual, than native traits. They are readjustments of the +individual to environmental conditions; and, as the environment +varies, so the adjustments vary, even when native traits are the same. +Acquired traits are often specializations of the native traits, as any +specific language is a specialization of the vocal utterances that are +native and common to all men, and as the peculiar gait of an +individual is a specialization of the universal walking movement. The +gait differs with the environmental differences to which the +individual has adapted himself, and will be different in one who has +been accustomed to walk over rough ground and in one whose walking has +been done on the city streets. + +_Acquired traits are not independent of native, but are developed on +the basis of the native traits_. They are acquired not by laying aside +native tendencies and working out something entirely new, but by +acting in accordance with the native tendencies and making such +readjustments as the environment demands. The acquisition of mental +traits is accomplished by the process of _learning_, and we shall +later have abundant occasion to examine it in more detail. + +{100} + +What Mental Traits Are Native? + +For the present, let us simply take a brief survey of the mental +field, and notice what types of reactions are native and what +acquired. On the motor side, the reflexes are native, while habitual +and skilled movements are acquired. On the sensory side, nature +provides the use of the sense organs and the sensations immediately +resulting from their stimulation. The baby responds to touch, warmth, +cold, sound and light as soon as it is born, or practically so, and +undoubtedly has the corresponding sensations. In other words, the +rudiments of seeing, hearing, etc., are provided by nature. But when +we say, "I see a dog" we mean more than that we are getting certain +visual sensations; we mean that we see a known object or known sort of +object. This implies recognition of the object, either as an +individual thing or as one of a class; and this the baby can scarcely +be supposed to do at first. He sees the dog to the extent that he +responds by visual sensations to the light coming from the dog, but +not to the extent that he recognizes the dog as a dog. In short, the +_meanings_ of sensations are acquired, though the sensations +themselves are native. + +Things come to be known by use of the senses, and when thus known are +not only recognized when present, but also remembered and thought of +when they are not present to the senses. Such memories and items of +knowledge, dependent as they are on experience, are to be reckoned +among the acquired reactions. Ideas or conceptions of things also +belong here. + +Of the emotions, some are called "primary" or native--anger and fear +are examples--while others result from the compounding of these +primary emotions and are therefore acquired. As people and things come +to be known, emotional reactions become attached to them, and give +what {101} are often named "sentiments", such as love for this person, +contempt for that one, family pride, patriotism. These sentiments, +bound up as they are with knowledge and ideas, are certainly acquired. + +Closely akin to the primary emotions are the native impulses, as the +impulse to eat, to cry, to laugh, to escape from danger, to resist +external compulsion and to overcome obstacles. The native impulses are +the raw material out of which the numerous acquired desires of child +and adult are formed. One sort of native impulse is the impulse to +notice or pay attention to certain sorts of stimuli. These native +interests of the child give birth to the various specialized interests +of the adult. The baby's attention to a bright light represents a +native interest; the older child's fixing his eyes on a dark brown +piece of chocolate represents an acquired interest which has developed +in a way that is easy to understand. + +Finally, we must count among the native traits of the individual his +inherited aptitudes for certain kinds of work. One child shows a +natural aptitude for music, another for acting, another for +mathematics, another for mechanical things, another for language, and +so on. As any of these "natural gifts" is present in some degree in +nearly all members of the human family, and not to anything like the +same degree in animals, they are the characteristically human traits. +It is on the basis of such native aptitudes that each individual +proceeds, through the processes of learning, to build up his various +acquired abilities, such as the ability to sing, to speak a certain +language, to add, to work with tools, to perform athletic feats, and +to take part in social activities of various sorts. + +Our next task will be to examine more closely the native equipment of +man, and after that to take up the process of learning, which is the +way reactions are acquired. First the native, then the acquired. The +acquired is based upon {102} the native. Acquired reactions are indeed +so numerous that we cannot attempt even to list them all, let alone +examine each one separately; but we can at least study the _way_ in +which they are acquired. Native reactions are much less numerous, so +that the student may hope to obtain a fairly comprehensive survey of +this field, though, of course, without much detail. + +The general plan of this book, then, is as follows. Up to this point, +it has been providing a stock of methods and general conceptions to +serve as tools in psychological study: consciousness and behavior, the +introspective and objective methods, reactions and tendencies to +reaction, native and acquired, and the part played by the nervous +system. Next comes a survey of reactions provided by the native +constitution, and after that a study of the process of learning or +acquiring reactions. Finally, there are several chapters devoted to +such topics as imagination, reasoning and will, which are ways in +which the individual utilizes his whole equipment, native and +acquired, in meeting the exigencies of life. + +{103} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. When does the individual come into existence as an individual? + When does he begin to acquire traits? How long does he continue to + unfold his native traits, and how long does he continue to acquire + traits? + +3. Which of the following elements of spoken language are native, + and which acquired? + + (a) Production of voice by the vocal cords and air blast from the lungs. + + (b) Varying the voice in loudness. + + (c) Varying the voice in pitch. + + (d) Production of vowels by different positions of the mouth. + + (e) Production of consonants by lip and tongue movements. + + (f) Combination of vowels and consonants into words. + + (g) Combination of words into idioms and grammatical sentences, + + (h) Attachment of meanings to words. + + (i) Sweet-toned voice. + + (j) Nasal twang. + + (k) Fluency in speaking. + + +4. In each of the following reactions, decide whether the connection + of stimulus and response is probably native or acquired: + + Stimulus Response + + (a) a sudden noise starting + + (b) a bright light blinking + + (c) a bright light shading your eyes + + (d) cold putting on coat + + (e) cold shivering + + (f) sight of a ball reaching for it + + (g) ball in the hand throwing it + + (h) slipping righting yourself + + (i) row of objects counting them + + (j) insulting language anger + + +REFERENCES + +Edward L. Thorndike, in Chapter I of his _Educational Psychology, +Briefer Course_, 1914, gives a general survey of the native factors in +mental life and behavior. + +{104} + +Hollingworth and Poffenberger, in their _Applied Psychology_, 1917, +devote Chapters II and III to the matter of mental heredity. + +Norsworthy and Whitley, in their _Psychology of Childhood_, devote +Chapters I and II to "original nature". + +C. B. Davenport, in his _Heredity and Eugenics_, presents evidence of +the importance of heredity in determining mental and moral traits. + +Yerkes and Bloomfleld, in a short article in the _Psychological +Bulletin_ for 1910, Vol. 7, pp. 253-263, under the title, "_Do Kittens +Instinctively Kill Mice?_", furnish a good illustration of the method +employed in distinguishing native from acquired reactions. + +{105} + + +CHAPTER VI + +INSTINCT + + +CONDUCT AS DETERMINED BY NATIVE REACTION-TENDENCIES + +Instinct is native behavior. It is contrasted with habit, knowledge, +or anything in the way of learned reactions. When the mother wasp +gathers a store of food suitable for young wasps, lays eggs beside the +food and covers the whole with a wall of mud, we know that her +behavior is instinctive because she has had no possible chance to +learn from older wasps. She has never seen a wasp's nest made, for +when the last preceding crop of nests was being made she was herself +an unhatched egg. Therefore, she cannot possibly know the use of the +nest with its eggs and store of food. She has no "reason" for building +the nest, no ulterior purpose, but is impelled to build the nest, +simply and solely for the sake of doing just that thing. Thus instinct +is contrasted with calculated or reasoned action as well as with +learned action. Calculated action is based on knowledge of cause and +effect, and this knowledge is acquired by the individual in the course +of his experience; but instinct is not based on the individual's +experience, but only on his native constitution. + +The case of the baby eating is exactly the same as that of the wasp. +The baby has not learned to eat, he knows nothing of the use of food +and therefore has no ulterior purpose in eating, he does not reason +about the matter, but eats simply because hunger is a native impulse +to eat. {106} Eating is an end in itself to a hungry baby, and not a +means to some further end; and that is what eating continues to be +even to the hungry adult, however much he may learn about the use of +food in maintaining life. From a broad philosophical point of view, +instinct may be seen to work towards some great end, such as the +preservation of the individual or the propagation of the race, but +from the individual's own point of view, it is directed simply towards +the performance of some particular act, or the accomplishment of some +particular result. + +If instinct, as a collective term, means native behavior, "an +instinct" is a unit of such behavior. Or, it is some unit of native +organization that equips the individual to behave in a certain way. +Different species of animals have different instincts, i.e., they are +differently organized by nature. The differences of organization lie +partly in the equipment of sense organs, partly in the equipment of +motor organs, and partly in the nerves and nerve centers that, being +themselves aroused by way of the sense organs, in turn arouse the +motor organs. + +The dependence of instinct on sensory equipment becomes clear when we +think of animals possessing senses that human beings lack. The +instinct of dogs to follow the scent depends on their keen sense of +smell. Bees have something akin to a sense of taste in their feet, and +follow their own trails by tasting them. Fishes have special sense +organs along their sides that are stimulated by water currents, and it +is in response to this stimulus that the fish instinctively keeps his +head turned upstream. + +The dependence of instinct on motor equipment is still more obvious. +The flying instinct of birds depends on the possession of wings, and +the swimming instinct of the seal depends on the fact that his limbs +have the peculiar form of flippers. The firefly instinctively makes +flashes of light, {107} and the electric eel instinctively discharges +his electric organ and gives his enemy a shock. + +But the core of an instinct is to be sought in the nerve centers, +since it is there that the coördination of the muscles is +accomplished. A wing or flipper would be of no use unless its muscles +were excited to action by the nerve centers, and it would be of very +little use unless the nerve centers were so organized as to arouse the +muscles in a certain combination, and with a certain force and rhythm. +In terms of the nervous system, an instinct is the activity of a team +of neurones so organized, and so connected with muscles and sense +organs, as to arouse certain motor reactions in response to certain +sensory stimuli. + + +The Difference Between an Instinct and a Reflex + +What we have said regarding instinct thus far could equally well be +said of reflex action. A reflex is a native reaction, and it is taken +care of by a team of neurones in the way just stated. We might speak +of a reflex as "instinctive", using this adjective as equivalent to +"native"; but we should shrink for some reason from speaking of the +pupillary reflex to light as an instinct, or of the "knee jerk +instinct", or the "swallowing instinct", or the "flexion instinct". +There is some difference between the typical reflex and the typical +instinct, though it is not very obvious what the difference is. + +The typical reflex is a much simpler act than the typical instinct, +but it is impossible to separate the two classes on this basis. At the +best, this would be a difference of degree and not of kind. Among +reflexes, some are simpler than others, but even the simplest is +compound in the sense of being a coördinated movement. The knee jerk +is simpler than the flexion reflex, and this is simpler than the +scratch {108} reflex, which consists of a rapid alternation of flexion +and extension by one leg, while the other is stiffly extended and +supports the trunk. Coughing, which would be called a reflex rather +than an instinct, consists of a similar alternation of inspiration and +forced expiration, and swallowing consists of a series of tongue, +throat and gullet movements. These compound reflexes show that we +cannot accept the simple definition that is sometimes given for an +instinct, that it is a compound of reflexes. Such a definition would +place coughing and swallowing among the instincts, and so do violence +to the ordinary use of the word. In point of complexity, we find a +graded series ranging from the pupillary reflex at one extreme to the +nesting or mating instinct at the other, and no sharp line can be +drawn on this score between the reflexes and the instincts. + +Another distinction has been attempted on the basis of consciousness. +Typically, it may be said, a reflex works automatically and +unconsciously, while an instinct is consciously impulsive. The reflex, +accordingly, would be an unconscious reaction, the instinct a +conscious reaction. But this distinction also breaks down on +examination of cases. The pupillary reflex, to be sure, is entirely +unconscious. But the flexion reflex is a little different. When +unimpeded, it occurs so promptly that we are scarcely aware of the +painful stimulus before the reaction has occurred. But let the +reaction be hindered--either voluntarily or, for instance, by the foot +being seized and held--and a strong conscious impulse is felt to pull +the leg away; so that here the flexion reflex would belong among the +instincts, according to the proposed distinction. + +Similar remarks would apply equally well to coughing, since a strong +impulse to cough is felt if the coughing movement is checked. +Sneezing, a protective reflex, is usually a slow reaction, giving time +for a conscious impulse to {109} sneeze before the reaction takes +place. The same is true of scratching and of swallowing, and of a +number of other reflexes. In short, it is impossible to draw a +satisfactory line between reflexes and instincts on the basis of +conscious impulse. + +These cases point the way, however, to what is probably the best +distinction. It was when the flexion reflex was _delayed_ that it +began to look like an instinct, and it was because sneezing was a +_slow_ response that it had something of the character of an instinct. +Typically, a reflex is a prompt reaction. It occurs at once, on the +occurrence of its stimulus, and is done with. What is characteristic +of the instinct, on the contrary, is the persisting "tendency", set up +by a given stimulus, and directed towards a result which cannot be +instantly accomplished. + + +An Instinct Is a Native Reaction-Tendency + +We would propose, then, to consider an instinct as an inner +adjustment, or tendency to reaction. It is this, rather than just a +reaction. When a stimulus promptly arouses a reaction, and that ends +the matter, we speak of reflex action--provided, of course, the +connection between stimulus and response is native. But when a +stimulus sets up a tendency to a reaction that cannot be immediately +executed, or towards an end-result which cannot immediately be +reached, and when the tendency so aroused persists for a time in +activity, and gives rise to preparatory reactions, then we speak of +instinct. + +The "broody" hen makes a good picture of instinct. When in this +condition she responds to a nestful of eggs, as she does not at other +times, by sitting persistently on them and keeping them covered. She +is in a certain "organic state" that facilitates this response. In the +absence {110} of any nestful of eggs, she shows a peculiar restless +behavior that indicates to one who knows hens that this one "wants to +set." The tendency that has been awakened in her cannot be satisfied +by any momentary act, but persists and governs her actions for a +considerable period. + +The nesting instinct of birds affords a still more complete example. +The end-result here, the finished nest, cannot be instantly had, and +the pair of birds keep on gathering materials and putting them +together until this end-result is present before their eyes. It is not +necessary to suppose that the birds have any plan or mental image of +what the nest is to be like; probably not. But their state, in the +nest-building season, is such that they are impelled to build, and the +tendency is not quieted till the completed nest is there. + +The mating instinct, in unsophisticated members of the human species, +is another perfect example. So is the hunting instinct in a dog; when +this instinct is aroused, the animal makes a lot of movements of +various sorts, responses to various particular stimuli, but evidently +these movements are not sufficient to quiet the tendency, for they +continue till the prey is captured. The behavior of a gregarious +animal when separated from his fellows shows the same sort of thing. +Take a young chick out of the brood and fence it away from the rest. +It "peeps" and runs about, attacking the fence at different points; +but such reactions evidently do not bring satisfaction, for it varies +them until, if a way out of the inclosure has been left, it reaches +the other chicks, when this series of acts terminates, and gives way +to something quite different, such as pecking for food. + +The persisting tendency does not produce the series of movements all +by itself, but, as was explained in speaking of tendencies in general, +coöperates with sensory stimuli in producing them. Clearly enough, the +nest-building bird, {111} picking up a twig, is reacting to that twig. +He does not peck at random, as if driven by a mere blind impulsion to +peck. He reacts to twigs, to the crotch in the tree, to the half-built +nest. Only, he would not react to these stimuli unless the nesting fit +were on him. The nest-building tendency favors response to certain +stimuli, and not to others; it facilitates certain reactions and +inhibits others. It facilitates reactions that are _preparatory_ to +the end-result, and inhibits others. + + +Fully and Partially Organized Instincts + +Insects afford the best examples of very highly organized instincts. +Their behavior is extremely regular and predictable, their progress +towards the end-result of an instinct remarkably straightforward and +sure. They make few mistakes, and do not have to potter around. By +contrast, the instincts of mammals are rather loosely organized. +Mammals are more plastic, more adaptable, and at the same time less +sure; and this is notably true of man. It would be a mistake to +suppose that man has few instinctive tendencies; perhaps he has more +than any other creature. But his instinctive behavior has not the +hard-and-fast, ready-made character that we see in the insects. Man is +by all odds the most pottering, hem-and-hawing of animals. Instinct +does not lead him straight to his goal, but makes him seek this way +and that till he finds it. His powers of observation, memory and +thought are drawn into the game, and thus instinct in man is +complicated and partly concealed by learning and reasoning. + +For example, when an insect needs a nest, it proceeds in orderly +fashion to construct a nest of the pattern instinctive to that species +of insect; but when a man needs a home, he goes about it in a +variable, try-and-try-again {112} manner, scheming, experimenting, +getting suggestions from other people, and finally producing--a +dugout, a tree house; a wigwam, a cliff dwelling--something that +differs altogether from many other human habitations, except in the +fact that it is a habitation and thus satisfies a need which is +undoubtedly as instinctive in man as in the insect. + +A fully organized instinct is one where the necessary preparatory +reactions are linked up closely with the main reaction-tendency, so +that, once the main tendency is aroused to activity, the preparatory +reactions follow with great sureness. The main team of neurones is +closely connected with the subordinate teams that give the preparatory +reactions; and these connections do not have to be acquired by +experience and training, but are well formed by native growth. Just +the right preparatory reactions are linked to the main tendency, so +that the whole series of acts is run off with great regularity. + +In a loosely organized instinct, the main tendency is not firmly +linked with any specific preparatory reactions, but is loosely linked +with a great many preparatory reactions, and so gives quite variable +behavior, which, however, leads on the whole towards the main goal. + +While a creature under the spell of a fully organized instinct is +busy, one driven by a loosely organized instinct may be better +described as restless. He tries this thing and that, and goes through +the kind of behavior that is called "trial and error". A closely knit +instinct, then, gives a perfectly definite series of preparatory +reactions, while a loosely organized instinct gives trial and error +behavior. We shall see later how trial and error furnishes a starting +point for learning, and how, in an animal that can learn, those among +the trial-and-error reactions that are actually preparatory to the +end-result become firmly attached to the main tendency, so that what +was by native constitution a loosely {113} organized instinct may +become, through the individual's experience, a closely organized +habit. If a man has occasion to build himself many homes, he comes, +after a while, to build almost as uniformly and surely as an insect. + + +Instincts Are Not Ancestral Habits + +The theory of inheritance of acquired traits has gone by the board; +biologists no longer accept it. Such traits as an individual's tanned +skin acquired by living in the tropics, horny hands acquired by hard +labor, immunity to measles acquired by having measles, big muscular +development acquired by gymnastics, are not transmitted by heredity to +the children of the individual who acquired these traits. + +Nor are acquired behavior traits transmitted by heredity. Learned +reactions are not so transmitted, knowledge is not, acquired skill is +not. Learn to cook, to typewrite, or pilot an airplane as perfectly as +possible, and your child will still have to learn all over again. You +may make your experience valuable to him by _teaching_ him, but not in +the way of heredity. + +Language affords a good test of this matter. A child's parents, and +all his ancestors for many generations, may have spoken the same +language, but that does not relieve the child of the necessity of +_learning_ that language. He does not inherit the language habits of +his ancestors. He has no native tendency to say "dog", or "chien", or +"hund", on sight of this animal. Here in America we have children born +of stocks that have spoken foreign languages for many generations; but +English becomes their "native tongue" after a generation or two here, +that is to say, as soon as the child hears English from infancy. + +In short, there is no likelihood whatever that any instinct {114} ever +originated out of a habit or learned reaction. If we could believe it +had so originated, that would furnish an easy explanation of the +origin of an instinct; but it is contrary to all the known facts. + + +Instincts Not Necessarily Useful in the Struggle for Existence + +Some of the best-known instincts, such as feeding or mating--or +hunting, or flight from danger, or the hibernation of frogs--are so +essential for the survival of the individual or the propagation of the +next generation that we tend to assume that all instinctive behavior +has "survival value", value, that is, towards the survival of the +individual or of the race. But this is an assumption, and it seems not +to be borne out by actual observations of instinctive behavior, since, +along with the definitely useful reactions, others occur that would +seem to have no survival value. Perhaps the crowing of the rooster at +dawn would be a case in point; or the elaborate bowing that is +observed in some kinds of birds. And there are the less definite, +rather random movements of squirming, kicking, running about, +wrinkling up the face, etc., that appear in young animals. We may well +hesitate before definitely asserting that these movements are of no +use for survival, but at least their use is not obvious, and there is +no reason for assuming that all instinctive behavior must necessarily +be useful. + +To be sure, the "struggle for existence" would eliminate individuals +who behaved in ways that seriously handicapped them in procuring food +or escaping from enemies; and therefore we should not expect to find +really harmful instincts preserved in the race. But a mode of behavior +might be neutral in this respect, or even slightly disadvantageous, +and yet not be weeded out unless the struggle for existence were very +keen. + +{115} + +The main point is that the psychologist should take instinctive +behavior as he finds it, and not allow himself to be prejudiced by the +assumption that instinct must necessarily be useful. That has to be +shown in each case, not assumed at the outset. + + +The So-called Instincts of Self-preservation and of Reproduction + +You will hear it stated, by some, that there are just two instincts, +and that all instinctive behavior belongs under the head of one or the +other of these two. The one is the instinct to preserve one's +individual life, and the other is the instinct to propagate the +species. Mating, nesting and care of the young come under the +reproductive instinct, while feeding, flight from danger, and shunning +extreme heat or cold are modes of self-preservation. This seems +logical enough, but it is very bad psychology. It amounts to a +classification of native reactions from an external point of view, +without any consideration of the way the individual is organized. + +Perhaps the most obvious objection to these two supposedly +all-inclusive instincts is found in what has just been said, to the +effect that some instinctive behavior has no known survival value. +This amounts to saying that some instincts do not serve either the +preservation of the individual or the propagation of the species; and +such a statement is probably true, especially of human instincts. + +But even if this objection should not hold, there is another, more +radical one. Neither of these two big "instincts" is a behavior unit +in any sense. Take the "instinct of self-preservation", for example. +It would certainly have to include both feeding and escape from +danger. But feeding and flight from danger do not belong in a single +series {116} of acts; they are two distinct series, and represent two +distinct tendencies. So distinct are they that, as we shall see in the +next chapter, they are antagonistic. If the danger-avoiding tendency +is aroused, the whole feeding and digestive activity is checked for +the time being. The two instincts are antagonistic, in their actual +operation; throw one into action, and you throw the other out. It is +only from an external point of view that the two can be classed +together; in the organization of the individual they are entirely +separate. + +Not much different is the "instinct of reproduction". In birds, to be +sure, there is a fairly continuous series of reactions, that begins +with mating, continues with nesting, laying eggs and incubating them, +and ends in the care of the young birds. But in mammals there is no +such continuous series of reproductive acts, but mating comes to a +close and an interval elapses in which there is no behavior going on +that has anything to do with reproduction. + +Before giving a detailed list of the various human instincts, we shall +do well to consider emotion, which is closely bound up with instinct. + + +{117} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. Explain the differences between these three; + + Action governed by instinct. + + Action governed by habit. + + Action governed by deliberation. + +3. What is the objection to each of the following expressions? + + (a) "The ex-soldier instinctively saluted when he met an officer + in the street." + + (b) "The bee knows by instinct how to construct the honeycomb." + +4. Why is it so difficult to find a valid distinction between instinct + and reflex action? + +5. Why are instincts more universal and uniform than habits? + +6. How is instinct an important matter to consider in a study of + human motives? + +7. Show how the behavior of a hungry child of six or eight years + fits the picture of a "loosely organized instinct". + + +REFERENCES + +William James in his _Principles of Psychology_, 1890, has a very +stimulating chapter on instinct, in Vol. II, pp. 383-441. + +John B. Watson, in Chapters IV and V of his _Behavior_, 1914, gives a +good account of the instincts of animals. + +{118} + + +CHAPTER VII + +EMOTION + +VARIOUS ORGANIC STATES, AND THE CONSCIOUS STATES THAT GO WITH THEM + +Joy, sorrow, fear, anger, amusement, disgust and curiosity illustrate +the meaning of the term "emotion". An emotion is a "moved" or +stirred-up state of mind. Or, since almost any such state of mind +includes also elements that are cognitive, like recognition of present +objects or memories of the past, we might better speak of emotion as +the stirred-up-ness present in a state of mind. The emotional part of +the total state may be so strong as to overshadow all other +components, or it may have less intensity down to zero. + +Such is emotion from the introspective point of view; but it can also +be observed objectively, and in fact there is more to say about it +objectively than introspectively. What appears to introspection as the +scarcely analyzable state of anger appears to the external observer as +clenched fists, flushed face, labored breathing, tense muscles, loud +voice, and many other describable details. Anger is a state of the +organism, or state of the individual, rather than simply a state of +mind. + +We shall have a more comprehensive definition, then, if we substitute +"state of the individual" for "state of mind", and say that emotion is +a stirred-up state of the individual. It is a conscious state, +however; an "unconscious emotion" would be practically a contradiction +in terms. Not but that a person may be angry without knowing it. He +may be {119} "unconscious of the fact" that he is angry; which simply +means that he is not introspectively observing himself and analyzing +his mental state. But it is impossible that his organic state shall be +all stirred up and his mental state meanwhile perfectly calm and +intellectual. In short, an emotion is a conscious stirred-up state of +the organism. + + +Organic States That Are Not Usually Classed as Emotions + +Something was said before about "organic states", under the general +head of tendencies to reaction. Fatigue was an example. Now we could +include fatigue under the term, "stirred-up state of the organism"; at +least, if not precisely "stirred-up", it is uneasy. It is a deviation +from the normal or neutral state. Also, it is often a conscious state, +as when we speak of the "tired feeling"; not a purely cognitive state, +either--not simply a recognition of the _fact_ that we are +fatigued--but a state of disinclination to work any longer. Though +fatigue is thus so much like an emotion that it fits under our +definition, it is not called an emotion, but a sensation or complex of +sensations. After hard muscular work, the state of the muscles makes +itself felt by "fatigue sensations", and the sum total of these, +coming from many different muscles, makes up the complex sensation of +fatigue. After prolonged mental work, there may be fatigue sensations +from the eyes and perhaps from the neck, which is often fixed rigidly +during strenuous mental activity; and there are perhaps other obscure +fatigue sensations originating in other organs and contributing to the +total sensation which we know as mental fatigue, or as general +fatigue. + +Many other organic states are akin to emotion in the same way. The +opposite of fatigue, the "warmed-up" condition, brought on by a +certain amount of activity after {120} rest, is a case in point. It is +a deviation from the average or neutral condition, in the direction of +greater readiness for activity. The warmed-up person _feels_ ready for +business, full of "ginger" or "pep"--in short, full of life. The name +"euphoria" which means about the same as "feeling good", is given to +this condition. Drowsiness is another of these emotion-like states; +but hunger and thirst are as typical examples as any. + + +How These Organic States Differ from Regular Emotions + +Now why do we hesitate to call hunger, fatigue and the rest by the +name of emotions? For two reasons, apparently. There are two salient +differences between an organic state such as hunger, and an emotion +such as anger. + +Hunger we call a sensation because it is _localized_; we feel it in +the region of the stomach. Thirst we localize in the throat, muscular +fatigue in the fatigued muscles, and there are several other organic +states that come to us as sensations from particular organs. This is +not entirely true of drowsiness or euphoria, but it is still less true +of the emotions, which we feel as in _us_, rather than in any _part_ +of us. We "feel mad all over", and we feel glad or sorry all over. It +is true that, traditionally, the heart is the seat of the emotions, +which means, no doubt, that they are felt in the region of the heart +more than elsewhere; and other ancient "seats", in the bowels or +diaphragm, agree to this extent that they point to the interior of the +trunk as the general location where the emotions are felt. But at best +the location of emotions is much less definite than that of the +sensations of fatigue or hunger. + +The second difference between the emotions and the other organic +states comes to light when we notice their causes. Thirst, as an +organic state, is a lack of water resulting {121} from perspiration, +etc.; hunger as an organic state results from using up the food +previously eaten; fatigue results from prolonged muscular activity. +Each of these organic states results naturally from some internal +bodily process; while, on the contrary, the exciting cause of an +emotion is usually something _external_ which has nothing directly to +do with the internal state of the body. Here I am, perfectly calm and +normal, my organic state neutral, when some one insults me and throws +me into a state of rage; this queer state seems to be inside me, +specially in the trunk. Now how can the sound of the insulting +person's voice produce any change in my insides? Evidently, by way of +the auditory nerve, the brain and lower centers, and the motor nerves +to the interior. While, then, organic states of the hunger class +result directly from internal physiological processes, the organic +state in an emotion is aroused by the brain, the brain itself being +aroused by some stimulus, usually external. + + +The Organic State in Anger + +But perhaps we are going too fast in assuming that there is any +peculiar internal state in emotion. Possibly our subjective +localization of anger in the trunk is all wrong, and everything there +is going on as usual. At least, the question is squarely before us +whether or not there is any internal bodily response in emotion. + +Suppose we have a tame cat, that knows us well, and, after feeding her +a good meal containing some substance that is opaque to the X-rays, +suppose we place her on a table and pass X-rays through her body, so +as to get a visible shadow of the stomach upon the plate of the X-ray +machine. Well and good; the cat is contentedly digesting her meal, and +the X-ray picture shows her stomach to be making rhythmical churning +movements. In comes a fox {122} terrier and barks fiercely at the cat, +who shows the usual feline signs of anger; but she is held in position +and her stomach kept under observation--when, to our surprise, the +stomach movements abruptly cease, not to begin again till the dog has +been gone for perhaps fifteen minutes. The churning movements of the +intestine cease along with those of the stomach, and, as other +experiments show, even the gastric juice stops flowing into the +stomach. The whole business of digestion halts during the state of +anger. So anger is an organic state, without doubt. At least in +cats--but the same is found to be true of man, and hence the excellent +rule not to get angry on a full stomach. + +Stomach-inhibition is not the only internal response during anger. The +heart, so long regarded as the seat of the emotions, does beat more +forcibly than usual; and the diaphragm, where the old Greeks located +the emotions, does make extra-strong breathing movements. There are +yet other and more curious changes that have recently been discovered +by the physiologists. + + +Glandular Responses During Emotion + +Thus far, we have been considering muscular responses, but now we must +turn our attention to the glands. The glands are often affected during +emotion, as witness the shedding of tears in grief, sweating in anger, +the dry mouth during fear due to inhibition of the salivary glands, +and the stoppage of the gastric juice during anger, as just noted. +These particular glands all pour out their secretions either upon the +skin or upon the mucous membrane of the mouth, stomach, etc.; and such +secretion is called "external" in distinction from the "internal +secretion" of certain other glands which may be called the glands of +internal secretion or the "endocrine glands". Internal secretions are +{123} discharged into the blood vessels, and carried by the blood to +all parts of the body, and they have important effects on the activity +of various organs. + +Of the endocrine glands, we will mention only two, which are known to +play an important part in mental life. + +The thyroid gland, situated in the lower part of the neck, is +necessary for normal brain activity. Without its internal secretion, +brain activity is very sluggish. + +The adrenals, two little glands located near the kidneys (whence their +name, though they have nothing to do with the kidney in function), +have a close connection with such emotions as anger. In the normal or +neutral state of the organism, the adrenal secretion oozes slowly into +the blood, and has a tonic influence on the heart and muscles. But let +an anger stimulus occur, and within a few seconds the adrenals are +secreting rapidly; all the organs soon get a big dose of the adrenal +secretion, and some of them are strongly affected by it. It hastens +and strengthens the action of the heart, it causes the large veins +inside the trunk to squeeze the blood lagging there back to the heart; +and by these two means greatly quickens the circulation. It also +affects the liver, causing it to discharge large quantities of stored +sugar into the blood. Thus the muscles of the limbs get an unusual +quantity of their favorite fuel supplied them, and also, by the +increased circulation, an unusual quantity of oxygen; and they are +enabled to work with unusual energy. The adrenal secretion also +protects them in some way against fatigue. + +While the adrenal secretion is thus exerting a very stimulating +influence on the limb muscles, it is having just the opposite effect +on the digestive organs; in fact it is having the effects described +above as occurring there during anger. These inhibitory effects are +started by the stomach nerves, but are continued by the action of the +adrenal juice {124} on the stomach walls. The rapid secretion of the +adrenal glands during anger is itself aroused by the nerve running to +this gland. + + +The Nerves Concerned in Internal Emotional Response + +There is a part of the nervous system called the "autonomic system", +so called because the organs it supplies--heart, blood vessels, +stomach, intestines and other internal organs, possess a large degree +of "autonomy" or independence. The heart, it will be remembered, beats +of itself, even when cut off altogether from any influence of the +nerve centers; and the same is true in some measure of the other +internal organs. Yet they are subject to the influence of the nerve +centers, which reinforce and inhibit their activity. Each internal +organ has a double supply of nerves, one nerve acting to reinforce the +activity of the organ and the other to inhibit it; and both the +reinforcing and the inhibiting nerves belong to the autonomic system. + +The autonomic is not separate from the main nervous system, but +consists of outgoing axons from centers in the cord and "medulla" +(part of the brain stem). It has three divisions, one from the +medulla, one from the middle reach of the cord, and one from the lower +part of the cord; and these three divisions are related to three +different emotional states. The upper division, from the medulla, +favors digestion by promoting the flow of gastric juice and the +churning movements of the stomach; and at the same time it seems to +favor the comfortable, rather lazy state that is appropriate for +digestion. The middle division (often called the "sympathetic", though +the name is rather misleading to a student of psychology, as it has +nothing to do with "sympathy") checks digestion, hastens the heart +beat, and stimulates the adrenal glands to rapid secretion, thus +giving {125} rise to the organic condition of anger. The lower +division has to do with the bladder, rectum and sex organs, and is +active during sex excitement, for one thing. + +The lower centers in the medulla and cord that give rise to the +autonomic nerves are themselves much under the influence of the +higher, cerebral centers. Thus appetite for food, and the flow of +gastric juice, can be aroused by the sight of good food, or by hearing +or reading about food, or even by merely thinking of food; and both +anger and sex appetite can be aroused in corresponding ways. + +We should notice right here the antagonism that exists between the +middle division of the autonomic and the other two. Suppose the upper +division is active, as in comfortable digestion, when an angering +stimulus supervenes; then, as we have seen, digestion halts, the upper +autonomic is shunted out of action by the middle division. In the same +way, sex appetite is shunted out by anger. + + +The Emotional State as a Preparatory Reaction + +An emotion is often spoken of as a disturbance of the normal quiet +state, and as if it represented a breakdown of the organism's +machinery. Anger or fear is often a nuisance in civilized life, and +any strong emotion is apt to disturb mental work or skilled manual +work. But if we think ourselves back into a primitive condition of +life, when anger means a fight, we see that the organic response in +anger makes a first-class preparation for the fight. Rapid +circulation, abundant muscular fuel, protection from fatigue--these +are all positively useful; and the halting of digestion is useful also +in relieving the circulation from taking care of an activity that can +afford to wait. + +What we have been calling the "organic state in anger" occurs also in +_fear_ of the strong type (as distinguished from {126} fear +paralysis), and in certain other states that are not exactly either +fear or anger, such as the state of a football player before the game, +or the state of a student about to take an examination. It is the +state of _excitement_ or of being "all keyed up". So far as known, the +organic response (including the adrenal secretion) is the same in +these various instances of excitement: anger, fear, zeal and so on. +When an individual is in this organic state, his muscles will work +harder and longer than is otherwise possible; and thus are explained +those remarkable cases of extraordinary strength and endurance in +great emergencies, as in escaping from a fire or from a bombarded +city. + +The fear-anger state of the organism, being certainly a state of +preparedness for attack or defense, suggests the following +generalization: "Any emotion represents internal preparation for some +type of overt action." This holds good, at least, for food appetite +and sex appetite. Regarding the other emotions, we know too little of +the internal responses that may occur, to judge whether or not they +have any utility as preparatory reactions. + + +"Expressive Movements," Another Sort of Preparatory Reactions + +Though we know little of any internal response in many of the +emotions, we almost always find some characteristic external movement, +such as smiling, scowling, pouting, sneering, sobbing, screaming, +shouting or dancing. By aid of such "expressive movements" we are +sometimes able to judge the emotional state of another person. But +what is the sense of these movements? At first thought, the question +itself is senseless, the movements are so much a matter of course, +while on second thought they certainly do seem odd. What sense is +there is protruding the lips when sulky, {127} or in drawing up the +corners of the mouth and showing the canine teeth in contempt? Perhaps +they are just odd tricks of instinct--for we agreed in the preceding +chapter not to assume all instinctive responses to be useful. Darwin, +however, after studying a great many of these expressive movements, +both in men and in animals, reached the conclusion that, if not of +present utility, they were survivals of acts that had been useful +earlier in the life of the individual or of the race. + +Shaking the head from side to side, in negation or unwillingness, +dates back to the nursing period of the individual's life, when this +movement was made in rejecting undesired food. Directly useful in this +case, it was carried over to analogous situations that aroused the +child's reluctance. + +Showing the teeth in scorn dates back, according to Darwin, to a +prehuman stage of development, and is seen in its useful form in +animals like the dog or gorilla that have large canine teeth. Baring +the teeth in these animals is a preparation for using the teeth; and +often, also, it frightens the enemy away and saves the bother of +actually attacking "small fry". The movement, Darwin urges, has +survived in the race, even after fighting with the teeth has largely +disappeared. + +Many other expressive movements are traced back in a similar way, +though it must be admitted that the racial survivals are usually less +convincing than those from the infancy of the individual. The nasal +expression in disgust was originally a defensive movement against bad +odors; and the set lips of determination went primarily with the set +glottis and rigid chest that are useful in lifting heavy weights or in +other severe muscular efforts. Such movements, directly useful in +certain simple situations, become linked up with analogous situations +in the course of the {128} individual's experience. Many of them, +certainly, we can regard as preparatory reactions. + + +Do Sensations of These Various Preparatory Reactions +Constitute the Conscious State of Emotion? + +No one can doubt that some of the bodily changes that occur during an +emotion make themselves felt as sensations. Try this experiment: +pretend to be angry--it is not hard!--go through the motions of being +angry, and notice what sensations you get. Some from the clenched +fist, no doubt; some from the contorted face; some from the neck, +which is stiff and quivering. In genuine anger, you could sense also +the disturbed breathing, violent heart beat, hot face. The internal +responses of the adrenal glands and liver you could not expect to +sense directly; but the resulting readiness of the limb muscles for +extreme activity is sometimes sensed as a feeling of tremendous +muscular power. + +Now lump together all these sensations of bodily changes, and ask +yourself whether this mass of sensations is not identical with the +angry state of mind. Think all these sensations away, and ask yourself +whether any angry feeling remains. What else, if anything, can you +detect in the conscious emotional state besides these blended +sensations produced by internal and external muscular and glandular +responses? + +If you conclude that the conscious emotion consists wholly of these +sensations, then you are an adherent of the famous James-Lange theory +of the emotions; if you find any other component present in the +emotion, you will find this theory unacceptable. + +{129} + +The James-Lange Theory of the Emotions + +The American psychologist James, and the Danish psychologist Lange, +independently of each other, put forward this theory in the early +eighties of the last century, and it has ever since remained a great +topic for discussion. According to the theory, the emotion is the _way +the body feels_ while executing the various internal and expressive +movements that occur on such occasions. The "stirred-up state of mind" +is the complex sensation of the stirred-up state of the body. Just as +fatigue or hunger is a complex of bodily sensations, so is anger, fear +or grief, according to the theory. + +James says, we do not tremble because we are afraid, but are afraid +because we tremble. By that he means that the conscious state of being +afraid is composed of the sensations of trembling (along with the +sensations of other muscular and glandular responses). He means that +the mental state of recognizing the presence of danger is not the +stirred-up state of fear, until it has produced the trembling and +other similar responses and got back the sensations of them. "Without +the bodily states following on the perception"--i.e., perception of +the external fact that arouses the whole emotional reaction--"the +latter would be purely cognitive in form, pale, colorless, destitute +of emotional warmth. We might then see the bear, and judge it best to +run, receive the insult, and deem it right to strike, but we should +not actually _feel_ afraid or angry." + +It has proved very difficult to submit this theory to a satisfactory +test. The only real test would be to cut off sensations from the +interior of the trunk entirely; in which case, if the theory is right, +the conscious emotion should fail to appear, or at least lack much of +its "emotional warmth". Evidence of this sort has been slow in coming +in. One or {130} two persons have turned up at nerve clinics, +complaining that they no longer had any emotions, and were found to +have lost internal bodily sensation. These cases strongly support the +theory, but others have tended in the opposite direction. The fact +that the internal response is the same in anger, and in fear of the +energetic type, shows that the difference between these emotions must +be sought elsewhere. Possibly sufficient difference could be found in +the expressive movements, or in minor internal responses not yet +discovered. If not, the theory would certainly seem to have broken +down at this point. + +In any case, there is no denying the service done by the James-Lange +theory in calling attention to bodily sensations as real components of +the conscious emotional state. + + +Emotion and Impulse + +Most people are rather impatient with the James-Lange theory, finding +it wholly unsatisfactory, though unable to locate the trouble +precisely. They know the theory does not ring true to them, that is +all. Now the trouble lies just here: what they mean by "being afraid" +is "wanting to get away from the danger", what they mean by "being +angry" is "wanting to strike the offending person", and in general +what they mean by any of the named "emotions" is not a particular sort +of "stirred-up conscious state", but an _impulse_ towards a certain +action or a certain result. Evidently it would be absurd to say we +want to get away from the bear because we tremble, or that until we +started to tremble we should be perfectly indifferent whether the bear +got us or not. + +The tendency to escape is aroused directly by the perception of +danger; of that there can be no doubt. It does not depend on +trembling, but for that matter neither does it depend on _feeling_ +afraid. Sometimes we recoil from a {131} sudden danger before +experiencing any thrill of fear, and are frightened and tremble the +next moment, after we have escaped. The stirred-up state develops more +slowly than the tendency to escape. The seen danger directly arouses +an adjustment towards the end-result of escape, and both the +preparatory bodily responses and the feeling of fear develop after +this adjustment has been set up. If the end-result is reached +instantly, the preparatory reactions and the feeling may not develop +at all, or they may put in an appearance after the main act is all +over. There is nothing in all this that speaks either for or against +the James-Lange theory. + +These statements need further elucidation, however. Notice, first, +that psychology makes a perfectly proper and important distinction +between emotion and impulse. In terms of consciousness, emotion is +"feeling somehow", and impulse is "wanting to do something". In +behavior terms, emotion is an organic state, and impulse an adjustment +of the nerve centers towards a certain reaction. An impulse is a +conscious tendency. + +Since emotion and impulse so often go together, common sense does not +bother to distinguish them, and the common names for the "emotions" +are more properly names of impulses. Fear means the impulse to escape, +rather than any specific stirred-up state. Psychology has, indeed, +made a mistake in taking over these names from common speech and +trying to use them as names of specific emotional states. We were +having some difficulty, a few moments ago, in finding any great +distinction between fear and anger, considered as emotional +states--just because we were overlooking the obvious fact that "fear" +is an impulse to escape from something, while "anger" is an impulse to +get at something and attack it. The adjustments are very different, +but the organic states are much alike. + +{132} + +The organic state in fear or anger cannot generate the escape or +fighting tendency, since the two tendencies are so different in spite +of the likeness of the organic state. The tendencies are aroused +directly by the perception of the dangerous or offensive object. The +order of events is as follows. The stimulus that sets the whole +process going is, let us say, a bear in the woods. First response: +seeing the bear. Second response: recognizing the dangerous situation. +Third response: adjustment towards escape. Fourth response (unless +escape is immediate): internal preparatory reactions, adrenal, etc.; +also, probably, external expressive movements and movements steered in +the general direction of escape. Fifth response: conscious stirred-up +state consisting of blended sensations of all these preparatory +reactions. Sixth response (by good luck): definitive escape reaction. +Seventh response: satisfaction and quiescence. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 24.--Here the stimulus-response diagram is +complicated to take account of the emotional state. The ellipse here +stands for the brain. S arouses T, a tendency towards the response R. +But T also arouses P, a bodily state of preparedness, and sensations +(E) of this bodily state, together with T, constitute the conscious +state of the individual while he is tending towards the response, or +end-result, R.] + + +Emotion Sometimes Generates Impulse + +Typically, impulse generates emotion. The reaction tendency is primary +and the emotion secondary. + +But suppose the organic state of fear to be {133} present--never mind +how it got there--might it not act like hunger or fatigue, and +generate a fear impulse? Could it not be that a person should first be +fearful, without knowing what he was afraid of and without really +having anything to be afraid of; and then, as it were, _find_ +something to be afraid of, something to justify his frightened state? +This may be the way in which abnormal fears sometimes arise: a +naturally timid individual is thrown by some obscure stimulus into the +state of fear, and then attaches this fear to anything that suggests +itself, and so comes to be afraid of something that is really not very +terrific, such as the number two, "I mustn't do anything twice, that +would be dangerous; if I do happen to do it twice, I have to do it +once more to avoid the danger; and for fear of inadvertently stopping +with twice, it is best always to do everything three times and be +safe." That is the report of a naturally timorous young man. We all +know the somewhat similar experience of being "nervous" or "jumpy" +after escaping from some danger; the organic fear state, once aroused, +stays awhile, and predisposes us to make avoiding reactions. In the +same way, let a man be "all riled up" by something that has happened +at the office, and he is likely to take it out on his wife or +children. Slightly irritating performances of the children, that would +usually not arouse an angry reaction, do so this evening, because that +thing at the office has "made him so cross." + +In the same way, let a group of people get into a very mirthful state +from hearing a string of good jokes, and a hearty laugh may be aroused +by a feeble effort that at other times would have fallen flat. + +In such cases, the organic state, once set up in response to a certain +stimulus, persists after the reaction to that stimulus is finished and +predisposes the individual to make the same sort of reaction to other +stimuli. + +{134} + +Emotion and Instinct + +Anger, fear, lust, the comfortable state appropriate to digestion, +grief (the state of the weeping child), mirth or amusement, disgust, +curiosity, the "tender emotion" (felt most strongly by a mother +towards her baby), and probably a few others, are "primary emotions". +They occur, that is to say, by virtue of the native constitution, and +do not have to be learned or acquired through experience. They are +native states of mind; or, as modes of behavior, they are like +instincts in being native behavior. + +One distinction between emotional and instinctive behavior is that the +emotion consists of internal responses, while the instinct is directed +outwards or at least involves action on external objects. Another +distinction is that the emotional response is something in the nature +of a preparatory reaction, while the instinct is directed towards the +end-reaction. + +The close connection of emotion and instinct is fully as important to +notice as the distinction between them. Several of the primary +emotions are attached to specific instincts: thus, the emotion of fear +goes with the instinct to escape from danger, the emotion of anger +goes with the fighting instinct, the emotion of lust with the mating +instinct, tender emotion with the maternal instinct, curiosity with +the exploring instinct. Where we find emotion, we find also a tendency +to action that leads to some end-result. + +It has been suggested, accordingly, that each primary emotion is +simply the "affective" phase of an instinct, and that every instinct +has its own peculiar emotion. This is a very attractive idea, but up +to the present it has not been worked out very satisfactorily. Some +instincts, such as that for walking, seem to have no specific emotion +attached to them. Others, like anger and fear, resemble each other +very {135} closely as organic states, though differing as impulses. +The really distinct emotions (not impulses) are much fewer than the +instincts. + +The most important relationship between instinct and emotion is what +we have seen in the cases of anger and a few others, where the emotion +represents bodily readiness for the instinctive action. + + +The Higher Emotions + +We have been confining our attention in this chapter to the primary +emotions. The probability is that the higher emotions, esthetic, +social, religious, are derived from the primary in the course of the +individual's experience. + +Primary emotions become refined, first by modifications of the motor +response, by which socially acceptable reactions are substituted for +the primitive crying, screaming, biting and scratching, guffawing, +dancing up and down in excitement, etc.; second by new attachments on +the side of the stimulus, such that the emotion is no longer called +out by the original simple type of situation (it takes a more serious +danger, a subtler bit of humor, to arouse the emotional response); and +third by combination of one emotion with another. An example of +compound emotion is the blend of tenderness and amusement awakened in +the friendly adult by the actions of a little child. Hate is perhaps a +compound of anger and fear, and pity a compound of grief and +tenderness. There are dozens of names of emotions in the +language--resentment, reverence, gratitude, disappointment, +etc.--which probably stand for compound emotions rather than for +primary emotions, but the derivation of each one of them from the +primary emotions is a difficult task. The emotional life cannot be +kept apart from the life of ideas, for the individual is a good deal +of a unit. + +{136} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. Make a list of 20 words denoting various emotional states. + +3. Trace the expressive facial movement of pouting back to its + probable origin in the history of the individual. + +4. What internal nerves are concerned with digestion? With fear? + +5. Show by diagrams the differences between (a) the common-sense + theory of the emotions, (b) the James-Lange theory, (c) the + James-Lange theory modified to take full account of the + reaction-tendency. + +6. Make a list of objections to the James-Lange theory, and + scrutinize each objection carefully, to see + + (a) whether it really attacks the theory, or misconceives it. + + (b) whether it carries much or little weight. + +7. Act out several emotions, (a) by facial expression alone, and + (b) by facial expression plus gestures, and let another person + guess what emotion you are trying to express. How many times does + he guess right under (a), and under (b)? + +8. Discuss the relative practical importance of emotion and impulse. + + +REFERENCES + +For the James-Lange theory, see the chapter on the emotions by William +James, in his _Principles of Psychology_, 1890, Vol. II, pp. 442-485. + +For Darwin's views on expressive movements, see his _Expression of the +Emotions in Man and Animals_, first published in 1872. + +For pictures of facial expression in various emotions, see Antoinette +Feleky, in the _Psychological Review_ for 1914, Vol. 21, pp. 33-41. + +For the internal physiological changes, see Walter B. Cannon's _Bodily +Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and Rage_, 1915. + +For an interesting and important view of the close connection between +emotion and instinct, see William McDougall's _Introduction to Social +Psychology_, Chapter II. + +{137} + + +CHAPTER VIII + +INVENTORY OF HUMAN INSTINCTS AND PRIMARY EMOTIONS + +A LIST OF THE NATIVE STOCK OF TENDENCIES AND OF +THE EMOTIONS THAT SOMETIMES GO WITH THEM. + +It would be a great mistake to suppose that instinct was important +only in animal or child psychology, because the human adult governed +his conduct entirely by reason and calculation of consequences. Man +does not outgrow instinct, any more than he outgrows emotion. He does +not outgrow the native reaction-tendencies. These primitive motives +remain in force, modified and combined in various ways, but not +eliminated nor even relegated to an unimportant place. Even in his +most intelligent actions, the adult is animated by motives that are +either plain instincts or else derivatives of the instincts. According +to some of the leaders in psychology, he has no other motives than +these; according to this book, as will be set forth later, there are +"native likes and dislikes" (for color, tone, number, persons, etc.) +to be placed beside the instincts as primary motives; but, according +to either view, the instincts are extraordinarily important in the +study of motivation, and a complete and accurate list of them is very +much to be desired. Life is a great masquerade of the instincts, and +it is not only entertaining to unmask them, but illuminating as well. + +A complete account of an instinct would cover the following points: +the stimulus that naturally arouses it, the end-result at which it is +aimed, the preparatory reactions that occur, external and internal; +and also, from the {138} introspective side, the conscious impulse, +the peculiar emotional state (if any), and the special sort of +satisfaction that comes when the end-result is reached. Further, we +should know what modifications or disguises the instinct takes on in +the course of experience--what new stimuli acquire the power of +arousing it, what learned reactions are substituted for the native +preparatory and final reactions, and what combinations occur between +the instinct in question and other reaction-tendencies. + +Besides all this, it would be very desirable to present convincing +evidence that each instinct listed is a genuine instinct, a part of +the native equipment, and not something built up by experience and +training. It is rather absurd, the free and easy way in which an +instinct is often assumed, simply to fit behavior which needs to be +explained--a money getting instinct, for example, or a teacher-hating +instinct. Since money and teachers do not exist in a state of nature, +there can be no instincts specifically related to them; and it is +incumbent on the psychologist to show how such acquired tendencies are +derived from the native tendencies. + +The full program outlined above being much too extensive to follow out +completely in this chapter, we shall only mention a few salient points +under each instinct. We shall try to point out the primitive behavior +of the child, that reveals the instinct at its lowest terms, and give +some hint also of its importance in adult behavior. + + +Classification + +Of all the instincts, two groups or classes stand out from the rest: +the responses to organic needs, and the responses to other persons. +The first class includes eating, avoiding injury, and many others; the +second class includes the herd instinct, the mating instinct and the +parental instinct, these three and perhaps no others. + +{139} + +These two groups out, the rest are rather a miscellaneous collection, +including the "random" or playful activity of young children, +locomotion, vocalization, laughter, curiosity, rivalry and fighting. +They might be named the "non-specific instincts", because the stimulus +for each is not easy to specify, being sometimes another person, so +that this group has great social importance, but sometimes being +impersonal. This third class might also be called the "play +instincts", since they are less essential than the other classes for +maintaining the individual life or for propagating the species; and +are, we may say, less concerned with the struggle for existence than +with the joy of living. + +Our classification then has three heads: + + (1) Responses to organic needs, + (2) Responses to other persons, + (3) Play responses. + + +Responses to Organic Needs + +Something has already been said [Footnote: See above, pp. 79-81, 112.] +of the manner in which an organic state, such as lack of water, acting +on internal sensory nerves, arouses in the nerve centers an adjustment +towards an end-result, and how, if the end-result cannot immediately +be attained, preparatory reactions occur, the preparatory reactions +being in some cases closely attached, by nature, to the main tendency, +and in other cases only loosely attached so that the tendency leads to +trial and error behavior. The reactions that are nearest to the +end-result are likely to be closely attached to the main tendency, +while those that are farther from the end-result are loosely attached. +Thus, in the case of _thirst_, the drinking movement itself is about +all, in man, that is purely instinctive, {140} and the way of getting +water to the mouth, or the mouth to the water, is a matter for trial +and error, and only becomes fixed as the result of a process of +learning. Still less can we mention any specific water-seeking +reactions, in the human being, that are provided by the native +constitution. Yet the whole business of relieving thirst is directed +by the native thirst-impulse, and to that extent is an instinctive +activity. And shall we say that so simple a matter as meeting this +organic need is below the dignity of psychology, and can have little +influence on the behavior of mankind? Hardly, when we think of the +rôle played by springs, wells and drinking places of all kinds in the +life of the race, of aqueducts and reservoirs, of all the beverages +that have been invented, and of all the people whose job it has been +to provide and dispense them. To be sure, any beverage with a taste, +or a "kick", is not simply a thirst-reliever, but makes some +additional appeal, good or bad; but all this simply illustrates the +way instincts become modified, by combination with other instincts, +and by the learning and fixing of various preparatory reactions that +were not provided, ready-made, in the native constitution. The +drinking instinct, or thirst impulse, is a very good example of this +whole class of organic instincts. + + +Instincts connected with hunger. + +Here again, the reactions nearest to the end-result (food in the +stomach) are provided by nature. Sucking and swallowing appear at +birth, chewing with the appearance of the teeth; and the infant also +makes what seem to be instinctive movements of seeking the breast, as +well as movements of rejecting it when satiated and of spitting out +bad-tasting food. Putting food (and other things) into the mouth by +the hands seems almost instinctive, and yet it has to be fixed by +trial and error. Anything like definite food-seeking behavior, +amounting to a _hunting_ instinct, scarcely gets a chance to show +itself in {141} the human child, because his food is provided for him. +In many animals, hunting is a highly organized instinct; thus, +crouching, stalking, springing and teasing the mouse when caught, have +been proved to be instinctive in young cats. Some animals have +definite food-storing instincts also, and possibly food-storing shows +the acquisitive or collecting tendency in its lowest terms. Possibly, +that is to say, hunting and collecting, as well as disgust (primarily +of bad-tasting or bad-smelling food), are originally parts of the +food-getting behavior, having the general character of reactions +preparatory to eating. However this may be, we can easily see the +great importance of the hunger motive in human life; we have only to +consider the matter in the same way as we considered thirst just +above. + +Breathing and air-getting. + +Breathing, obviously a native reaction, is ordinarily automatic and +needs no preparatory reactions, simply because air is so easy to get. +But let breathing be difficult, for any reason, and the stifling +sensation is as impulsive as hunger or thirst. The stuffy air in a +cave or in a hole under a haymow will lead a child to frantic escape. +Possibly the delight in being out of doors which shows itself in young +children, and is not lost in adults, represents a sort of air-hunting +instinct, parallel to food-hunting. Closely connected with breathing +is the function of circulation, automatic for the most part; and we +should mention also the organic needs of waste-elimination, which give +impulsive sensations akin to hunger and thirst, and lead to more or +less organized instinctive reactions. + + +Responses to heat and cold. + +The warm-blooded animals, birds and mammals, have the remarkable power +of keeping the body temperature constant (at 98-99 degrees Fahrenheit, +in man, somewhat higher in birds), in spite of great variations in the +external temperature to which the body is exposed, and in spite of +great variations in the {142} amount of heat generated in the body by +muscular exercise. Sweating and flushing of the skin are reactions to +heat, and prevent the body temperature from rising; paling of the +skin, shivering and general muscular activity are responses to cold +and prevent the body temperature from falling. Shrinking from great +heat or cold are also instinctive, while seeking shelter from the heat +or cold is a preparatory reaction that is not definitely organized in +the native constitution of man, but gives rise to a great variety of +learned reactions, and plays a considerable part in life. + + +Shrinking from injury. + +The "flexion reflex" of the arm or leg, which pulls it away from a +pinch, prick or burn, is the type of a host of defensive +reactions--winking, scratching, rubbing the skin, coughing, sneezing, +clearing the throat, wincing, limping, squirming, changing from an +uncomfortable position--most or all of them instinctive reactions. +With each goes some sort of irritating sensation, as pain, itching, +tickling, discomfort; and a conscious impulse to get rid of the +irritation is often present. When the simpler avoiding reactions do +not remove the irritating stimulus, they are repeated more vigorously +or give way to some bigger reaction tending towards the same result. +The climax of the avoiding reactions is flight or running away. Akin +to flight are cowering, shrinking, dodging or warding off a blow, +huddling into the smallest possible space, getting under cover, +clinging to another person; and most or all of these, too, are +instinctive reactions. With flight and the other larger +danger-avoiding reactions there is often present, along with the +impulse to escape, the stirred up organic and conscious state of +_fear_. + +The stimuli that arouse movements of escape are of two sorts: those +that directly cause some irritating sensation, and those that are +simply signs of danger. The smaller avoiding reactions--flexion +reflex, coughing, etc.--are {143} aroused by stimuli that are directly +painful or irritating; whereas flight, cowering, etc., are mostly +responses to mere signs of danger. A "sign of danger" is usually seen +or heard at some distance, not felt directly on or in the body. Now, +while avoiding reactions are attached by nature to the irritating +stimuli, it is not at all clear whether escape movements are +_natively_ attached to any signs of danger, or, if they are, to what +particular signs of danger they are attached. What visual or auditory +stimuli, that are not directly irritating, will arouse escape +movements in a young child? For the youngest children, no such stimuli +have been found. You can easily get avoiding reactions from a little +baby by producing pain or discomfort; you can get the clinging +response by letting the child slip when he is being held in your arms; +and you get crying and shrinking on application of a loud, grating +noise, such a noise as is irritating in itself without regard to what +it may signify. But you cannot get any shrinking from stimuli that are +not directly irritating. + +For example, you get no sign of fear from a little child on suddenly +confronting him with a furry animal. With older children, you do get +shrinking from animals, but it is impossible to be sure that the older +child has not _learned_ to be afraid of them. I have seen a child of +two years simply laugh when a large, strange dog came bounding towards +him in the park; but a year later he would shrink from a strange dog. +Whence the change? There are two possibilities: either a native +connection between this stimulus and the shrinking response only +reached its maturity when the child was about three years old--and +there is nothing improbable in this--or else the child, though +actually never bitten by a dog, had been warned against dogs by his +elders or had observed his elders shrinking from dogs. Children do +pick up fears in this way; for example, children who are {144} +naturally not the least bit afraid of thunder and lightning may +acquire a fear of them from adults who show fear during a +thunderstorm. + +On the whole, the danger-avoiding reactions are probably not linked by +nature to any special signs of danger. While the emotion of fear, the +escape impulse, and many of the escape movements are native, the +attachment of these responses to specific stimuli--aside from directly +irritating stimuli--is acquired. Fear we do not learn, but we learn +what to fear. + + +Crying. + +We have the best of evidence that this is a native reaction, since the +baby cries from birth on. He cries from hunger, from cold, from +discomfort, from pain, and, perhaps most of all, as he gets a little +older, from being thwarted in anything he has set out to do. This last +stimulus gives the "cry of anger", which baby specialists tell us +sounds differently from the cries of pain and of hunger. Still, there +is so much in common to the different ways of crying that we may +reasonably suppose there is some impulse, and perhaps some emotional +state, common to all of them. The common emotion cannot be anger, or +hunger, or discomfort or pain. To name it grief or sorrow would fit +the crying of adults better than that of little children. The best +guess is that the emotional state in crying is the feeling of +_helplessness_. The cry of anger is the cry of helpless anger; anger +that is not helpless expresses itself in some other way than crying; +and the same is true of hunger, pain and discomfort. Crying is the +reaction appropriate to a condition where the individual cannot help +himself--where he wants something but is powerless to get it. The +helpless baby sets up a wail that brings some one to his assistance; +that is the utility of crying, though the baby, at first, does not +have this result in view, but simply cries because he is hungry and +helpless, uncomfortable and {145} helpless, thwarted and helpless. The +child cries less as he grows older, because he learns more and more to +help himself. + +With the vocal element of crying goes movement of the arms and legs, +which also has utility in attracting attention; but what may be the +utility of shedding copious tears remains a mystery, in spite of +several ingenious hypotheses that have been advanced to explain it. + + +Fatigue, rest and sleep. + +That fatigue, primarily an organic state, gives rise to fatigue +sensations and to a neural adjustment for rest--a disinclination to +work any longer--and that drowsiness is a somewhat different organic +state that gives an inclination to sleep--all this has been +sufficiently set forth in earlier chapters. Going to sleep is a +definite act, an instinctive response to the drowsy state. In the way +of preparatory reactions, we find many interesting performances in +birds and mammals, such as the curling up of the dog or cat to sleep, +the roosting of hens, the standing on one leg of some birds; and we +see characteristic positions adopted by human beings, but do not know +how far these are instinctive and how far acquired. Closing the eyes +is undoubtedly a native preparatory reaction for sleep. + +Like the other responses to organic needs, rest and sleep figure +pretty largely in the behavior of the adult, as in finding or +providing a good place to sleep. Certainly if fatigue and sleep could +be eliminated, as some over-enthusiastic workers have pretended to +hope, life would be radically changed. + + +Instinctive Responses to Other Persons + +We are next to look for action and emotion aroused by persons, +specifically--not by persons and things alike. Fear can be aroused by +persons, but also by things. In a social animal, such as man, almost +any instinct comes to have {146} social bearings. Eating and drinking +become social matters, and all the organic instincts figure in the +placing and making of a home. Home is a place of shelter against heat +and cold, it is a refuge from danger, it is where you eat and where +you sleep. It meets all these organic needs but--it is specially where +"your people" are. + +Home is a place where _unlike_ persons foregather, male with female, +adults with children, and thus it symbolizes the "family instincts", +mating and child-care, which are responses to persons unlike in sex or +age. But home also illustrates very well the herd instinct, which is a +response to like persons, "birds of a feather flocking together". It +is not the single home that illustrates this, but the almost universal +grouping of homes into villages or cities. + + +The herd instinct or gregarious instinct. + +It might be argued that a city or village was the result of economic +causes, or, in the olden days, a means of protection against enemies, +and not a direct satisfaction of any instinct in man to flock +together. But often a family who know perfectly well that their +economic advantage demands their remaining where they are, in some +isolated country spot, will pull up stakes and accept an inferior +economic status in the city, just because the country is too lonely +for them. One woman, typical of a great many, declined to work in a +comfortable and beautiful place in the country, because "she didn't +want to see trees and rocks, she wanted to see people". There is no +doubt that man belongs by nature with the deer or wolf rather than +with solitary animals such as the lion. He is a gregarious creature. + +The gregarious instinct does not by any manner of means account for +all of man's social behavior. It brings men together and so gives a +chance for social doings, but these doings are learned, not provided +ready-made by the instinct. About all we can lay to the herd instinct +is uneasiness when {147} alone, seeking company, remaining in company, +and following the rest as they move from place to place. The feeling +of loneliness or lonesomeness goes with being alone, and a feeling of +satisfaction goes with being in company. + +Probably there is one more fact that belongs under the herd instinct. +A child is lonely even in company, unless he is allowed to +_participate_ in what the others are doing. Sometimes you see an adult +who is gregarious but not sociable, who insists on living in the city +and wishes to see the people, but has little desire to talk to any one +or to take part in any social activities; but he is the exception. As +a rule, people wish not only to be together but to do something +together. So much as this may be ascribed to the instinct, but no +more. "Let's get together and _do something_"--that is as far as the +gregarious instinct goes. _What_ we shall do depends on other motives, +and on learning as well as instinct. + + +The mating instinct. + +Attraction towards the opposite sex is felt by a small number of +children, by most young people beginning from 15 to 20 years of age, +by a minority not till a few years later, and, by a small number, +never at all. On account of the late maturing of this instinct, in +man, instinctive behavior is here inextricably interwoven with what +has been learned. A definite organic and emotional state, lust, goes +with this instinct. Preparatory reactions, called "courtship", are +very definitely organized in many animals, and often quite elaborate. +In man, courtship is elaborate enough, but not definitely organized as +an instinct; and yet it follows much the same line as we observe in +animal courtship. It begins with admiring attention to one of the +opposite sex, followed by efforts to attract that one's attention by +"display" (strutting, decoration of the person, demonstrating one's +prowess, especially in opposition to rivals). Then the male takes an +aggressive attitude, the {148} female a coy attitude; the male woos, +the female hangs back, and something analogous to pursuit and capture +takes place, except that the capture may be heartily accepted by both +parties. + +The "survival value" of this instinct is absolute; without it the race +would not long survive. But it has "play value" also, it contributes +to the joy of living as well as to the struggle for survival. There is +much in social intercourse, and in literature and art, that is +motivated by the sex impulse. Some would-be psychologists have been so +much impressed by the wide ramifications of the sex motive in human +conduct that they have attributed to it all play, all enjoyment, all +the softer and lighter side of life, even all the spiritual side of +life. One need only run over the long list of instincts, especially +those that still remain to be mentioned, in order to be convinced of +the one-sidedness of such a view. On the other hand, some moralists +have been so deeply impressed by the difficulties that arise out of +the sex motive, as to consider it essentially gross and bad; but this +is as false as the other view. The sex impulse is like a strong but +skittish horse that is capable of doing excellent work but requires a +strong hand at the reins and a clear head behind. It is a horse that +does not always pull well in a team; yet it is capable of fine +teamwork. It can be harnessed up with other tendencies, and when so +combined contribute some of its motive force to quite a variety of +human activities. + + +The parental or mothering instinct. + +In many species of animals, though not by any means in all, one or +both of the parents stays by the young till some degree of maturity is +reached. In some kinds of fish, it is the male that cares for the +young; in birds it is often both parents. In mammals it is always the +mother. Instinctively, the mammalian mother feeds, warms and defends +her young. Just as {149} instinctively, the human mother does the +same. This instinctive reaction to the little baby is attended by a +strong emotion, called, for want of a better name, the "tender +emotion". + +The strongest stimulus to arouse this instinct is the little, helpless +baby. The older child has to take second place with the mother, so +soon as there is a little baby there. After a child is weaned, and +after he is able to get about and do for himself to quite an extent, +he has less hold on the maternal instinct. The love and care that he +may still get is less a simple matter of instinct. + +Though the little baby is the strongest stimulus to this instinct, +older children and even adults, provided they are like the baby in +being winsome and helpless in some way, may arouse the same sort of +feeling and behavior, tender feeling and protective behavior. A pet +animal may arouse the same tendency, and a "darling little calf" or a +"cute little baby elephant" may awaken something of the same thrill. +Even a young plant may be tended with a devotion akin to the maternal. +The fact seems to be here, as with other instincts, that objects +similar to the natural stimulus may arouse the same impulse and +emotion. Love between the sexes is often a compound of sex attraction +and the mothering instinct; and it is interesting to watch a happily +mated couple each mothering the other. + +But is it allowable to speak of this instinct as present in the male +human being, or in any one not a mother? Undoubtedly the woman who has +recently become a mother is most susceptible to the appeal of a little +baby, but the response of other women and of girls to a baby is so +spontaneous that we cannot but call it instinctive. Men and boys have +no special desire to feed or cuddle a little baby, and are quite +contented to leave the care of the baby mostly to the "women folks". +But they do object strongly to seeing the {150} baby hurt or +ill-treated, and will respond by protecting it. Also, they like to +watch the baby act, and like to help it along in its efforts to do +things. This may be instinctive in the man; at least it reminds us of +the behavior of a mother cat or dog or horse, when she plays with her +young and stimulates them to action. When the mother cat brings a live +mouse for her half-grown kittens to practise on, she is acting +instinctively, and probably a man is obeying the same instinct when he +brings the baby a toy and derives pleasure from watching the baby's +attempts to use it. + +The parental instinct would thus seem to lie at the root of education, +considered as an enterprise of adults directed towards getting the +young to acquire the behavior of the race; and it also lies at the +root of charity, the desire to protect the helpless. + +Is there any instinct in the child answering to the parental, any +"filial" instinct, as it were? Psychologists have usually answered no, +but possibly they have been misled by the word "filial" and looked in +the wrong direction. The parental instinct is an instinct to give, and +the answering instinct would be one to take--not to give in return. It +is probably not instinctive for the child to do for the parent, but is +it not instinctive for the child to take from the parent, and to look +to the parent for what he wants? It is not exactly "unnatural conduct" +in a child to impose on his mother, as it would be in the mother to +impose on the child; but would it not be unnatural in a child to take +an unreceptive and distrustful attitude towards his mother? + +Filial love is different. It is not purely instinctive, but depends on +intelligence. It is only possible if the child has the intelligence to +see the parent as something besides a parent--as some one needing care +and protection--and if the child himself takes a parental attitude +towards the parent. But that is a grown-up attitude, seldom taken by +{151} young children. It is not the infantile instinct, which, if +there is such an instinct, is the spring of trustful, docile, +dependent, childlike and childish behavior. + + +The Play Instincts + +Any instinct has "play value", but some have also "survival value" and +so are serious affairs. Survival value characterizes the instincts we +have already listed, both the responses to organic needs and the +responses to other people. But there are other instincts with less of +survival value, but no less of play value, and these we call the play +instincts, without attaching any great importance to the name or even +to the classification. + + +Playful activity. + +The kicking and throwing the arms about that we see in a well-rested +baby is evidently satisfying on its own account. It leads to no result +of consequence, except indeed that the exercise is good for the +child's muscles and nerves. The movements, taken singly, are not +uncoordinated by any means, but they accomplish no definite result, +produce no definite change in external objects, and so seem random and +aimless to adult eyes. It is impossible to specify the stimulus for +any given movement, though probably stimuli from the interior of the +body first arouse these responses. They are most apt to occur during +the organic state of "euphoria", and tend to disappear during fatigue. + +There is a counter-tendency to this tendency towards general activity, +and that is _inertia_, the tendency towards inactivity or _economy of +effort_. Most pronounced in fatigue, this also appears in lassitude +and inert states that cannot be called fatigue because not brought on +by excessive activity. After sleep, many people are inert, and require +a certain amount of activity to "warm up" to the active condition. As +the child grows older, the {152} "economy of effort" motive becomes +stronger, and the random activity motive weaker, so that the adult is +less playful and less responsive to slight stimuli. He has to have +some definite goal to get up his energy, whereas the child is active +by preference and just for the sake of activity. + +During the first year or so of the child's life, his playful activity +takes shape in several ways. First, out of the great variety of the +random movements certain ones are picked out and fixed. This is the +way with putting the hand into the mouth or drumming on the floor with +the heels, and these instances illustrate the important fact that many +learned acts develop out of the child's random activity. Without play +activity there would be little work or accomplishment of the +distinctively human type. Second, certain specific movements, those of +locomotion and vocalization, appear with the ripening of the child's +native equipment, and take an important place in his play. Third, his +play comes to consist more and more of responses to external objects, +instead of to internal stimuli as at first. The playful responses to +external objects fall into two classes, according as they manipulate +objects or simply examine them. + +We have, then, a small group of instincts that is very closely related +to the fundamental instinct of random activity. + + +Locomotion. + +Evidence has already been presented [Footnote: See p. 95.] indicating +that walking is instinctive and not learned, so that the human species +is no exception to the rule that every species has its instinctive +mode of locomotion. Simpler performances which enter into the very +complex movement of walking make their appearance separately in the +infant before being combined into walking proper. Holding up the head, +sitting up, kicking with an alternate motion of the {153} two legs, +and creeping, ordinarily precede walking and lead up to it. + +What is the natural stimulus to locomotion? It is as difficult to say +as it is to specify the stimulus in other forms of playful activity. +From the fact that blind children are usually delayed in beginning to +walk, we judge that the sense of sight furnishes some of the most +effective stimuli to this response. Often the impulse attending +locomotion is the impulse to approach some seen object, but probably +some satisfaction is derived simply from the free movement itself. +There certainly is no special emotion going with locomotion. +Locomotion has, of course, plenty of "survival value", and might have +been included among the organic instincts. + +Some of the other varieties of human locomotion, such as running and +jumping, are probably native. Others, like hopping and skipping, are +probably learned. As to climbing, there is some evolutionary reason +for suspecting that an instinctive tendency in this direction might +persist in the human species, and certainly children show a great +propensity for it; while the acrobatic ability displayed by those +adults whose business leads them to continue climbing is so great as +to raise the question whether the ordinary citizen is right when he +thinks of man as essentially a land-living or surface-living animal. +As to swimming, the theory is sometimes advanced that this too is a +natural form of locomotion for man, and that, consequently, any one +thrown into deep water will swim by instinct. Experiments of this sort +result badly, the victim clutching frantically at any support, and +sometimes dragging down with him the theorist who is administering +this drastic sort of education. In short, the instinctive response of +a man to being in deep water is the same as in other cases of sudden +withdrawal of solid support; it consists in clinging and is attended +by the emotion of fear. + +{154} + +Vocalization. + +Crying at birth proves voice-production to be a native response, but +we are more interested just here in the playful cooing and babbling +that appear when the child is a few weeks or months old. This cheerful +vocalization is also instinctive, in all probability, since the baby +makes it before he shows any signs of responding imitatively to the +voices of other people. It seems to be one form of the random activity +that goes with euphoria. The child derives satisfaction not so much +from the muscular activity of vocalization as from the sounds that he +produces, so that deaf children, who begin to babble much like other +children, lag behind them as the months go by, from not deriving this +auditory satisfaction from the vocal activity. Though whistling, +blowing a horn, shaking a rattle and beating a drum are not native +responses, it is clear that the child naturally enjoys producing +sounds of various sorts. + +The baby's cheerful babbling is the instinctive basis on which his +speech later develops through a process of learning. + + +Manipulation. + +While the first random activity of the baby has nothing to do with +external objects, but simply consists of free movements of the arms +and legs, after a time these give place to manipulation of objects. +The baby turns things about, pulls and pushes them, drops them, throws +them, pounds with them. Thus he acquires skill in handling things and +also learns how things behave. This form of playful activity contains +the germ of constructiveness and of inventiveness, and will come into +view again under the head of "imagination." + + +Exploration or curiosity. + +Along with manipulation goes the examination of objects by the hand, +the mouth, the eyes and ears, and all the senses. Listening to a +sudden noise is one of the first exploratory reactions. Following a +moving light with the eyes, fixing the eyes upon a {155} bright +object, and exploring an object visually by looking successively at +different parts of it, appear in the first few months of the baby's +life. Exploration by the hands and by the mouth appear early. Sniffing +an odor is a similar exploratory response. When the child is able to +walk, his walking is dominated largely by the exploring tendency; he +approaches what arouses his curiosity, and embarks on little +expeditions of exploration. Similar behavior is seen in animals and is +without doubt instinctive. With the acquisition of language, the +child's exploration largely takes the form of asking questions. + +The stimulus that arouses this sort of behavior is something new and +unfamiliar, or at least relatively so. When an object has been +thoroughly examined, it is dropped for something else. It is when the +cat has just been brought into a strange house that she rummages all +over it from garret to cellar. A familiar object is "taken for +granted", and arouses little exploratory response. + +Quite a group of conscious impulses and emotions goes with exploratory +behavior. The feeling or impulse of curiosity is something that +everybody knows; like other impulses, it is most strongly felt when +the end in view cannot be immediately reached. When you are prevented +by considerations of propriety or politeness from satisfying your +curiosity, then it is that curiosity is most "gnawing". A very +definite emotion that occurs on encountering something extremely novel +and strange is what we know as "surprise", and somewhat akin to this +is "wonder". + +Exploration, though fundamentally a form of playful activity, has +great practical value in making the child acquainted with the world. +It contains the germ of seeking for knowledge. We shall have to recur +to this instinct more than once, under the head of "attention" and +again under "reasoning". + +{156} + +Manipulation and exploration go hand in hand and might be considered +as one tendency rather than two. The child wishes to get hold of an +object, that arouses his curiosity, and he examines it while handling +it. You cannot properly get acquainted with an object by simply +looking at it, you need to manipulate it and make it perform; and you +get little satisfaction from manipulating an object unless you can +watch how it behaves. + + +Tendencies running counter to exploration and manipulation. + +Just as playful activity in general is limited by the counter +tendencies of fatigue and inertia, so the tendency to explore and +handle the unfamiliar is held in check by counter tendencies which we +may call "caution" and "contentment". + +Watch an animal in the presence of a strange object. He looks at it, +sniffs, and approaches it in a hesitating manner; suddenly he runs +away for a short distance, then faces about and approaches again. You +can see that he is almost evenly balanced between two contrary +tendencies, one of which is curiosity, while the other is much like +fear. It is not full-fledged fear, not so much a tendency to escape as +an alertness to be ready to escape. + +Watch a child just introduced to a strange person or an odd-looking +toy. The child seems fascinated, and can scarcely take his eyes from +the novel object, but at the same time he "feels strange", and cannot +commit himself heartily to getting acquainted. There is quite a dose +of caution in the child's make-up--more in some children than in +others, to be sure--with the result that the child's curiosity gets +him into much less trouble than might be expected. Whether caution is +simply to be identified with fear or is a somewhat different native +tendency, it is certainly a check upon curiosity. + +By "contentment" we mean here a liking for the familiar, {157} which +offsets to some extent the fascination of the novel. If you are +perfectly contented, you are not inclined to go out exploring; and +when you have had your fill of the new and strange, you like to get +back to familiar surroundings, where you can rest in content. Just as +playful behavior of all sorts decreases with increasing age, so the +love for exploring decreases, and the elderly person clings to the +familiar. But even children may insist in occupying their own +particular chair, on eating from a particular plate, and on being sung +to sleep always with the same old song. They are "little creatures of +habit", not only in the sense that they readily form habits, but in +the sense that they find satisfaction in familiar ways and things. +Here we see the germ of a "conservative" tendency in human nature, +which balances, to a greater or less extent, and may decidedly +overbalance, the "radical" tendency of exploration. + + +Laughter. + +We certainly must not omit this from our list of instincts, for, +though it does not appear till some time after birth, it has all the +earmarks of an instinctive response. If it were a learned movement, it +could be made at will, whereas, as a matter of fact, few people are +able to produce a convincing laugh except when genuinely amused, which +means when the instinctive tendency to laugh is aroused by some +appropriate stimulus. The emotion that goes with laughing may be +called mirth or amusement, and it is a strongly impulsive state of +mind, the impulse being simply to laugh, with no further end in view. + +The most difficult question about laughter is to tell in general +psychological terms what is the stimulus that arouses it. We have +several ingenious theories of humor, which purport to tell; but they +are based on adult humor, and we have as yet no comprehensive genetic +study of laughter, tracing it up from its beginnings in the child. +Laughing certainly belongs with the play instincts, and possibly the +{158} stimulus is no more definite, at first, than that which arouses +other playful activity. The baby seems to smile, at first, just from +good spirits (euphoria). The stimuli that, a little later, arouse a +burst of laughter have an element of what we may call "expected +surprise" (as dropping a rattle and exploding with laughter when it +bangs on the floor, and keeping this up time after time), and this +element can still be detected in various forms of joke that are +effective mirth-provokers in the adult. But why the child should laugh +when tickled, at the same time trying to escape, is a poser. Many +students of humor have subscribed to the theory that what makes us +laugh is a sudden sense of our own superiority, thus attaching +laughter to the self-assertive instinct, soon to be discussed. The +laugh of victory, the laugh of defiance, the laugh of mockery, the sly +or malicious laugh, support this theory, but can it be stretched to +cover the laugh of good humor, the tickle laugh, or the baby's laugh +in general? That seems very doubtful, and we must admit that we do not +know the essential element in a laughter stimulus. One thing is fairly +certain: that, while laughing is a native response, we learn what to +laugh at, for the most part, just as we learn what to fear. + + +Fighting. + +Hold the new-born infant's arms tightly against its sides, and you +witness a very peculiar reaction: the body stiffens, the breath may be +held till the face is "red with anger"; the child begins to cry and +then to scream; the legs are moved up and down, and the arms, if they +can be got free, make striking or slashing movements. In somewhat +older children, any sort of restraint or interference with free +movement may give a similar picture, except that the motor response is +more efficient, consisting in struggling, striking, kicking, and +biting. It is not so much pain as interference that gives this +reaction. You get it if you take away a toy the child is playing with, +or if you forbid {159} the child to do something he is bent on doing. +In animals, the fighting response is made to restraint, to being +attacked, or to being interfered with in the course of feeding, or +mating, or in the instinctive care of the young. The mother lioness, +or dog or cat or hen, is proverbially dangerous; any interference with +the young leads to an attack by the mother. The human mother is no +exception to this rule. In human adults, the tendency to fight is +awakened by any interference with one's enterprises, by being insulted +or got the better of or in any way set down in one's self-esteem. + +In general, the stimulus to fighting is restraint or interference. Let +any reaction-tendency be first aroused and then interfered with, and +pugnacious behavior is the instinctive result. + +The stimulus may be an inanimate object. You may see a child kick the +door viciously when unable to open it; and grown-ups will sometimes +tear, break or throw down angrily any article which they cannot make +do as they wish. A bad workman quarrels with his tools. Undoubtedly, +however, interference from other persons is the most effective +stimulus. + +The impulse so aroused is directed primarily towards getting rid of +the restraint or interference, but also towards inflicting damage on +the opponent; and with this impulse often goes the stirred-up organic +and emotional state of anger. As brought out in the chapter on +emotion, the organic state in anger is nearly or quite identical with +that in fear of the active type; and the two states of the individual +differ in respect to impulse rather than in respect to emotion. In +fear, the impulse is to get away from the adversary, in anger to get +at him. The emotion of anger is not always aroused in fighting, for +sometimes there is a cold-blooded desire to damage the adversary. + +The motor response, instinctively consisting of struggling, kicking, +etc., as already described, becomes modified {160} by learning, and +may take the form of scientific fistwork, or the form of angry talk, +favored by adults. Or, the adversary may be damaged in his business, +in his possessions, in his reputation, or in other indirect ways. The +fighting spirit, the most stimulating of the emotions, gives energy to +many human enterprises, good as well as bad. The successful reformer +must needs be something of a fighter. + +Thus far we have said nothing to justify our placing fighting here +among the play instincts. Fighting against attack has survival value, +fighting to protect the young has survival value, and, in general, the +defensive sort of fighting has survival value, even though +interference with play activity is just as apt to give this response +as interference with more serious activities. + +But there is more than this to the fighting instinct. The stimulus of +interference is not always required. Consider dogs. The mere presence +of another dog is often enough to start a scrap, and a good fighting +dog will sally forth in search of a fight, and return considerably +mauled up, which does not improve his chances for survival, to say the +least. Fighting of this aggressive sort is a luxury rather than a +necessity. It has play value rather than survival value. There can be +no manner of doubt that pugnacious individuals, dogs or men, get more +solid satisfaction from a good fight than from any other amusement. +You see people "itching for a fight", and actually "trying to pick a +quarrel", by provoking some other person who is strictly minding his +own business and not interfering in the least. A battle of words +usually starts in some such way, with no real reason, and a battle of +words often develops into a battle of tooth and nail. Two women were +brought before the judge for fighting, and the judge asked Mrs. Smith +to tell how it started. "Well, it was this way, your honor. I met Mrs. +Brown carrying a basket on her arm, and I says {161} to her, 'What +have ye got in that basket?' says I. 'Eggs', says she. 'No!' says I. +'Yes!' says she. 'Ye lie!' says I. 'Ye lie!' says she. And a 'Whoop!' +says I, and a 'Whoop!' says she; and that's the way it began, sir." + +We have, then, to recognize aggressive fighting, in addition to +defensive, and the aggressive sort certainly belongs among the play +instincts. + +The instincts that by acting counter to fighting hold it in check are +several: laughter--a good laugh together allays hostility; or the +parental instinct--a parent will stand treatment from his child that +he would quickly resent from any one else; or self-assertion--"Too +proud to fight!" But the most direct checks are afforded by +inertia--"What's the use?"--and especially by fear and caution. + +Fighting, both defensive and aggressive, has so close a connection +with the more generalized self-assertive tendency that it might be +included under that instinct. It may be regarded as a special form of +self-assertive behavior, often complicated with the emotion of anger. + + +Self-assertion. + +What then is this wonderful instinct of self-assertion, to which +fighting and much of laughing are subordinate? "Assertiveness", +"masterfulness", and the "mastery impulse" are alternative names. Of +all the native tendencies, this is the one most frequently aroused, +since there is scarcely a moment of waking (or dreaming) life when it +is not more or less in action. It is so much a matter of course that +we do not notice it in ourselves, and often not in other persons; and +even clever psychological observers have seemed entirely blind to it, +and given it no place in their list of instincts. + +Self-assertion, like fighting, has two forms, the defensive and the +aggressive, and in either case it may be a response to either people +or things. That gives four varieties of self-assertive behavior, which +may be labeled as follows: + +{162} + +1. Defensive reaction to things, overcoming obstruction, putting +through what has been undertaken--the success motive. + +2. Defensive reaction to persons, resisting domination by them--the +independence motive. + +3. Aggressive reaction to things--seeking for power. + +4. Aggressive reaction to persons--seeking to dominate. We will take +these up in order, beginning with the most elemental. + +1. Overcoming obstruction. The stimulus here is much the same as that +which induces fighting, but the response is simpler, without anger and +without the impulse to do damage. Take hold of a baby's foot and move +it this way or that, and you will find that the muscles of the leg are +offering resistance to this extraneous movement. Obstruct a movement +that the baby is making, and additional force is put into the movement +to overcome the obstruction. An adult behaves in a similar way. Let +him be pushing a lawn-mower and encounter unexpected resistance from a +stretch of tough grass; involuntarily he pushes harder and keeps on +going--unless the obstruction is too great. Let him start to lift +something that is heavier than he thinks; involuntarily he "strains" +at the weight, which means that a complex instinctive response occurs, +involving a rigid setting of the chest with holding of the breath, and +increased muscular effort. This instinctive reaction may be powerful +enough to cause rupture. + +Other than purely physical resistance is overcome by other +self-assertive responses. When the child's toy will not do what he +wants it to do, he does not give up at once, but tries again and puts +more effort into his manipulation. When, in school, he is learning to +write, and finds difficulty in producing the desired marks, he bends +over the desk, twists his foot round the leg of his chair, screws up +his face, {163} and in other ways reveals the great effort he is +making. An adult, engaged in some piece of mental work, and +encountering a distraction, such as the sound of the phonograph +downstairs, may, of course, give up and listen to the music, but, if +he is very intent on what he is doing, he puts more energy into his +work and overcomes the distraction. When he encounters a baffling +problem of any sort, he does not like to give it up, even if it is as +unimportant as a conundrum, but cudgels his brains for the solution. +As a general proposition, and one of the most general propositions +that psychology has to present, we may say that obstruction of any +sort, encountered in carrying out any intention whatever, acts as a +stimulus to the putting of additional energy into the action. + +Anger is often aroused by obstruction, but anger does not develop a +tenth as often, in the course of the day, as the plain overcoming +reaction. The impulse is not to do damage, but to overcome the +obstruction and do what we have set out to do. The emotional state +might sometimes be called "determination", sometimes "zeal"; but the +most elementary state belonging here is _effort_. The feeling of +effort is, partly at least, a sensation complex resulting from +stiffening the trunk and neck, knitting the brows, and other muscular +strains that have practical utility in overcoming physical resistance +and that are carried over to the overcoming of other sorts of +resistance, where they have no obvious utility. Effort is a simpler +emotion than anger, and occurs much more frequently. + +2. Resisting domination by other persons. The child shows from an +early age that he "has a will of his own", and "wants his own way" in +opposition to the commands of other persons. There is an independent +spirit in man that is native rather than acquired. The strength of +this impulse differs, to be sure, in different individuals, some {164} +children being more "contrary" and others more docile; but there +probably never was a child without a good dose of disobedience in his +make-up. In order to have a nice, obedient child, you have to "break" +him like a colt, though you can use reason as well as force in +breaking a child. This process of "breaking" gives a habit of +obedience to certain persons and along certain lines; but, outside of +these limits, the child's independence is still there and ready to be +awakened by any attempt to dominate him. In youth, with the sense of +power that comes from attaining adult stature and muscular strength, +the independent spirit is strengthened, with the result that you +seldom see a youth, or an adult, who can take orders without at least +some inner opposition and resentment. + +3. Seeking for power over things. The self-assertive response to +things is not limited to overcoming the obstructions offered by things +to the accomplishment of our purposes; but we derive so much positive +satisfaction from overcoming obstruction and mastering things that we +go out in search of things to master. The child's manipulation has an +element of masterfulness in it, for he not only likes to see things +perform, but he likes to be the one that makes them perform. If he has +a horn, he is not satisfied till he can sound it himself. The man with +his automobile is in the same case. When it balks, he is stimulated to +overcome it; but when it runs smoothly for him, he has a sense of +mastery and power that is highly gratifying. Chopping down a big tree, +or moving a big rock with a crowbar, affords the same kind of +gratification; and so does cutting with a sharp knife, or shooting +with a good bow or gun, or operating any tool or machine that +increases one's power. Quite apart from the utility of the result +accomplished, any big achievement is a source of satisfaction to the +one who has done it, because it gives play to aggressive +self-assertion. Many {165} great achievements are motived as much by +the zest for achievement as by calculation of the advantages to be +secured. + +4. Seeking to dominate other people. The individual not simply resists +domination by other people, but he seeks to dominate them himself. +Even the baby gives orders and demands obedience. Get a number of +children together, and you will see more than one of them attempt to +be the leader in their play. Some must necessarily be followers just +now, but they will attempt to take the lead on another occasion. The +"born leader" is perhaps one who has an exceptionally strong dose of +masterfulness in his make-up, but he is, still more, one who has +abilities, physical or mental, that give him the advantage in the +universal struggle for leadership. + +Besides giving orders and taking the lead, there are other ways in +which the child finds satisfaction for his instinct to dominate. +Showing off is one, bragging is one, doing all the talking is one; +and, though in growing older and mixing with people the child becomes +less naive in his manner of bragging and showing off, he continues +even as an adult to reach the same end in more subtle ways. Going +about to win applause or social recognition is a seeking for +domination. Anything in which one can surpass another becomes a means +of self-assertion. One may demonstrate his superiority in size, +strength, beauty, skill, cleverness, virtue, good humor, +coöperativeness, or even humility, and derive satisfaction from any +such demonstration. The impulse to dominate assumes literally a +thousand disguises, more rather than less. + +_Rivalry_ and _emulation_, sometimes accorded a separate place in a +list of the instincts, seem well enough provided for under the general +head of self-assertion. They belong on the social side of assertive +behavior, i.e., they are responses to other people and aim at the +domination of other {166} people or against being dominated by them. +But the struggle for mastery, in rivalry, does not take the form of a +direct personal encounter. Compare wrestling with a contest in +throwing the hammer. In wrestling the mastery impulse finds a direct +outlet in subduing the opponent, while in throwing the hammer each +contestant tries to beat the other indirectly, by surpassing him in a +certain performance. This you would call rivalry, but wrestling is +scarcely rivalry, because the struggle for mastery is so direct. +Rivalry may seek to demonstrate superiority in some performance, or to +win the favor of some person or social group, as in the case of rivals +in love. + +When we speak of "emulation", we have in mind the sort of behavior +observed when one child says, "See what I can do!" and the other +counters with, "Pooh! I can do that, too". Or, the first child wins +applause by some performance, and we then notice the second child +attempting the same. It is a case of resisting the indirect domination +of another, by not letting him surpass us in performance or in social +recognition. + +_Thwarted self-assertion_ deserves special mention, as the basis for +quite a number of queer emotional states. Shame, sulkiness, +sullenness, peevishness, stubbornness, defiance, all go with wounded +self-assertion under different conditions. Envy and jealousy belong +here, too. Shyness and embarrassment go with self-assertion that is +doubtful of winning recognition. Opposed to all these are +self-confidence, the cheerful state of mind of one who seeks to master +some person or thing and fully expects to do so, and elation, the +joyful state of one who has mastered. + + +Submission. + +Is there any counter-tendency that limits self-assertion and holds it +in check? Inertia and fear of course have this effect, but is there +any specific instinct precisely opposite to self-assertion? A +difficult question, not {167} yet to be answered with any assurance; +but there is some evidence of a native submissive or yielding +tendency. Two forms may be distinguished: yielding to obstruction, and +yielding to the domination of other persons. + +Giving up, in the face of obstacles, is certainly common enough, but +at first thought we should say that the individual was passive in the +matter, and simply forced to yield, as a stone is brought to a stop +when it strikes a wall. In reality, giving up is not quite so passive +as this. There is no external force that can absolutely force us to +give up, unless by clubbing us on the head or somehow putting our +reactive mechanism out of commission. As long as our brain, nerves and +muscles are able to act, no external force can absolutely compel us to +cease struggling. Since, then, we do cease struggling before we are +absolutely out of commission, our giving up is not a purely passive +affair, but our own act, a kind of reaction; and no doubt a native +reaction. Further, when struggling against a stubborn obstacle, we +sometimes feel an _impulse to give up_, and giving up brings relief. + +The ability to give up is not a mere element of weakness in our +nature, but is a valuable asset in adapting ourselves to the +environment. Adaptation is called for when the reaction first and most +naturally made to a given situation does not meet the requirements of +the situation. A too stubborn assertiveness means persistence in this +unsuitable reaction, and no progress towards a successful issue; +whereas giving up the first plan of attack, and trying something else +instead, is the way towards success. Some people are too stubborn to +be adaptable. + +The docility of the child, who believes whatever is told him, has in +it an element of submissiveness. There is submissiveness also in the +receptive attitude appropriate in observation and forming +opinions--the attitude of looking for the facts and accepting them as +they are rather than seeking {168} to confirm one's own +prepossessions. Bias is self-assertive, impartiality is submissive to +some degree. + +Yielding to the domination of other persons often occurs unwillingly, +and then comes under the head of "thwarted self-assertion"; but the +question is whether it ever occurs willingly and affords satisfaction +to the individual who yields. We certainly yield with good grace to +one who so far outclasses us that competition with him is unthinkable. +An adult may arouse the submissive response in a child; and the social +group, by virtue of its superior power and permanence, may arouse it +in the individual adult. Hero worship seems a good example of willing +submission, agreeable to the one who submits. There are persons who +are "lost" without a hero, without some one to lean on, some one to +tell them what to do and even what to believe. This looks much like +the "filial" or "infantile" instinct that was mentioned before as a +possibility, and the dependent spirit in an adult possibly represents +a continuation of the infantile attitude into adult life. + +Some behavior that looks submissive is really self-assertion in +disguise. There are two forms of self-assertion that are specially +likely to be taken for submission. Wounded or thwarted self-assertion +is one. Shame and envy are like submission in this respect, that they +involve an absence of self-confidence or self-assurance, but they do +not afford the satisfaction of willing submission, nor the relief of +giving up the struggle against obstacles. So far from being genuinely +submissive, they are states in which the self is making a violent and +insistent demand for justification or social recognition. The other +form of self-assertion which looks like submission occurs when a +person identifies himself with a superior individual or with a social +group. He will then boast of the prowess of his hero or of the +prestige of his group, whether it be his family, his school, {169} his +town or his country. Now, boasting cannot by any stretch of the +imagination be regarded as a sign of submissiveness; it is a sign of +assertiveness, and nothing else. What has happened here is that the +individual, having identified himself with his hero or his group, +finds in their greatness a means of asserting himself as against other +individuals who have not the good fortune to be so identified. This +transferred self-assertion is a strong element in loyalty and public +spirit, and plays a large and useful part in public affairs. + +{170} + +EXERCISES + +1. Make an outline of the chapter, in the form of a table, which + shall show for each instinct: (a) the natural stimulus, (b) the + native motor response, (c) the end-result that the instinct tends + towards, in its adult as well as its native condition, and (d) the + emotion, if any, that goes with the activity of the instinct. + +2. An adult tendency or propensity may be simply an unmodified + instinct, or it may be derived from instincts by combination, etc. + Try to identify each of the following as an instinct, or to analyze + it into two or more instincts: + + (a) Love for adventure. + (b) Patriotism. + (c) A father's pride in his children. + (d) Love for travel. + (e) Insubordination. + (f) Love for dancing. + +3. Which of the instincts are most concerned in making people work? + +4. Show how self-assertion finds gratification in the life-work of + + an actor. + a physician. + a housekeeper. + a teacher. + a railroad engineer. + +5. Arrange the following impulses and emotions in the order of the + frequency of their occurrence in your ordinary day's work and play: + + (a) Fear. + (b) Anger. + (c) Disgust + (d) Curiosity. + (e) Self-assertion. + (f) Submission. + (g) The tendency to protect or "mother" another. + +6. How do "practical jokes" lend support to the view that laughter + is primarily aroused by a sense of one's own superiority? + +7. Get together a dozen jokes or funny stories, and see how many + of them can be placed with the practical jokes in this respect. + +8. Mention some laughter-stimuli that do not lend support to the + theory mentioned in Exercise 6. + +9. What instincts find outlet in (a) dress, (b) automobiling, (c) + athletics, (d) social conversation? + + + +{171} + + + +REFERENCES + +McDougall's _Social Psychology_ gives, in Chapters III and IV, an +inventory of the instinctive equipment of mankind, and in Chapter V +attempts to analyze many complex human emotions and propensities into +their native elements. + +Thorndike, in his _Educational Psychology, Briefer Course_, 1914, +Chapters, II-V, attempts a more precise analysis of stimulus and +response. + +Watson's _Psychology from the Standpoint of a Behaviorist_, 1919, +attempts in Chapter VI to show that there are only three primary +emotions, fear, rage and love; and in Chapter VII gives a critical +review of the work on human instincts. + +H. C. Warren, in Chapter VI of his _Human Psychology_, 1919, gives a +brief survey of the reflexes and instincts. + + +{172} + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FEELINGS + + +PLEASANTNESS AND UNPLEASANTNESS, AND OTHER +STATES OF FEELINGS AND THEIR INFLUENCE UPON +BEHAVIOR + +Feeling is subjective and unanalyzed. It is conscious, and an +"unconscious feeling" would be a contradiction in terms. But, while +conscious, it is not cognitive; it is not "knowing something", even +about your subjective condition; it is simply "the way you feel". As +soon as you begin to analyze it, and say, "I feel badly here or there, +in this way or in that", you _know_ something about your subjective +condition, but the feeling has evaporated for the instant. In passing +over into definite knowledge of facts, it has ceased to be feeling. + +Feeling is an undercurrent of consciousness, or we might call it a +background. The foreground consists of what you are taking notice of +or thinking about, or of what you are intending to do; that is to say, +the foreground is cognitive or impulsive, or it may be both at once, +as when we are intent on throwing this stone and hitting that tree. In +the background lies the conscious subjective condition. Behind facts +observed and acts intended lies the state of the individual's feeling, +sometimes calm, sometimes excited, sometimes expectant, sometimes +gloomy, sometimes buoyant. + +The number of different ways of feeling must be very great, and it +would be no great task to find a hundred different words, some of them +no doubt partly synonymous, to complete the sentence, "I feel +_______". All the {173} emotions, as "stirred-up states of mind", +belong under the general head of the feelings. + +But when the psychologist speaks of _the feelings_, he usually means +the _elementary_ feelings. An emotion is far from elementary. If you +accept the James-Lange theory, you think of an emotion as a blend of +organic sensations; and if you reject that theory, you would still +probably agree that such an emotion as anger or fear seems a big, +complex state of feeling. It seems more complex than such a sensation +as red, warm, or bitter, which are called elementary sensations +because no one has ever succeeded in decomposing them into simpler +sensations. Now, the question is whether any feelings can be indicated +that are as elementary as these simple sensations. + + +Pleasantness and Unpleasantness Are Simple Feelings + +No one has ever been able to break up the feelings of pleasantness and +unpleasantness into anything simpler. "Pleasure" and "displeasure" are +not always so simple; they are names for whole states of mind which +may be very complex, including sensations and thoughts in addition to +the feelings of pleasantness and unpleasantness. "Pain" does not make +a satisfactory substitute for the long word "unpleasantness", because +"pain", as we shall see in the next chapter, is properly the name of a +certain sensation, and feelings are to be distinguished from +sensations. Red, warm and bitter, along with many others, are +sensations, but pleasantness and unpleasantness are not sensations. + +How, then, do the elementary feelings differ from sensations? In the +first place, sensations submit readily to being picked out and +observed, and in fact become more vivid when they are brought into the +"foreground", while feelings grow vague and lose their character when +thus singled {174} out for examination. Attend to the noises in the +street and they stand out clearly, attend to the internal sensation of +breathing and it stands out clearly, but attend to your pleasant state +of feeling and it retreats out of sight. + +In the second place, sensations are "localized"; you can tell pretty +well where they seem to come from. Sensations of light, sound and +smell are localized outside the body, sensations of touch are +localized on the skin (or sometimes outside), taste sensations are +localized in the mouth, organic and muscular sensations in some part +of the body. On the other hand, pleasantness and unpleasantness are +much less definitely localized; they seem to be "in us", without being +in any special part of us. + +In the third place, feelings differ from sensations in having no known +sense organs. There is no special sense organ or set of sense organs +for the feeling of pleasantness or unpleasantness, as there is for +warmth or cold. Some sensations are pleasant, to be sure, and some +unpleasant; but there is no one kind of sense organ that has the +monopoly of either sort of feeling. + + +Feeling-Tone of Sensations + +The pleasantness or unpleasantness characteristic of many sensations +is called their "feeling-tone", and sensations that are markedly +pleasant or unpleasant are said to have a strong or pronounced +feeling-tone. Bitter is intrinsically unpleasant, sweet pleasant, the +salty taste, when not too strong, neither one nor the other, so that +it has no definite feeling-tone. Odors, as well as tastes, usually +have a rather definite feeling-tone. Of sounds, smooth tones are +pleasant, grating noises unpleasant. Bright colors are pleasant, while +dull shades are sometimes unpleasant, sometimes merely indifferent or +lacking in feeling-tone. Pain is usually unpleasant, moderate warmth +and cold pleasant, simple touch {175} indifferent. Very intense +sensations of any kind are likely to be unpleasant. + +The statements made above as to the subjectivity and non-localization +of feeling do not apply altogether to the feeling-tone of sensations. +The pleasantness or unpleasantness of a sensation is localized with +the sensation and seems to belong to the object rather than to +ourselves. The unpleasantness of a toothache seems to be in the tooth +rather than simply "in us". The pleasantness of a sweet taste is +localized in the mouth, and we even think of the sweet substance as +being objectively pleasant. We say that it is a "pleasant day", and +that there is a "pleasant tang in the air", as if the pleasantness +were an objective fact. + +By arguing with a person, however, you can get him to admit that, +while the day is pleasant _to him_, and the tang in the air pleasant +to him, they may be unpleasant to another person; and he will admit +that a sweet substance, ordinarily pleasant, is unpleasant when he has +had too much of sweet things to eat. So you can make him realize that +pleasantness and unpleasantness depend on the individual and his +condition, and are subjective rather than objective. Show a group of +people a bit of color, and you will find them agreeing much better as +to what color that is than as to how pleasant it is. Feeling-tone is +subjective in the sense that people disagree about it. + + +Theories of Feelings + +1. Pleasantness might represent a general _organic state_, and +unpleasantness the contrary state, each state being an internal bodily +response to pleasant or unpleasant stimuli, and making itself felt as +an unanalyzable compound of vague internal sensations. + +This theory of feeling is certainly attractive, and it would {176} +account very well for all the facts so far stated, for the +subjectivity of feeling, for its lack of localization, and for the +absence of specific sense organs for the feelings. It would bring the +feelings into line with the emotions. But the real test of the theory +lies just here: can we discover radically different organic states for +the two opposite feelings? + +Numerous experiments have been conducted in the search for such +radically different organic states, but thus far the search has been +rather disappointing. Arrange to record the subject's breathing and +heart beat, apply pleasant and unpleasant stimuli to him, and see +whether there is any characteristic organic change that goes with +pleasant stimuli, and an opposite change with unpleasant stimuli. You +should also obtain an introspective report from your subject, so as to +be sure that the "pleasant stimuli" actually gave a feeling of +pleasantness, etc. Certain experiments of this sort have indicated +that with pleasantness goes slower heart beat and quicker breathing, +with unpleasantness quicker heart beat and slower breathing. But not +all investigators have got these results; and, anyway, it would be +impossible to generalize to the extent of asserting that slow heart +beat always gave a pleasant state of feeling, and rapid heart beat an +unpleasant; for there is slow heart beat during a "morning grouch", +and rapid during joyful expectation. Or, in regard to breathing, try +this experiment: hasten your breathing and see whether a feeling of +pleasantness results; slacken it and see whether unpleasantness +results. The fact is that pleasantness can go with a wide range of +organic states, so far as these are revealed by heart beat and +breathing; and the same with unpleasantness. If there is any organic +fact definitely characteristic of either state of feeling, it is a +subtle fact that has hitherto eluded observation. + +{177} + +2. Pleasantness might represent smooth and easy brain action, +unpleasantness slow and impeded brain action. According to this +theory, unimpeded progress of nerve currents through the brain is +pleasant, while resistance encountered at the brain synapses is +unpleasant. A stimulus is pleasant, then, because the nerve currents +started by it find smooth going through the brain centers, and another +stimulus is unpleasant because it finds the going poor. + +While this theory looks good in some ways, and fits some cases very +well--as the great unpleasantness of blocked reaction, where you +cannot make up your mind what to do--there are two big objections to +it. The first objection is found in the facts of practice. Practising +any reaction makes it more and more smooth-running and free from inner +obstruction, and should therefore make it more and more pleasant; but, +as a matter of fact, practising an unfamiliar act of any sort makes it +more pleasant for a time only, after which continued practice makes it +automatic and neither pleasant nor unpleasant. The smoothest +reactions, which should give the highest degree of pleasant feeling +according to the theory, are simply devoid of all feeling. + +The second objection lies in the difficulty of believing unpleasant +stimuli to give slow, impeded reactions. On the contrary, the +instinctive defensive reactions to unpleasant stimuli are very quick, +and give no sign of impeded progress of nerve currents through the +brain centers. + +3. There is one fact, not yet taken into account, that may point the +way to a better theory. Feeling is impulsive. In pleasantness, the +impulse is to "stand pat" and let the pleasant state continue; in +unpleasantness, the impulse is to end the state. The impulse of +pleasantness is directed towards keeping what is pleasant, and the +impulse of unpleasantness is directed towards getting rid of the +unpleasant. In indifference there is no tendency either to keep or to +be {178} rid of. These facts are so obvious as scarcely to need +mention, yet they may be the core of this whole matter of feeling. +Certainly they are the most important facts yet brought out as +relating feeling to conduct. + +Putting this fact into neural terms, we say that pleasantness goes +with a neural adjustment directed towards keeping, towards letting +things stay as they are; while unpleasantness goes with an adjustment +towards riddance. Bitter is unpleasant because we are so organized, by +native constitution, as to make the riddance adjustment on receiving +this particular stimulus. In plain language, we seek, to be rid of it, +and that is the same as saying it is unpleasant. Sweet is pleasant for +a similar reason. + +There is some evidence that these adjustments occur in that part of +the brain called the thalamus. [Footnote: See p. 65.] + + +Sources of Pleasantness and Unpleasantness + +Laying aside now the difficult question of the organic and cerebral +nature of the feelings, we turn to the simpler question of the stimuli +that arouse them. A very important fact immediately arrests our +attention. There are two different kinds of stimuli for pleasantness, +and two corresponding kinds for unpleasantness. The one kind is +typified by sweet and bitter, the other by success and failure. Some +things are pleasant (or unpleasant) without regard to any already +awakened desire, while other things are pleasant (or unpleasant) only +because of such a desire. A sweet taste is pleasant even though we +were not desiring it at the moment, and a bitter taste is unpleasant +though we had no expectation of getting it and no desire awakened to +avoid it. On the other hand, the sight of our stone hitting the tree +is pleasant only because we were aiming at the tree, and {179} the +sight of the stone going to one side of the tree is unpleasant just +for the same reason. + + Some things we want. + Because we like them; + Some things we like. + Because we want them. + +We want candy, because we like the sweet taste; but we like a cold +drink because and when we are thirsty and not otherwise. Thirst is a +want for water, a state of the organism that impels us to drink; and +when we are in this state, we like a drink, a drink is pleasant then. +How absurd it would be to say that we were thirsty because we liked to +drink! when the fact is that we like to drink because we are thirsty. +The desire to drink must first be aroused, and then drinking is +pleasant. + +What is true of thirst is true of hunger, or of any organic need. The +need must first be aroused, and then its satisfaction is pleasant. +This applies just as well to fighting, laughing, fondling a baby, and +to all the instincts. It gives you no pleasure to strike or kick a +person, or to swear at him, unless you are first angry with him. It +gives you no pleasure to go through the motions of laughing unless you +"want to laugh", i.e., unless you are amused. It gives you no pleasure +to fondle the baby unless you love the baby. Let any instinct be first +aroused, and then the result at which the instinct is aimed causes +pleasure, but the same result will cause no pleasure unless the +instinct has been aroused. + +The same can be said of desires that are not exactly instinctive. At a +football game, for example, when one of the players kicks the ball and +it sails between the goal posts, half of the spectators yell with joy, +while the other half {180} groan in agony. Why should the appearance +of a ball sailing between two posts be so pleasant to some, and +unpleasant to others? This particular appearance is by itself neither +pleasant nor unpleasant, but because the desire to see this happen has +been previously aroused in the partisans of one team, and the desire +that it should not happen in the partisans of the other, therefore it +is that the pleasantness or unpleasantness occurs. First arouse any +desire, and then you can give pleasure by gratifying it, displeasure +by thwarting it. This is the pleasure of success, and the +unpleasantness of failure. + +Pleasures of this class may be named secondary, because they depend +upon pre-aroused desires. + + +Primary Likes and Dislikes + +Though many of the most intense pleasures and displeasures of life are +of the secondary type, this fact must not blind us to the existence of +the primary pleasures and displeasures, typified by sweet and bitter. +Any sensation with a pronounced feeling-tone is a primary pleasure or +displeasure. We like or dislike it just for itself, and without regard +to the gratification of any pre-aroused instinct or desire. + +There are natural likes and dislikes--apart from the satisfaction of +instincts--and there are others that are acquired. In other words, +there are native tastes and acquired tastes. Individuals differ +considerably in their native tastes, and still more in their acquired +tastes. Liking for sweets is native, liking for fragrant odors is +native, but liking for lemonade, or black coffee, or olives, or +cheese, is acquired, and not acquired by everybody. Liking for bright +colors is native, but liking for subdued colors, and the special +pleasure in color harmonies, are acquired. So we might {181} run +through the list of the senses, finding under each some sensations +with native feeling-tone, and other sensations that acquire +feeling-tone through experience. + +Some people have a native liking for numbers and other facts of a +mathematical nature. We say of such a one that he has a natural taste +for mathematics. Another has a natural dislike for the same. Some have +a taste for things of the mechanical sort, others fight shy of such +things. Some have a natural taste for people, being sociable +creatures--which means more than being gregarious--while others are +little interested in mixing with people, observing their ways, and the +give and take of friendly intercourse. + +Now the question arises whether these native likes and dislikes, for +odors, colors, tones, numbers, machinery, and people, are really +independent of the instincts. Some psychologists have insisted that +all the interest and satisfaction of life were derived from the +instincts, laying special stress on the instincts of curiosity and +self-assertion. + +With respect to our "natural liking for mathematics", these +psychologists would argue as follows: "First off, curiosity is aroused +by numbers, as it may be by any novel fact; then the child, finding he +can do things with numbers, gratifies his mastery impulse by playing +with them. He encounters number problems, and his mastery impulse is +again aroused in the effort to solve the problems. Later, he is able +to 'show off' and win applause by his mathematical feats, and thus the +social form of self-assertion is brought into play. This particular +child may have good native ability for mathematics, and consequently +his mastery impulse is specially gratified by this kind of activity; +but he has no real direct liking for mathematics, and all his industry +in this field is motivated by curiosity and especially by +self-assertion." + +The instinct psychologists have a strong case here, as {182} they +would have also in regard to the liking for machinery. Still, the +mathematical individual would not be convinced, for he would testify +that numbers, etc., made a direct appeal to him. Numbers, geometric +forms, and algebraic transformations are fascinating to him, and there +is something beautiful, to his mind, in the relationships that are +discovered. The same could be said of the liking for plant or animal +life that appears in the "born biologist". If the objects of the world +make a direct appeal to the man whose mind is attuned to them, then +his interest and zeal in studying them are not wholly derived from the +instincts. The instincts come into play, truly enough, in all +scientific work, and add impetus to it, but the primary motive is a +direct liking for the kind of facts studied. + +"Primary likes and dislikes" are still more clearly in evidence in the +arts than in the sciences. Take the color art, for example. There can +be no manner of doubt that bright colors are natively pleasant. Can we +explain the liking for color as derived from satisfaction of the +instincts? Is it due simply to curiosity? No, for then the color would +no longer be attractive after it had ceased to be a novelty. Is color +liked simply for purposes of self-display? No, this would not explain +our delight in the colors of nature. Or do color effects constitute +problems that challenge the mastery impulse? This might fit the case +of intricate color designs, but not the strong, simple color effects +that appeal to most people. There is no escape from the conclusion +that color is liked for its own sake, and that this primary liking is +the foundation of color art. + +Music, in the same way, is certainly based on a primary liking for +tones and their combinations, as well as for rhythm. Novel effects +also appeal to curiosity, musical performance is a means of display to +the performer, and the problem set by a piece of music to the +performer in the {183} way of execution, and to the listener in the +way of understanding and appreciation, gives plenty of play to the +mastery impulse. Besides, music gets associated with love, tenderness, +war and religion; but none of the impulses thus gratified by music is +the fundamental reason for music, since without the primary taste for +tone and rhythm there would be no music to start with, and therefore +no chance for these various impulses to find an outlet in this +direction. + +Still another field of human activity, in which native likes and +dislikes play their part alongside of the instincts, is the field of +social life. The gregarious instinct brings individuals together into +social groups, and probably also makes the individual crave +participation in the doings of the group. The sex instinct lends a +special interest to those members of the group who are of the opposite +sex, and the parental instinct leads the adults to take a protective +attitude towards the little children. Also, it is probably due to the +parental instinct that any one spontaneously seeks to help the +helpless. Self-assertion has plenty of play in a group, both in the +way of seeking to dominate and in the way of resisting domination; and +the submissive tendency finds an outlet in admiring and following +those who far surpass us. Thwarted self-assertion accounts for many of +the dislikes that develop between the members of a group. But none of +these instincts accounts for the interest in personality, or for the +genuine liking that people may have for one another. + +Let a group of persons of the same age and sex get together, all +equals for the time being, no one seeking to dominate the rest, no one +bowing to another as his superior nor chafing against an assumed +superiority which he does not admit, no one in a helpless or +unfortunate condition that arouses the pity of the rest. What an +uninteresting affair! No instincts called into play except bare +gregariousness! {184} On the contrary, such a group affords almost or +quite the maximum of social pleasure. It affords scope for comradeship +and good fellowship, which are based on a native liking for people, +and not on the instincts. + +Enough has perhaps been said to convince the reader that, besides the +things we like for satisfaction of our instinctive needs and cravings, +there are other things that we "just naturally like"--and the same +with dislikes--and that these primary likes and dislikes have +considerable importance in life. + + +Other Proposed Elementary Feelings + +Pleasantness and unpleasantness are the only feelings generally +accepted as elementary, though several others have been suggested. + + +Wundt's tri-dimensional theory of feeling. + +This author suggested that there were three pairs of feelings: +pleasantness and unpleasantness; tension and its opposite, release or +relief; and excitement and its opposite, which may be called numbness +or subdued feeling. Thus there would be three dimensions of feeling, +which could be represented by the three dimensions of space, and any +given state of feeling could be described by locating it along each of +the three dimensions. Thus, one moment, we may be in a pleasant, +tense, excited state; another moment in a pleasant, relieved and +subdued state; and another moment in an unpleasant, tense and subdued +state, etc. As each feeling can also exist in various degrees, the +total number of shades of feeling thus provided for would be very +great, indeed. + +Though this theory has awakened great interest, it has not won +unqualified approval. Excitement and the rest are real enough states +of feeling--no one doubts that--but the question is whether they are +fit to be placed alongside of pleasantness and unpleasantness as +elementary feelings. It {185} appears rather more likely that they are +blends of sensations. In the excited states that have been most +carefully studied, that is to say, in fear and anger, there is that +big organic upstir, making itself felt as a blend of many internal +sensations. Tension may very probably be the feeling of tense muscles, +for tension occurs specially in expectancy, and the muscles are tense +then. + +Whether elementary or not, these feelings are worthy of note. It is +interesting to examine the striving for a goal and the attainment of +the goal with respect to each "dimension" of feeling. Striving is +tense, attainment brings the feeling of release. Striving is often +excited, but fatigue and drowsiness (seeking for rest) are numb, and +self-assertion may be neutral in this respect, as in "cool +assumption". Reaching the goal may be excited or not; all depends on +the goal, whether it be striking your opponent or going to sleep. On +the other hand, reaching the goal is practically always pleasant +(weeping seems an exception here), while striving for a goal is +pleasant or unpleasant according as progress is being made towards the +goal, or stiff obstruction encountered. + +The _feeling of familiarity_, and its opposite, the feeling of +strangeness or newness, also have some claim to be considered here. +The first time you see a person, he seems strange, the next few times +he awakens in you the feeling of familiarity, after which he becomes +so much a matter of course as to arouse no definite feeling of this +sort, unless, indeed, a long time has elapsed since you saw him last; +in this case the feeling of familiarity is particularly strong. + +The feelings of doubt or hesitation, and of certainty or assurance, +also deserve mention as possibly elementary. + +{186} + + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. Complete the sentence, "I feel_____" in 20 different ways + (not using synonyms), and measure the time required to do this. + +3. What can be meant by speaking in psychology of only two feelings, + when common speech recognizes so many? + +4. If the states of mind designated by the words, "feeling sure", + or "feeling bored", are compound states, what elements besides the + feelings of pleasantness and unpleasantness may enter into the + compounds? + +5. Attempt an analysis of the "worried feeling", by your own + introspection, i.e., try to discover elementary feelings and + sensations in this complex state of mind. + +6. Following Wundt's three-dimensional scheme of feeling, analyze + each of the following states of mind (for example, a child just + admitted to the presence of the Christmas tree would be in a state + of mind that is pleasant, tense, and excited): + + (a) Watching a rocket go up and waiting for it to burst. + + (b) Just after the rocket has burst. + + (c) Waiting for the dentist to pull. + + (d) Just after he has pulled. + + (e) Enjoying a warm bed. + + (f) Lying abed after waking, not quite able as yet to decide + to get up. + + (g) Seeing an automobile about to run down a child. + +7. Make a list of six primary dislikes, and a list of six dislikes that + are dependent on the instincts. + + + +REFERENCES + +For a much fuller treatment of the subject, see E. B. Titchener, +_Textbook of Psychology_, 1909, pp. 225-264. + + +{187} + + +CHAPTER X + +SENSATION + +AN INVENTORY OF THE ELEMENTARY SENSATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT SENSES + +With reflex action, instinct, emotion and feeling, the list of native +mental activities is still incomplete. The senses are provided by +nature, and the fundamental use of the senses goes with them. The +child does not learn to see or hear, though he learns the meaning of +what he sees and hears. He gets sensation as soon as his senses are +stimulated, but recognition of objects and facts comes with +experience. Hold an orange before his open eyes, and he sees, but the +first time he doesn't see _an orange_. The adult sees an object, where +the baby gets only sensation. "Pure sensation", free from all +recognition, can scarcely occur except in the very young baby, for +recognition is about the easiest of the learned accomplishments, and +traces of it can be seen in the behavior of babies only a few days +old. + +Sensation is a response; it does not come to us, but is aroused in us +by the stimulus. It is the stimulus that comes to us, and the +sensation is our own act, aroused by the stimulus. Sensation means the +activity of the receiving organ (or sense organ), of the sensory +nerves, and of certain parts of the brain, called the sensory centers. +Without the brain response, there is apparently no conscious +sensation, so that the activity of the sense organ and sensory nerve +is preliminary to the sensation proper. Sensation may be called the +first response of the brain to the external stimulus. It is usually +only the first in a series of brain {188} responses, the others +consisting in the recognition of the object and the utilization of the +information so acquired. + +Sensation, as we know it in our experience, goes back in the history +of the race to the primitive sensitivity (or irritability) of living +matter, seen in the protozoa. These minute unicellular creatures, +though having no sense organs--any more than they have muscles or +digestive organs--respond to a variety of stimuli. They react to +mechanical stimuli, as a touch or jar, to chemical stimuli of certain +kinds, to thermal stimuli (heat or cold), to electrical stimuli, and +to light. There are some forces to which they do not respond: +magnetism, X-rays, ultraviolet light; and we ourselves are insensitive +to these agents, which are not to be called stimuli, since they arouse +no response. + + +The Sense Organs + +In the development of the metazoa, or multicellular animals, +specialization has occurred, some parts of the body becoming muscles +with the primitive motility much developed, some parts becoming +digestive organs, some parts conductors (the nerves) and some parts +becoming specialized receptors or sense organs. A sense organ is a +portion of the body that has very high sensitivity to some particular +kind of stimulus. One sense organ is highly sensitive to one stimulus, +and another to another stimulus. The eye responds to very minute +amounts of energy in the form of light, but not in other forms; the +ear responds to very minute amounts of energy in the form of sound +vibrations, the nose to very minute quantities of energy in certain +chemical forms. + +There is only one thing that a sense organ always and necessarily +contains, and that is the _termination of a sensory nerve_. Without +that, the sense organ, being isolated, would have no effect on the +brain or muscles or any other {189} part of the body, and would be +entirely useless. The axons of the sensory nerve divide into fine +branches in the sense organ, and thus are more easily aroused by the +stimulus. + +Besides the sensory axons, two other things are often found in a sense +organ--sometimes one of the two, sometimes the other and sometimes +both. First, there are special sense cells in a few sense organs; and +second, in most sense organs there is accessory apparatus which, +without being itself sensitive, assists in bringing the stimulus to +the sense cells or sensory nerve ends. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 25.--Diagram of the taste end-organ. Within the +"Taste bud" are seen two sense cells, and around the base of these +cells are seen the terminations of two axons of the nerve of taste. +(Figure text: surface of tongue, taste bud, pit)] + + +_Sense cells_ are present only in the eye, ear, nose and mouth--always +in very sheltered situations. The taste cells are located in little +pits opening upon the surface of the tongue. In the sides of these +pits can be found little flask-shaped chambers, each containing a +number of taste cells. The taste cell has a slender prolongation that +protrudes from the chamber into the pit; and it is this slender tip of +the cell that is exposed to the chemical stimulus of the {190} tasting +substance. The stimulus arouses the taste cell, and this in turn +arouses the ending of the sensory axon that twines about the base of +the cell at the back of the chamber. The taste cell, or its tip, is +extra sensitive to chemical stimuli, and its activity, aroused by the +chemical stimulus, in turn arouses the axon and so starts a nerve +current to the brain stem and eventually to the cortex. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 26.--The olfactory sense cells and their brain +connections. (Figure text: axon to brain cortex, dendrites, synapses in +brain stem, axons of sense cells sense cells in nose.)] + + +The olfactory cells, located in a little recess in the upper and back +part of the nose, out of the direct air currents going toward the +lungs, are rather similar to the taste cells. They have fine tips +reaching to the surface of the mucous membrane lining the nasal cavity +and exposed to the chemical stimuli of odors. The olfactory cell has +also a long slender branch extending from its base through the bone +into the skull cavity and connecting there with dendrites of nerve +cells. This central branch of the olfactory cell is, in fact, an axon; +and it is peculiar in being an axon growing from a sense cell. This is +the rule in invertebrates, but in vertebrates the sensory axon is +regularly an outgrowth of a {191} nerve cell, and only in the nose do +we find sense cells providing their own sensory nerve. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 27.--Sense cells and nerve cells of the retina. +Light, reaching the retina from the interior of the eyeball (as shown +in Fig. 28), passes through the nearly transparent retina till stopped +by the pigment layer, and then and there arouses to activity the tips +of the rods and cones. The rods and cones pass the impulse along to +the bipolar cells and these in turn to the optic nerve cells, the +axons of which extend by way of the optic nerve to the thalamus in the +brain. (Figure text: pigment layer, rods, cones, light, bipolar Cells, +optic Nerve Cells)] + + +In the eye, the sense cells are the rods and cones of the retina. +These are highly sensitive to light, or, it may be, to chemical or +electrical stimuli generated in the pigment of the retina by the +action of light. The rods are less highly developed than the cones. +Both rods and cones connect at their base with neurones that pass the +activity along through the optic nerve to the brain. + +The internal ear contains sense cells of three rather similar kinds, +all being "hair cells", Instead of a single {192} sensitive tip, each +cell has a number of fine hair-tips, and it is these that first +respond to the physical stimulus. In the cochlea, the part of the +inner ear concerned with hearing, the hairs are shaken by sound +vibrations that have reached the liquid in which the whole end-organ +is immersed. In the "semicircular canals", a part of the inner ear +that is concerned not with sound but with rotary movements of the +head, we find hair cells again, their hair-tips being matted together +and so located as to be bent, like reeds growing on the bottom of a +brook, by currents of the liquid filling the canals. In the +"vestibule", the central part of the inner ear, the hair-tips of the +sense cells are matted together, and in the mat are imbedded little +particles of stony matter, called the "otoliths". When the head is +inclined in any direction, these heavy particles sag and bend the +hairs, so stimulating them; and the same result occurs when a sudden +motion up or down or in any direction is given to the head. Around the +base of the sense cells, in any of these parts of the internal ear, +are twined the fine endings of sensory axons, which are excited by the +activity of the sense cells, and pass the activity on to the brain. + + +Accessory sense-apparatus. + +Every sense except the "pain sense" has more or less of this. The +hairs of the skin are accessory to the sense of touch. A touch on a +hair is so easily felt that we often think of the hairs as sensitive; +but really it is the skin that is sensitive, or, rather, it is the +sensory axon terminating around the root of the hair in the skin. The +tongue can be thought of as accessory apparatus serving the sense of +taste, and the breathing apparatus as accessory to the sense of smell, +"tasting" being largely a tongue movement that brings the substance to +the taste cells, and "smelling" of anything being largely a series of +little inspiratory movements that carry the odor-laden air to the +olfactory part of the nasal cavity. + +{193} + +But it is in the eye and the ear that the highest development of +accessory sense apparatus has taken place. All of the eye except the +retina, and all of the ear except the sense cells and the sensory +axons, are accessory. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 28.--Horizontal cross section through the right +eyeball. (Figure text: cornea, ciliary muscle, retina, choroid. +sclerotic, Optic Nerve)] + + +The eye is an optical instrument, like the camera. In fact, it is a +camera, the sensitive plate being the retina, which differs indeed +from the ordinary photographic plate in recovering after an exposure +so as to be ready for another. Comparing the eye with the camera, we +see that the eyeball corresponds to the box, the outer tough coat +{194} of the eyeball (the "sclerotic" coat) taking the place of the +wood or metal of which the box is built, and the deeply pigmented +"choroid" coat, that lines the sclerotic, corresponding to the coating +of paint used to blacken the inside of the camera box and prevent +stray light from getting in and blurring the picture. At the front of +the eye, where light is admitted, the sclerotic is transformed into +the transparent "cornea", and the choroid into the contractile "iris", +with the hole in its center that we call "the pupil of the eye". + + +[Illustration: Fig. 29.--Diagram to show the course of the sound waves +through the outer and middle ear and into the inner ear. The arrow is +placed within the "meatus," and points in the direction taken by the +sound waves. See text for their further course. (Figure text: cochlea, +vestibule, semicircular canal, ossicles, Eustachian, ear drum)] + + +The iris corresponds to the adjustable diaphragm of the camera. Just +behind the pupil is the lens of the eye, which also is adjustable by +the action of a little muscle, called the "ciliary muscle". This +muscle corresponds to the focussing mechanism of the camera; by it the +eye is focussed on near or far objects. The eye really {195} has two +lenses, for the cornea acts as a lens, but is not adjustable. The +"aqueous and vitreous humors" fill the eyeball and keep it in shape, +while still, being transparent, they allow the light to pass through +them on the way to the retina. The retina is a thin coat, lying inside +the choroid at the back of the eyeball, and having the form of a +hollow hemisphere. The light, coming through the pupil and traversing +the vitreous humor, strikes the retina from the inside of the eyeball. +Other accessory apparatus of the eye includes the lids, the tear +glands, and the muscles that turn the eyeball in any direction. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 30.--Two views of the internal ear. These views +show the shape of the internal ear cavity. The sense organs lie inside +this cavity. Notice how the three semi-circular canals lie in three +perpendicular planes. (Figure text: cochlea, vestibule, 3 Canals)] + + +The ear is about as complex a piece of mechanism as the eye. We speak +of the "outer", "middle" and "inner" ear. The outer, in such an animal +as the horse, serves as a movable ear trumpet, catching the sound +waves and concentrating them upon the ear drum, or middle ear. The +human external ear seems to accomplish little; it can be cut off +without noticeably affecting hearing. The most essential part of the +external ear is the "meatus" or hole that allows the sound waves to +pass through the skin to the tympanic membrane or drum head. The sound +waves throw this membrane into vibration, and the vibration is +transmitted, by an assembly of three little bones, across the +air-filled cavity {196} of the middle ear to an opening leading to the +water-filled cavity of the inner ear. This opening from the middle to +the inner ear is closed by a membrane in which one end of the assembly +of little bones is imbedded, as the other end is imbedded in the +tympanic membrane; and thus the vibrations are transmitted from the +tympanic membrane to the liquid of the inner ear. Once started in this +liquid, the vibrations are propagated through it to the sense cells of +the cochlea and stimulate them in the way already suggested. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 31.--A small sample of the sense cells of the +cochlea. The hairs of the sense cells are shaken by the vibration of +the water, and pass the impulse back to the end-brushes of the +auditory axons, The tectorial membrane looks as if it might act as a +damper, but may be concerned, as "accessory apparatus," in the +stimulation of the hair cells. The basilar membrane consists in part +of fibers extending across between the ledges of bone; these fibers +are arranged somewhat after the manner of piano strings, and have +suggested the "piano theory" of hearing, to be mentioned later in the +chapter. (Figure text: water space, membrane, Tectorial membrane, bone, +soft tissue, basilar membrane, auditory axons to brain stem, nerve +cells of auditory nerves, auditory hair cells with end brushes of +auditory axons)] + + +Further study of the accessory apparatus of the eye and ear can be +recommended as very interesting, but the little that has been said +will serve as an introduction to the study of sensation. + + +{197} + +Analysis of Sensations + +Prominent among the psychological problems regarding sensation is that +of analysis. Probably each sense gives comparatively few elementary +sensations, and many blends or compounds of these elements. To +identify the elements is by no means a simple task, for under ordinary +circumstances what we get is a compound, and it is only by carefully +controlling the stimulus that we are able to get the elements before +us; and even then the question whether these are really elementary +sensations can scarcely be settled by direct observation. + +Along with the search for elementary sensations goes identification of +the stimuli that arouse them, and also a study of the sensations +aroused by any combination of stimuli. Our task now will be to ask +these questions regarding each of the senses. + + +The Skin Senses + +Rough and smooth, hard and soft, moist and dry, hot and cold, itching, +tickling, pricking, stinging, aching are skin sensations; but some of +these are almost certainly compounds. The most successful way of +isolating the elements out of these compounds is to explore the skin, +point by point, with weak stimuli of different kinds. If a blunt metal +point, or the point of a lead pencil, a few degrees cooler than the +skin, is passed slowly over the skin, at most points no sensation +except that of contact arises, but at certain points there is a clear +sensation of cold. Within an area an inch square on the back of the +hand, several of these _cold spots_ can be found; and when the +exploration is carefully made, and the cold spots marked, they will be +found to give the same sensation every time. Substitute a metal point +a few {198} degrees warmer than the skin, and a few spots will be +found that give the sensation of warmth, these being the _warmth +spots_. Use a sharp point, like that of a needle or of a sharp +bristle, pressing it moderately against the skin, and you get at most +points simply the sensation of contact, but at quite a number of +points a small, sharp pain sensation arises. These are the _pain +spots_. Finally, if the skin is explored with a hair of proper length +and thickness, no sensation at all will be felt at most points, +because the hair bends so readily when one end of it is pressed +against the skin as not to exert sufficient force to arouse a +sensation; but a number of points are found where a definite sensation +of touch or contact is felt; these are the _touch spots_. + +No other varieties of "spots" are found, and the four sensations of +touch, warmth, cold and pain are believed to be the only elementary +skin sensations. Itch, stinging and aching seem to be the same as +pain. Tickle is touch, usually light touch or a succession of light +touches. Smooth and rough are successions of touch sensations. Moist +is usually a compound of smooth and cold. Hard and soft combine touch +and the muscular sensation of resistance. + +Hot and cold require more discussion. The elementary sensations are +warmth and coolness, rather than hot and cold. Hot and cold are +painful, and the fact is that strong temperature stimuli arouse the +pain spots as well as the warmth or cold spots. Hot, accordingly, is a +sensation compounded of warmth and pain, and cold a sensation composed +of coolness and pain. More than this, when a cold spot is touched with +a point heated well above the skin temperature (best to a little over +100 Fahrenheit), the curious fact is noted that the cold spot responds +with its normal sensation of cold. This is called the "paradoxical +cold sensation". From this fact it is probable that a hot object +excites the cold sensation, along with those of warmth and {199} pain; +so that the sensation of heat is a blend of the three. Another curious +fact is that a very cold object produces a burning sensation +indistinguishable from that of a hot object; so that the sensation of +great cold, like that of heat, is probably a blend of the three +elementary sensations of warmth, cold and pain. + + + [Illustration: Fig. 32.--Diagram of various sorts of sensory + end-organ found in the skin. + + A is a hair end-organ; the sensory axons can be seen coiling around + the root of the hair; evidently a touch on the hair, outside, would + squeeze the coiled axon and stimulate it. The hair is a bit of + "accessory apparatus." + + B is a touch corpuscle, consisting of a coiled axon-end surrounded + by a little cone of other tissue. + + C is an end-bulb, presumably belonging to the temperature sense. It + has, again, a coiled axon-end surrounded by other tissue. The + "coils" are really much more finely branched than the diagram shows. + + D is a free-branched nerve end, consisting simply of a branched + axon, with no accessory apparatus. It is the pain-sense organ. + + E is a corpuscle of a type found in the subcutaneous tissue, as well + as in more interior parts of the body. It contains an axon-end + surrounded by a layered capsule.] + + +The stimulus that arouses the touch sensation is a bending of the +skin. That which arouses warmth or cold is of {200} course a +temperature stimulus, but, strange as it may seem, the exact nature of +the effective stimulus has not been agreed upon. Either it is a +warming or cooling of the skin, or it is the existence of a higher or +lower temperature in the skin than that to which the skin is at the +moment "adapted". This matter will become clearer when we later +discuss adaptation. The stimulus that arouses the pain sensation may +be mechanical (as a needle prick), or thermal (heat or cold), or +chemical (as the drop of acid), or electrical; but in any case it must +be strong enough to injure or nearly to injure the skin. In other +words, the pain sense organ is not highly sensitive, but requires a +fairly strong stimulus; and thus it is fitted to give warning of +stimuli that threaten injury. + +Several kinds of sensory end-organ are found in the skin. There is the +"spherical end-bulb", into which a sensory axon penetrates; it is +believed to be the sense organ for cold. There is the rather similar +"cylindrical end-bulb" believed to be the sense organ for warmth. +There is the "touch corpuscle", found in the skin of the palms and +soles, and consisting, like the end-bulbs, of a mass of accessory +cells with a sensory axon ramifying inside it; this is an end-organ +for the sense of touch. There is the hair end-organ, consisting of a +sensory axon coiled about the root of the hair; this, also, is a touch +receptor. Finally, there is the "free-branched nerve end", consisting +simply of the branching of a sensory axon, with no accessory apparatus +whatever; and this is the pain receptor. Perhaps the pain receptor +requires no accessory apparatus because it does not need to be +extremely sensitive. + +Now since we find, in the skin, "spots" responsive to four quite +different stimuli, giving four quite different sensations, and +apparently provided with different types of end-organs, it has become +customary to speak of four skin senses in place of the traditional +"sense of touch". We {201} speak of the pain sense, the warmth sense, +the cold sense, and the pressure sense, which last is the sense of +touch proper. + + +The Sense of Taste + +Analysis has been as successful in the sense of taste as in cutaneous +sensation. Ordinarily we speak of an unlimited number of tastes, every +article of food having its own characteristic taste. Now the interior +of the mouth possesses the four skin senses in addition to taste, and +many tastes are in part composed of touch, warmth, cold or pain. A +"biting taste" is a compound of pain with taste proper, and a "smooth +taste" is partly touch. The consistency of the food, soft, tough, +brittle, gummy, also contributes, by way of the muscle sense, to the +total "taste". But in addition to all these sensations from the mouth, +the flavor of the food consists largely of odor. Food in the mouth +stimulates the sense of smell along with that of taste, the odor of +the food reaching the olfactory organ by way of the throat and the +rear passage to the nose. If the nose is held tightly so as to prevent +all circulation of air through it, most of the "tastes" of foods +vanish; coffee and quinine then taste alike, the only _taste_ of each +being bitter, and apple juice cannot be distinguished from onion +juice. + +But when the nose is excluded, and when cutaneous and muscular +sensations are deducted, there still remain a few genuine tastes. +These are sweet, sour, bitter and salty--and apparently no more. These +four are the elementary taste sensations, all others being compounds. +The papillae of the tongue, with their little "pits" already spoken +of, correspond to the "spots" of the skin, with this difference, +however, that the papillae do not each give a single sensation. Some +of them give only two, some only three of the four tastes; and the +bitter taste is aroused principally from {202} the back of the tongue, +the sweet from the tip, the sour from the sides, the salty from both +tip and sides. + +The stimulus to the sense of taste is something of a chemical nature. +The tasteable substances must be in solution in order to penetrate the +pits and get to the sensitive tips of the taste cells. If the upper +surface of the tongue is first dried, a dry lump of sugar or salt laid +on it gives no sensation of taste until a little saliva has +accumulated and dissolved some of the substance. + +Exactly what is the chemical agent that produces a given taste +sensation is a problem of some difficulty. Many different substances +give the sensation of bitter, and the question is, what there is +common to all these substances. The sweet taste is aroused not only by +sugar, but by glycerine, saccharine, and even "sugar of lead" (lead +acetate). The sour taste is aroused by most acids, but not by all, and +also by some substances that are not chemically acids. Thus the +chemistry of taste stimuli involves something not as yet understood. + +Though there is this uncertainty regarding the stimulus, on the whole +the sense of taste affords a fine example of success achieved by +experimental methods in the analysis of complex sensations. At the +same time it affords a fine example of the fusion of different +sensations into characteristic _blends_. The numerous "tastes" of +every-day life, though found on analysis to be compounded of taste, +smell, touch, pain, temperature and muscle sensations, have the effect +of units. The taste of lemonade, for example, compounded of sweet, +sour, cold and lemon odor, has the effect of a single characteristic +sensation. It can be analyzed, but it ordinarily appears as a unit. +This is true generally of blends; indeed, what we mean by blending is +that, while the component sensations are still present and can be +found by careful attention, they are not simply present together {203} +but are compounded into a characteristic total. Each elementary +sensation entering into the blend gives up some of its own quality, +as, in the case of lemonade, neither the sweet nor the sour is quite +so distinct and obtrusive as either would be if present alone. The +same is true of the lemon odor, and it is true generally of the odor +components that enter into the "tastes" of food. Were the odor +components in these tastes as clear and distinct as they are when the +same substance is smelled outside the mouth, we could not fail to +notice that the "tastes" were largely composed of odor. The obtrusive +thing about a blend is the total effect, not the elementary sensations +that are blended. + + +The Sense of Smell + +The great variety of odors long resisted every attempt at +psychological analysis, largely because the olfactory end-organ is so +secluded in position. You cannot apply stimuli to separate parts of +it, as you can to the skin or tongue. But, recently, good progress has +been made, [Footnote: By Henning.] by assembling almost all possible +odors, and becoming thoroughly acquainted with them, not as +substances, but simply as odors, and noting their likenesses and +differences. It seems possible now to state that there are _six +elementary odors_, as follows: + +1. Spicy, found in pepper, cloves, nutmeg, etc. + +2. Flowery, found in heliotrope, etc. + +3. Fruity, found in apple, orange oil, vinegar, etc. + +4. Resinous, found in turpentine, pine needles, etc. + +5. Foul, found in hydrogen sulphide, etc. + +6. Scorched, found in tarry substances. + +These being the elements, there are many compound odors. The odor of +roasted coffee is a compound of resinous and scorched, peppermint a +compound of fruity and spicy. + +{204} + +Each elementary odor corresponds to a certain characteristic in the +chemical constitution of the stimulus. + +The sense of smell is extremely delicate, responding to very minute +quantities of certain substances diffused in the air. It is extremely +useful in warning us against bad air and bad food. It has also +considerable esthetic value. + + +Organic Sensation + +The term "organic sensation" is used to cover a variety of sensations +from the internal organs, such as hunger, thirst, nausea, suffocation +and less definite bodily sensations that color the emotional tone of +any moment, contributing to "euphoria" and also to disagreeable states +of mind. Hunger is a sensation aroused by the rubbing together of the +stomach walls when the stomach, being ready for food, begins its +churning movements. Careful studies of sensations from the internal +organs reveal astonishingly little of sensation arising there, but +there can be little doubt that the sensations just listed really arise +where they seem to arise, in the interior of the trunk. + +Little has been done to determine the elementary sensations in this +field; probably the organic sensations that every one is familiar with +are blends rather than elements. + + +The Sense of Sight + +Of the tremendous number and variety of visual sensations, the great +majority are certainly compounds. Two sorts of compound sensation can +be distinguished here: _blends_ similar to those of taste or smell, +and _patterns_ which scarcely occur among sensations of taste and +smell, though they are found, along with blends, in cutaneous +sensation. Heat, compounded of warmth, cold and pain sensations, is an +{205} excellent example of a blend, while the compound sensation +aroused by touching the skin simultaneously with two points--or three +points, or a ring or square--is to be classed as a pattern. In a +pattern, the component parts are spread out in space or time (or in +both at once), and for that reason are more easily attended to +separately than the elements in a blend. Yet the pattern, like the +blend, has the effect of a unit. A spatial pattern has a +characteristic shape, and a temporal pattern a characteristic course +or movement. A rhythm or a tune is a good example of a temporal +pattern. + +Visual sensations are spread out spatially, and thus fall into spatial +patterns. They also are in constant change and motion, and so fall +into temporal patterns, many of which are spatial as well. The visual +sensation aroused, let us say in a young baby, by the light entering +his eye from a human face, is a spatial pattern; the visual sensation +aroused by some one's turning down the light is a pure temporal +pattern; while the sensation from a person seen moving across the room +is a pattern both spatial and temporal. Finding the elements of a +visual pattern would mean finding the smallest possible bits of it, +which would probably be the sensations due to the action of single +rods and cones, just as the smallest bit of a cutaneous sensation +would be due to the exciting of a single touch spot, warmth spot, cold +spot or pain spot. + +Analyzing a visual blend is quite a different job. Given the color +pink, for example, let it be required to discover whether this is a +simple sensation or a blend of two or more elementary sensations. +Studying it intently, we see that it can be described as a whitish +red, and if we are willing to accept this analysis as final, we +conclude that pink is a blend of the elementary sensations of white +and red. Of the thousands and thousands of distinguishable hues, +shades {206} and tints, only a few are elements and the rest are color +blends; and our main problem now is to identify the elements. Notice +that we are not seeking for the physical elements of light, nor for +the primary pigments of the painter's art, but for the elementary +_sensations_. Our knowledge of physics and painting, indeed, is likely +to lead us astray. Sensations are our responses to the physical +stimulus, and the psychological question is, what fundamental +responses we make to this class of stimuli. + +Suppose, without knowing anything of pigments or of the physics of +light, we got together a collection of bits of color of every shade +and tint, in order to see what we could discover about visual +sensations. Leaving aside the question of elements for the moment, we +might first try to _classify_ the bits of color. We could sort out a +pile of reds, a pile of blues, a pile of browns, a pile of grays, +etc., but the piles would shade off one into another. The salient fact +about colors is the gradual transition from one to another. We can +arrange them in _series_ better than we can classify them. They can be +serially arranged in three different ways, according to brightness or +intensity, according to color-tone, and according to saturation. + +The _intensity series runs from light to dark_. We can arrange such a +series composed entirely of reds or blues or any other one color; or +we can arrange the whole collection of bits of color into a single +light-dark series. It is not always easy to decide whether a given +shade of one color is lighter or darker than a given shade of a +different color; but in a rough way, at least, every bit of whatever +color would have its place in the single intensity series. An +intensity series can, of course, be arranged in any other sense as +well as in sight. + +The _color-tone series_ is best arranged from a collection consisting +entirely of full or saturated colors. Start the {207} series with any +color and put next to this the color that most resembles it in +color-tone, i.e., in specific color quality; and so continue, adding +always the color that most resembles the one preceding. If we started +with red, the next in order might be either a yellowish red or a +bluish red. If we took the yellowish red and placed it beside the red, +then the next in order would be a still more yellowish red, and the +series would run on to yellow and then to greenish yellow, green, +bluish green, blue, violet, purple, purplish red, and so back to red. +The color-tone series returns upon itself. It is a circular series. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 33.--The color circle. R, Y, G and B, stand for +the colors red, yellow, green and blue. The shaded portion corresponds +to the spectrum or rainbow. Complementary colors (see later) lie +diametrically opposite to each other on the circumference.] + + +A _saturation series_ runs from full-toned or saturated colors to pale +or dull. Since we can certainly say of a pale blue that it is less +saturated than a vivid red, etc., we could, theoretically, arrange our +whole collection of bits of color in a single saturation series, but +our judgment would be very uncertain at many points. The most +significant saturation series confine themselves to a single +color-tone, {208} and also, as far as possible, to a constant +brightness, and extend from the most vivid color sensation obtainable +with this color-tone and brightness, through a succession of less and +less strongly colored sensations of the same tone and brightness, to a +dead gray of the same brightness. Any such saturation series +terminates in a neutral gray, which is light or dark to match the rest +of the particular saturation series. + +White, black and gray, which find no place in the color-tone series, +give an intensity series of their own, running from white through +light gray and darker and darker gray to black, and any gray in this +series may be the zero point in a saturation series of any color-tone. + +A three-dimensional diagram of the whole system of visual sensations +can be built up in the following way. Taking all the colors of the +same degree of brightness, we can arrange the most saturated, in the +order of their color-tone, around the circumference of a circle, put a +gray of the same brightness at the center of this circle, and then +arrange a saturation series for each color-tone extending from the +most saturated at the circumference to gray at the center. This would +be a two-dimensional diagram for colors having the same brightness. +For a greater brightness, we could arrange a similar circle and place +it above the first, and for a smaller brightness, a similar circle and +place it below the first, and we could thus build up a pile of +circles, ranging from the greatest brightness at the top to the least +at the bottom. But, as the colors all lose saturation when their +brightness is much increased, and also when it is much decreased, we +should make the circles smaller and smaller toward either the top or +the bottom of the pile, so that our three-dimensional diagram would +finally take the form of a double cone, with the most intense white, +like that of sunlight, at the upper point, with dead black at the +lower point, {209} and with the greatest diameter near the middle +brightness, where the greatest saturations can be obtained. The axis +of the double cone, extending from brightest white to dead black, +would give the series of neutral grays. All the thousands of +distinguishable colors, shades and tints, would find places in this +scheme. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 34.--The color cone, described in the text. +Instead of a cone, a four-sided pyramid is often used, so as to +emphasize the four main colors, red, yellow, green and blue, which are +then located at the corners of the base of the pyramid. (Figure text: +white, black, R, B, G, Y)] + + +Simpler Forms of the Color Sense + +Not every one gets all these sensations. In _color-blindness_, the +system is reduced to one or two dimensions, instead of three. There +are two principal forms of color-blindness: total, very uncommon; and +red-green blindness, fairly {210} common. The totally color-blind +individual sees only white, black, and the various shades of gray. His +system of visual sensations is reduced to one dimension, corresponding +to the axis of our double cone. + +_Red-green blindness_, very uncommon in women, is present in three or +four percent of men. It is not a disease, not curable, not corrected +by training, and not associated with any other defect of the eye, or +of the brain. It is simply a native peculiarity of the color sense. +Careful study shows that the only color sensations of the red-green +blind person are blue and yellow, along with white, black and the +grays. His color circle reduces to a straight line with yellow at one +end and blue at the other. Instead of the color circle, he has a +double saturation series, reaching from saturated yellow through +duller yellows to gray and thence through dull blues to saturated +blue. What appears to the normal eye as red, orange or grass green +appears to him as more or less unsaturated yellow; and what appears to +the normal eye as greenish blue, violet and purple appears to him as +more or less unsaturated blue. His color system can be represented in +two dimensions, one for the double saturation series, +yellow-gray-blue, and the other for the intensity series, +white-gray-black. + +Color-blindness, always interesting and not without some practical +importance (since the confusions of the color-blind eye might lead to +mistaking signals in navigation or railroading), takes on additional +significance when we discover the curious fact that _every one is +color-blind_--in certain parts of the retina. The outermost zone of +the retina, corresponding to the margin of the field of view, is +totally color-blind (or very nearly so), and an intermediate zone, +between this and the central area of the retina that sees all the +colors, is red-green blind, and delivers only blue and yellow +sensations, along with white, black and gray. Take {211} a spot of +yellow or blue and move it in from the side of the head into the +margin of the field of view and then on towards the center. When it +first appears in the margin, it simply appears gray, but when it has +come inwards for a certain distance it changes to yellow. If a red or +green spot is moved in similarly, it first appears gray, then takes on +a faint tinge of yellow, and finally, as it approaches the center of +the field of view, appears in its true color. The outer zone gets only +black and white, the intermediate zone gets, in addition to these, +yellow and blue, and the central area adds red and green (and with +them all the colors). + + +[Illustration: Fig. 35.--Color cones of the retina. F is the fovea, or +central area of clearest vision. (Figure text: all colors, white-black & +yellow-blue, white-black)] + + +Now as to the question of elements, let us see how far we can go, +keeping still to the sensations, without any reference to the +stimulus. If a collection of bits of color is presented to a class of +students who have not previously studied this matter, with the request +that each select those colors that seem to him elementary and not +blends, there is practically unanimous agreement on three colors, red, +yellow and blue; and there are some votes for green also, but almost +none for orange, violet, purple, brown or any other colors. {212} +except white and black. That white and black are elementary sensations +is made clear by the case of total color-blindness, since in this +condition there are no other visual sensations from which white and +black could be compounded, and these two differ so completely from +each other that it would be impossible to think of white as made up of +black, or black of white. Gray, on the other hand, appears like a +blend of black and white. In the same way, red-green blindness +demonstrates the reality of yellow and blue as elementary sensations, +since neither of them could be reduced to a blend of the other with +white or black; and there are no other colors present in this form of +color vision to serve as possible elements out of which yellow and +blue might be compounded. That white, black, yellow and blue are +elementary sensations is therefore clear from the study of visual +sensations alone; and there are indications that red and green are +also elements. + + +Visual Sensations as Related to the Stimulus + +Thus far, we have said nothing of the stimulus that arouses visual +sensations. Light, the stimulus, is physically a wave motion, its +vibrations succeeding each other at the rate of 500,000000,000000 +vibrations, more or less, per second, and moving through space with a +speed of 186,000 miles per second. The "wave-length", or distance from +the crest of one wave to the crest of the next following, is measured +in millionths of a millimeter. + +The most important single step ever taken towards a knowledge of the +physics of light, and incidentally towards a knowledge of visual +sensations, was Newton's analysis of white light into the spectrum. He +found that when white light is passed through a prism, it is broken up +into all the colors of the rainbow or spectrum. Sunlight consists of a +{213} mixture of waves of various lengths. At one end of the spectrum +are the long waves (wave-length 760 millionths of a millimeter), at +the other end are the short waves (wavelength 390), and in between are +waves of every intermediate length, arranged in order from the longest +to the shortest. The longest waves give the sensation of red, and the +shortest that of violet, a slightly reddish blue. + +Outside the limits of the visible spectrum, however, there are waves +still longer and shorter, incapable of arousing the retina, though the +very long waves, beyond the red, arouse the sensation of warmth from +the skin, and the very short waves, beyond the violet, though arousing +none of the senses, do effect the photographic plate. Newton +distinguished seven colors in the visible spectrum, red, orange, +yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet; but there is nothing specially +scientific about this list, since physically there are not seven but +an unlimited number of wave-lengths included in the spectrum, varying +continuously from the longest at the red end to the shortest at the +violet; while psychologically the number of distinguishable colors in +the spectrum, though not unlimited, is at least much larger than +seven. Between red and orange, for instance, there are quite a number +of distinguishable orange-reds and reddish oranges. + +If now we ask what differences in the stimulus give rise to the three +kinds of difference in visual sensation that were spoken of +previously, we find that color-tone depends on the wave-length of the +light, brightness on the energy of the stimulus, i.e., on the +amplitude of the vibration, and saturation on the mixture of long and +short wave-lengths in a complex light-stimulus--the more mixture, the +less saturation. + +These are the general correspondences between the light stimulus and +the visual sensation; but the whole relationship is much more complex. +Brightness depends, not only on the energy of the stimulus, but also +on wave-length. The {214} retina is tuned to waves of medium length, +corresponding to the yellow, which arouse much brighter sensation than +long or short waves of the same physical energy. Otherwise put, the +sensitivity of the retina is greatest for medium wavelengths, and +decreases gradually towards the ends of the spectrum, ceasing +altogether, as has been said, at wavelengths of 760 at the red end and +of 390 at the violet end. + +Saturation, depending primarily on amount of mixture of different +wave-lengths, depends also on the particular wavelengths acting, and +also on their amplitude. So, the red and blue of the spectrum are more +saturated than the yellow and green; and very bright or very dim +light, however homogeneous, gives a less saturated sensation than a +stimulus of medium strength. + + +Color Mixing + +Color-tone depends on the wave-length, as has been said, but this is +far from the whole truth; the whole truth, indeed, is one of the most +curious and significant facts about color vision. We have said that +each color-tone is the response to a particular wave-length. But any +color-tone can be got without its particular wave-length being present +at all; all that is necessary is that wave-lengths centering about +this particular one shall be present. A mixed light, consisting of two +wave-lengths, the one longer and the other shorter than the particular +wave which when acting alone gives a certain color-tone, will give +that same color-tone. For example, the orange color resulting from the +isolated action of a wave-length of 650 is given also by the combined +action of wave-lengths of 600 and 700, in amounts suitably +proportioned to each other. + +A point of experimental technique: in _mixing colored lights_ for the +purpose of studying the resulting sensations, we do not mix painter's +pigments, since the physical {215} conditions then would be far from +simple, but we mix the lights themselves by throwing them together +either into the eye, or upon a white screen. We can also, on account +of a certain lag or hang-over in the response of the retina, mix +lights by rapidly alternating them, and get the same effect as if we +had made them strike the retina simultaneously. + +By mixing a red light with a yellow, in varying proportions, all the +color-tones between red and yellow can be got--reddish orange, orange +and yellowish orange. By mixing yellow and green lights, we get all +the greenish yellow and yellowish green color-tones; and by mixing +green and blue lights we get the bluish greens and greenish blues. +Finally, by mixing blue and red lights, in varying proportions, we get +violet, purple and purplish red. Purple has no place in the spectrum, +since it is a sensation which cannot be aroused by the action of any +single wave-length, but only by the mixture of long and short waves. + +To get all the color-tones, then, we need not employ all the +wave-lengths, but can get along with only four. In fact, we can get +along with three. Red, green and blue will do the trick. Red and green +lights, combined, would give the yellows; green and blue would give +the greenish blues; and red and blue would give purple and violet. + +The sensation of white results--to go back to Newton--from the +combined action of all the wave-lengths. But the stimulus _need_ not +contain _all_ the wave-lengths. Four are enough; the three just +mentioned would be enough. More surprising still, two are enough, if +chosen just right. Mix a pure yellow light with a pure blue, and you +will find that you get the sensation of white--or gray, if the lights +used are not strong. + +[Footnote: When you mix blue and yellow _pigments_, each absorbs part +of the wave-lengths of white light, and what is left after this double +absorption may be predominantly green. This is absolutely different +from the addition of blue to yellow light; addition gives white, not +green.] + +{216} + +Lights, or wave-lengths, which when acting together on the retina give +the sensation of white or gray, are said to be _complementary_. +Speaking somewhat loosely, we sometimes say that two _colors_ are +complementary when they mix to produce white. Strictly, the colors--or +at least the color sensations--are not mixed; for when yellow and blue +lights are mixed, the resulting sensation is by no means a mixture of +blue and yellow sensations, but the sensation of white in which there +is no trace of either blue or yellow. Mixing the stimuli which, acting +separately, give two complementary colors, arouses the colorless +sensation of white. + +Blue and yellow, then, are complementary. Suppose we set out to find +the complementary of red. Mixing red and yellow lights gives the +color-tones intermediate between these two; mixing red and green still +gives the intermediate color-tones, but the orange and yellow and +yellowish green so got lack saturation, being whitish or grayish. Now +mix red with bluish green, and this grayishness is accentuated, and if +just the right wave-length of bluish green is used, no trace of orange +or yellow or grass green is obtained, but white or gray. Red and +bluish green are thus complementary. The complement of orange light is +a greenish blue, and that of greenish yellow is violet. The typical +green (grass green) has no single wave-length complementary to it, but +it does give white when mixed with a compound of long and short waves, +which compound by itself gives the sensation of purple; so that we may +speak of green and purple as complementary. + + +What Are the Elementary Visual Sensations? + +Returning now to the question of elementary sensations, which we laid +aside till we had examined the relationship of the sensations to the +stimulus, we need to be on our guard against physics, or at least +against being so much impressed with the physics of light as to forget +that we are concerned with the _response_ of the organism to physical +light--a matter on which physics cannot speak the final word. + +{217} + + Fig. 36.--(After König.) The color triangle, a map of the laws of + color mixture. The spectral colors are arranged in order along the + heavy solid line, and the purples along the heavy dotted line. The + numbers give the wave-lengths of different parts of the spectrum. + Inside the heavy line are located the pale tints of each color, + merging from every side into white, which is located at the point W. + + Suppose equal amounts of two spectral colors are mixed: to find from + the diagram the color of the mixture. Locate the two colors on the + heavy line, draw a straight line between these two points, and the + middle of this line gives the color-tone and saturation of the + mixture. For example, mix red and yellow: then the resulting color + is a saturated reddish yellow. Mix red (760) and green (505): the + resulting yellow is non-saturated, since the straight line between + these two points lies inside the figure. If the straight line + joining two points passes through W, the colors located at the two + points are complementary. + + Spectral colors are themselves not completely saturated. The way to + get color sensations of maximum saturation is first to stare at one + color, so as to fatigue or adapt the eye for that color, and then to + turn the eye upon the complementary color, which, under these + conditions, appears fuller and richer than anything otherwise + obtainable. The corners, R, G, and B, denote colors of maximum + saturation, and the whole of the triangle outside of the heavy line + is reserved for super-saturated color sensations. + + +{end 217; text continues from 216} +{218} + +Physics tells us of the stimulus, but we are concerned with the +response. The facts of color-blindness and color mixing show very +clearly that the response does not tally in all respects with the +stimulus. Physics, then, is apt to confuse the student at this point +and lead him astray. Much impressed with the physical discovery that +_white_ light is a mixture of all wave-lengths, he is ready to believe +the sensation of white a mixed sensation. He says, "White is the sum +of all the colors", meaning that the sensation of white is compounded +of the sensations of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and +violet--which is simply not true. No one can pretend to get the +sensations of red or blue in the sensation of white, and the fact of +complementary colors shows that you cannot tell, from the sensation of +white, whether the stimulus consists of yellow and blue, or red and +bluish green, or red, green and blue, or all the wave-lengths, the +response being the same to all these various combinations. Total +color-blindness showed us, when we were discussing this matter before, +that white was an elementary sensation, and nothing that has been said +since changes that conclusion. + +Consider _black_, too. Physics says, black is the absence of light; +but this must not be twisted to mean that black is the absence of all +visual sensation. Absence of visual sensation is simply nothing, and +black is far from that. It is a sensation, as positive as any, and +undoubtedly elementary. + +From the point of view of physics, there is no reason for considering +any one color more elementary than any other. Every wave-length is +elementary; and if sensation tallied precisely with the stimulus, +every spectral color-tone would be an element. But there are obvious +objections to such a view, such as: (1) there are not nearly as many +{219} distinguishable color-tones as there are wave-lengths; (2) +orange, having a single wave-length, certainly appears to be a blend +as truly as purple, which has no single wave-length; and (3) we cannot +get away from the fact of red-green blindness, in which there are only +two color-tones, _yellow_ and _blue_. In this form of color vision +(which, we must remember, is normal in the intermediate zone of the +retina), there are certainly not as many elementary responses as there +are wave-lengths, but only one response to all the longer waves (the +sensation of yellow), one response to all the shorter waves (the +sensation of blue), one response to the combination of long and short +waves (the sensation of white), and one response to the cessation of +light (the sensation of black). These four are certainly elementary +sensations, and there are probably only a few more. + +There must be at least two more, because of the fact that two of the +sure elements, yellow and blue, are complementary. For suppose we try +to get along with one more, as _red_. Then red, blended with yellow, +would give the intervening color-tones, namely, orange with reddish +and yellowish orange; and red blended with blue would give violet and +purple; but yellow and blue would only give white or gray, and there +would be no way of getting green. We must admit _green_ as another +element. The particular red selected would be that of the red end of +the spectrum, if we follow the general vote; and the green would +probably be something very near grass green. We thus arrive at the +conclusion that there are six elementary visual responses or +sensations: white and black, yellow and blue, red and green. + +It is a curious fact that some of these elementary sensations blend +with each other, while some refuse to blend. White and black blend to +gray, and either white or black or both together will blend with any +of the four elementary colors or with any possible blend of these +four. Brown, for {220} example, is a grayish orange, that is, a blend +of white, black, red and yellow. Red blends with yellow, yellow with +green, green with blue, and blue with red. But we cannot get yellow +and blue to blend, nor red and green. When we try to get yellow and +blue to blend, by combining their appropriate stimuli, both colors +disappear, and we get simply the colorless sensation of white or gray. +When we try to get red and green to blend, both of them disappear and +we get the sensation of yellow. + + +Theories of Color Vision + +Of the most celebrated theories of color vision, the oldest, +propounded by the physicists Young and Helmholtz, recognized only +three elements, red, green and blue. Yellow they regarded as a blend +of red and green, and white as a blend of all three elements. The +unsatisfactory nature of this theory is obvious. White as a sensation +is certainly not a blend of these three color sensations, but is, +precisely, colorless; and no more is the yellow sensation a blend of +red and green. Moreover, the theory cannot do justice either to total +color-blindness, with its white and black but no colors, or to +red-green blindness, with its yellow but no red or green. + +The next prominent theory was that of the physiologist Hering. He did +justice to white and black by accepting them as elements; and to +yellow and blue likewise. The fact that yellow and blue would not +blend he accounted for by supposing them to be antagonistic responses +of the retina; when, therefore, the stimuli for both acted together on +the retina, neither of the two antagonistic responses could occur, and +what did occur was simply the more generic response of white. +Proceeding along this line, he concluded that red and green were also +antagonistic responses; but just here {221} he committed a wholly +unnecessary error, in assuming that if red and green were antagonistic +responses, the combination of their stimuli must give white, just as +with yellow and blue. Accordingly, he was forced to select as his red +and green elementary color-tones two that would be complementary; and +this meant a purplish (i.e., bluish) red, and a bluish green, with the +result that his "elementary" red and green appear to nearly every one +as compounds and not elements. It would really have been just as easy +for Hering to suppose that the red and green responses, antagonizing +each other, left the sensation yellow; and then he could have selected +that red and green which we have concluded above to have the best +claim. + +A third theory, propounded by the psychologist, Dr. Christine +Ladd-Franklin, is based on keen criticism of the previous two, and +seems to be harmonious with all the facts. She supposes that the color +sense is now in the third stage of its evolution. In the first stage +the only elements were white and black; the second stage added yellow +and blue; and the third stage red and green. The outer zone of the +retina is still in the first stage, and the intermediate zone in the +second, only the central area having reached the third. In red-green +blind individuals, the central area remains in the second stage, and +in the totally color-blind the whole retina is still in the first +stage. + +In the first stage, one response, white, was made to light of whatever +wave-length. In the second stage, this single response divided into +two, one aroused by the long waves and the other by the short. The +response to the long waves was the sensation of yellow, and that to +the short waves the sensation of blue. In the third stage, the yellow +response divided into one for the longest waves, corresponding to the +red, and one for somewhat shorter waves, corresponding to the green. +Now, when we try to get a blend of red and green {222} by combining +red and green lights, we fail because the two responses simply unite +and revert to the more primitive yellow response; and similarly when +we try to get the yellow and blue responses together, they revert to +the more primitive white response out of which they developed. + +But, since no one can pretend to _see_ yellow as a reddish green, nor +white as a bluish yellow, it is clear that the just-spoken-of union of +the red and green responses, and of the yellow and blue responses, +must take place _below the level of conscious sensation_. These unions +probably take place within the retina itself. Probably they are purely +chemical unions. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 37--The Ladd-Franklin theory of the evolution of +the color sense. (Figure text: Stage 1--white, Stage 2--yellow blue, +Stage 3--red green blue)] + + +The _very first_ response of a rod or cone to light is probably a +purely chemical reaction. Dr. Ladd-Franklin, carrying out her theory, +supposes that a light-sensitive "mother substance" in the rods and +cones is decomposed by the action of light, and gives off cleavage +products which arouse the vital activity of the rods and cones, and +thus start nerve currents coursing towards the brain. + +In the "first stage", she supposes, a _single_ big cleavage product, +which we may call W, is split off by the action of {223} light upon +the mother substance, and the vital response to W is the sensation of +white. + +In the second stage, the mother substance is capable of giving off two +smaller cleavage products, Y and B. Y is split off by the long waves +of light, and B by the short waves, and the vital response to Y is the +sensation of yellow, that to B the sensation of blue. But suppose +that, chemically, Y + B = W: then, if Y and B are both split off at +the same time in the same cone, they immediately unite into W, and the +resulting sensation is white, and neither yellow nor blue. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 38.--The cleavage products, in the three stages of +the color sense. The "mother substance" is not represented in the +diagram, but only the cleavage products which, according to the +Ladd-Franklin theory, are the direct stimuli for the color sensations. +(Figure text: 1--white, 2--yellow blue, 3--red green blue)] + + +Similarly, in the third stage, the mother substance is capable of +giving off _three_ cleavage products, R, G and B; and there are three +corresponding vital responses, the sensations of red, green and blue. +But, chemically, R + G = Y; and therefore, if R and G are split off at +the same time, they unite chemically into Y and give the sensation of +yellow. If R, G and B are all split off at the same time, they unite +chemically as follows: R + G = Y, and Y + B = W; and therefore the +resulting sensation is that of white. + +This theory of cleavage products is in good general agreement with +chemical principles, and it does justice to all the facts of color +vision, as detailed in the preceding pages. It should be added that +"for black, the theory supposes that, {224} in the interest of a +continuous field of view, objects which reflect no light at all upon +the retina have correlated with them a definite non-light +sensation--that of black." [Footnote: Quotation from Dr. +Ladd-Franklin.] + + +Adaptation + +Sensory adaptation is a change that occurs in other senses also, but +it is so much more important in the sense of sight than elsewhere that +it may best be considered here. The stimulus continues, the sensation +ceases or diminishes--that is the most striking form of sensory +adaptation. Continued action of the same stimulus puts the sense into +such a condition that it responds differently from at first, and +usually more weakly. It is much like fatigue, but it often is more +positive and beneficial than fatigue. + +The sense of smell is very subject to adaptation. On first entering a +room you clearly sense an odor that you can no longer get after +staying there for some time. This adaptation to one odor does not +prevent your sensing quite different odors. Taste shows less +adaptation than smell, but all are familiar with the decline in sweet +sensation that comes with continued eating of sweets. + +All of the cutaneous senses except that for pain are much subject to +adaptation. Continued steady pressure gives a sensation that declines +rapidly and after a time ceases altogether. The temperature sense is +usually adapted to the temperature of the skin, which therefore feels +neither warm nor cool. If the temperature of the skin is raised from +its usual level of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 or 86, this +temperature at first gives the sensation of warmth, but after a time +it gives no temperature sensation at all; the warmth sense has become +adapted to the temperature of 80 degrees; and now a temperature of 70 +will give the sensation of cool. {225} Hold one hand in water at 80 +and the other in water at 66, and when both have become adapted to +these respective temperatures, plunge them together into water at 70; +and you will find this last to feel cool to the warm-adapted hand and +warm to the cool-adapted. There are limits to this power of +adaptation. + +The muscle sense seems to become adapted to any fixed position of a +limb, so that, after the limb has remained motionless for some time, +you cannot tell in what position it is; to find out, you have only to +move it the least bit, which will excite both the muscle sense and the +cutaneous pressure sense. The sense of head rotation is adaptable, in +that a rotation which is keenly sensed at the start ceases to be felt +as it continues; but here it is not the sense cells that become +adapted, but the back flow that ceases, as will soon be explained. + +To come now to the sense of sight, we have _light adaptation, dark +adaptation_, and _color adaptation_. Go into a dark room, and at first +all seems black, but by degrees--provided there is a little light +filtering into the room--you begin to see, for your retina is becoming +dark-adapted. Now go out into a bright place, and at first you are +"blinded", but you quickly "get used" to the bright illumination and +see objects much more distinctly than at first; for your eye has now +become light-adapted. Remain for some time in a room illuminated by a +colored light (as the yellowish light of most artificial illuminants), +and by degrees the color sensation bleaches out so that the light +appears nearly white. + +Dark adaptation is equivalent to sensitizing the retina for faint +light. Photographic plates can be made of more or less sensitiveness +for use with different illuminations; but the retina automatically +alters its sensitivity to fit the illumination to which it is exposed. + + +{226} + +Rod and Cone Vision + +You will notice, in the dark room, that while you see light and shade +and the forms of objects, you do not see colors. The same is true out +of doors at night. In other words, the kind of vision that we have +when the eye is dark-adapted is totally color-blind. Another +significant fact is that the fovea is of little use in very dim light. +These facts are taken to mean that dim-light vision, or _twilight +vision_ as it is sometimes called, is _rod vision_ and not cone +vision; or, in other words, that the rods and not the cones have the +great sensitiveness to faint light in the dark-adapted eye. The cones +perhaps become somewhat dark-adapted, but the rods far outstrip them +in this direction. The fovea has no rods and hence is of little use in +very faint light. The rods have no differential responsiveness to +different wave-lengths, remaining still in the "first stage" in the +development of color vision, and consequently no colors are seen in +faint light. + +Rod vision differs then from cone vision in having only one response +to every wave-length, and in adapting itself to much fainter light. No +doubt, also, it is the rods that give to peripheral vision its great +sensitivity to moving objects. + + + +After-Images + +After-images, which might better be called after-sensations, occur in +other senses than sight, but nowhere else with such definiteness. The +main fact here is that the response outlasts the stimulus. This is +true of a muscle, and it is true of a sense organ. It takes a little +time to get the muscle, or the sense organ, started, and, once it is +in action, it takes a little time for it to stop. If you direct your +eyes towards the lamp, holding your hand or a book in front of them as +a screen, remove the screen for an {227} instant and then replace it, +you will continue for a short time to see the light after the external +stimulus has been cut off. This "positive after-image" is like the +main sensation, only weaker. There is also a "negative after-image", +best got by looking steadily at a black-and-white or colored figure +for as long as fifteen or twenty seconds, and then directing the eyes +upon a medium gray background. After a moment a sensation develops in +which black takes the place of white and white of black, while for +each color in the original sensation the complementary color now +appears. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 39.--The visual response outlasts the stimulus. +The progress of time is supposed to be from left to right in the +diagram. After the stimulus ceases, the sensation persists for a time, +at first as a positive after-image, and then as a negative +after-image, a sort of back swing. (Figure text: stimulus, sensory +response)] + + +This phenomenon of the negative after-image is the same as that of +color adaptation. Exposing the retina for some time to light of a +certain color adapts the retina to that color, bleaches that color +sensation, and, as it were, subtracts that color (or some of it) from +the gray at which the eyes are then directed; and gray (or white) +minus a color gives the complementary color. + + +Contrast + +Contrast is still another effect that occurs in other senses, but most +strikingly in vision. There is considerable in common between the +negative after-image and contrast; indeed, {228} the negative +after-image effect is also called "successive contrast". After looking +at a bright surface, one of medium brightness appears dark, while this +same medium brightness would seem bright after looking at a dark +surface. This is evidently adaptation again, and is exactly parallel +to what was found in regard to the temperature sense. After looking at +any color steadily, the complementary color appears more saturated +than usual; in fact, this is the way to secure the maximum of +saturation in color sensation. These are examples of "successive +contrast". + +"Simultaneous contrast" is something new, not covered by adaptation, +but gives the same effects as successive contrast. If you take two +pieces of the same gray paper, and place one on a black background and +the other on white, you will find the piece on the black ground to +look much brighter than the piece on the white ground. Spots of gray +on colored backgrounds are tinged with the complementary colors. The +contrast effect is most marked at the margin adjoining the background, +and grows less away from this margin. Any two adjacent surfaces +produce contrast effects in each other, though we usually do not +notice them any more than we usually notice the after-images that +occur many times in the course of the day. + + +The Sense of Hearing + +Sound, like light, is physically a wave motion, though the sound +vibrations are very different from those of light. They travel 1,100 +feet a second, instead of 186,000 miles a second. Their wave-length is +measured in feet instead of in millionths of a millimeter, and their +vibration frequencies are counted in tens, hundreds and thousands per +second, instead of in millions of millions. But sound waves vary among +themselves in the same three ways that we {229} noticed in light +waves: in amplitude, in wave-length (or vibration rate), and in degree +of mixture of different wave-lengths. + +Difference of amplitude (or energy) of sound waves produces difference +of loudness in auditory sensation, which thus corresponds to +brightness in visual sensation. Sounds can be arranged in order of +loudness, as visual sensations can be arranged in order of brightness, +both being examples of intensity series such as can be arranged in any +kind of sensation. + +Difference of wave-length of sound waves produces difference in the +_pitch_ of auditory sensation, which thus corresponds to color in +visual sensation. Pitch ranges from the lowest notes, produced by the +longest audible waves, to the highest, produced by the shortest +audible waves. It is customary, in the case of sound waves, to speak +of vibration rate instead of wave-length, the two quantities being +inversely proportional to each other (in the same conducting medium). +The lowest audible sound is one of about sixteen vibrations per +second, and the highest one of about 30,000 per second, while the +waves to which the ear is most sensitive have a vibration rate of +about 1,000 to 4,000 per second. The ear begins to lose sensitiveness +as early as the age of thirty, and this loss is most noticeable at the +upper limit, which declines slowly from this age on. + +Middle C of the piano (or any instrument) has a vibration rate of +about 260. Go up an octave from this and you double the number of +vibrations per second; go down an octave and you halve the number of +vibrations. Of any two notes that are an octave apart, the upper has +twice the vibration rate of the lower. The whole range of audible +notes, from 16 to 30,000 vibrations, thus amounts to about eleven +octaves, of which music employs about eight octaves, finding little +use for the upper and lower extremes of the {230} pitch series. The +smallest step on the piano, called the "semitone", is one-twelfth of +an octave; but it must not be supposed that this is the smallest +difference that can be perceived. A large proportion of people can +observe a difference of four vibrations, and keen ears a difference of +less than one vibration; whereas the semitone, at middle C, is a step +of about sixteen vibrations. + +_Mixture of different wave-lengths_, which in light causes difference +of saturation, may be said in sound to cause difference of purity. A +"pure tone" is the sensation aroused by a stimulus consisting wholly +of waves of the same length. Such a stimulus is almost unobtainable, +because every sounding body gives off, along with its fundamental +waves, other waves shorter than the fundamental and arousing tone +sensations of higher pitch, called "overtones". A piano string which, +vibrating as a whole, gives 260 vibrations per second (middle C), also +vibrates at the same time in halves, thus giving 520 vibrations per +second; in thirds, giving 780 per second; and in other smaller +segments. The whole stimulus given off by middle C of the piano is +thus a compound of fundamental and overtones; and the sensation +aroused by this complex stimulus is not a "pure tone" but a blend of +fundamental tone and overtones. By careful attention and training, we +can "hear out" the separate overtones from the total blend; but +ordinarily we take the blend as a unit (just as we take the taste of +lemonade as a unit), and hear it simply as middle C of a particular +quality, namely the piano quality. Another instrument will give a +somewhat different combination of overtones in the stimulus, and that +means a different quality of tone in our sensation. We do not +ordinarily analyze these complex blends, but we distinguish one from +another perfectly well, and thus can tell whether a piano or a cornet +is playing. The difference between different instruments, which we +have spoken of as a {231} difference in quality or purity of tone, is +technically known as _timbre_; and the timbre of an instrument depends +on the admixture of shorter waves with the fundamental vibration which +gives the main pitch of a note. + +Akin to the timbre of an instrument is the _vowel_ produced by the +human mouth in any particular position. Each vowel appears to consist, +physically, of certain high notes produced by the resonance of the +mouth cavity. In the position for "ah", the cavity gives a certain +tone; in the position for "ee" it gives a higher tone. Meanwhile, the +pitch of the voice, determined by the vibration of the vocal cords, +may remain the same or vary in any way. The vowel tones differ from +overtones in remaining the same without regard to the pitch of the +fundamental tone that is being sung or spoken, whereas overtones move +up or down along with their fundamental. The vowels, as auditory +sensations, are excellent examples of blends, in that, though +compounds, they usually remain unanalyzed and are taken simply as +units. What has been said of the vowels applies also to the +semi-vowels and continuing consonants, such as l, m, n, r, f, th, s +and sh. + +Other consonants are to be classed with the noises. Like a vowel, and +like the timbre of an instrument, a noise is a blend of simple tones; +but the fundamental tone in a noise-blend is not so preponderant as to +give a clear pitch to the total sound, while the other tones present +are often too brief or too unsteady to give a tonal effect. + + +Comparison of Sight and Hearing + +The two senses of sight and hearing have many curious differences, and +one of the most curious appears in mixing different wave-lengths. +Compare the effect of throwing two colored lights together into the +eye with the effect of {232} throwing two notes together into the ear. +Two notes sounded together may give either a harmonious blend or a +discord; now the discord is peculiar to the auditory realm; mixed +colors never clash, though colors seen side by side may do so to a +certain extent. A discord of tones is characterized by imperfect +blending (something unknown in color mixing), and by roughness due to +the presence of "beats" (another thing unknown in the sense of sight). +Beats are caused by the interference between sound waves of slightly +different vibration rate. If you tune two whistles one vibration apart +and sound them together, you get a tone that swells once a second; +tune them ten vibrations apart and you get ten swellings or beats per +second, and the effect is rough and disagreeable. + +Aside from discord, a tone blend is really not such a different sort +of thing from a color blend. A chord, in which the component notes +blend while they can still, by attention and training, be "heard out +of the chord", is quite analogous with such color blends as orange, +purple or bluish green. At the same time, there is a curious +difference here. By analogy with color mixing, you would expect two +notes, as C and E, when combined, to give the same sensation as the +single intermediate note D. Nothing of the kind! Were it so, music +would be very different from what it is, if indeed it were possible at +all. But the real difference between the two senses at this point is +better expressed by saying that D does not give the effect of a +combination of C and E, or, in general, that no one note ever gives +the effect of a combination or blend of notes higher and lower than +itself. Homogeneous orange light gives the sensation of a blend of red +and yellow; but there is nothing like this in the auditory sphere. In +light, some wave-lengths give the effect of simple colors, as red and +yellow; and other wave-lengths the effect of blends, as greenish +yellow or bluish {233} green; but in sound, every wave-length gives a +tone which seems just as elementary as any other. + +There is nothing in auditory sensation to correspond to white, no +simple sensation resulting from the combined action of all +wave-lengths. Such a combination gives noise, but nothing that seems +particularly simple. There is nothing auditory to correspond with +black, for silence seems to be a genuine absence of sensation. There +are no complementary tones like the complementary colors, no tones +that destroy each other instead of blending. In a word, auditory +sensation tallies with its stimulus much more closely than visual +sensation does with its; and the main secret of this advantage of the +sense of hearing is that it has a much larger number of elementary +responses. Against the six elementary visual sensations are to be set +auditory elements to the number of hundreds or thousands. From the +fact that every distinguishable pitch gives a tone which seems as +simple and unblended as any other, the conclusion would seem to be +that each was an element; and this would mean thousands of elements. +On the other hand, the fact that tones close together in pitch sound +almost alike may mean that they have elements in common and are thus +themselves compounds; but still there would undoubtedly be hundreds of +elements. + +Both sight and hearing are served by great armies of sense cells, but +the two armies are organized on very different principles. In the +retina, the sense cells are spread out in such a way that each is +affected by light from one particular direction; and thus the retina +gives excellent space information. But each retinal cell is affected +by any light that happens to come from its particular direction. Every +cone, in the central area of the retina, makes all the elementary +visual responses and gives all the possible color sensations; so it is +not strange that the number of visual {234} elements is small. On the +other hand, the ear, having no sound lens, has no way of keeping +separate the sounds from different directions (and accordingly gives +only meager indications of the direction of sound); but its sense +cells are so spread out as to be affected, some by sound of one +wavelength, others by other wave-lengths. The different tones do not +all come from the same sense cells. Some of the auditory cells give +the low tones, others the medium tones, still others the high tones; +and since there are thousands of cells, there may be thousands of +elementary responses. + + +Theory of Hearing + +The most famous theory of the action of the inner ear is the "piano +theory" of Helmholtz. The foundation of the theory is the fact that +the sense cells of the cochlea stand on the "basilar membrane", a +long, narrow membrane, stretched between bony attachments at either +side, and composed partly of fibers running crosswise, very much as +the strings of a piano or harp are stretched between two side bars. If +you imagine the strings of a piano to be the warp of a fabric and +interwoven with crossing fibers, you have a fair idea of the structure +of the basilar membrane, except for the fact that the "strings" of the +basilar membrane do not differ in length anywhere like as much as the +strings of the piano must differ in order to produce the whole range +of notes. Now, a piano string can be thrown into "sympathetic +vibration", as when you put on the "loud pedal" (remove the dampers +from the strings) and then sing a note into the piano. You will find +that the string of the pitch sung has been thrown into vibration by +the action of the sound waves sung against it. + +Now suppose the strings of the basilar membrane to be tuned to notes +of all different pitches, within the range of {235} audible +vibrations: then each string would be thrown into sympathetic +vibration whenever waves of its own vibration rate reached it by way +of the outer and middle ear; and the sense cells standing over the +vibrating fibers would be shaken and excited. The theory is very +attractive because it would account so nicely for the great number of +elementary tone sensations (there are over 20,000 fibers or strings in +the basilar membrane), as well as for various other facts of +hearing--if we could only believe that the basilar membrane did +vibrate in this simple manner, fiber by fiber. But (1) the fabric into +which the strings of the membrane are woven would prevent their +vibrating as freely and independently as the theory requires; (2) the +strings do not differ in length a hundredth part of what they would +need to differ in order to be tuned to all notes from the lowest to +the highest, and there is no sign of differences in stretch or in +loading of the strings to make up for their lack of difference in +length; and (3) a little model of the basilar membrane, exposed to +sound waves, is seen to be thrown into vibration, indeed, and into +different forms of vibration for waves of different length, but not by +any means into the simple sort of vibration demanded by the piano +theory. This theory is accordingly too simple, but it probably points +the way towards some truer, more complex, conception. + +The fact that there are many elementary sensations of hearing is the +chief reason why the art of tones is so much more elaborate than the +art of color; for while painting might dispute with music as to which +were the more highly developed art, painting depends on form as well +as color, and there is no art of pure color at all comparable with +music, which makes use simply of tones (and noises) with their +combinations and sequences. + +{236} + +Senses of Bodily Movement + +It is a remarkable fact that some parts of the inner ear are not +connected with hearing at all, but with quite another sense, the +existence of which was formerly unsuspected. The two groups of sense +cells in the vestibule--the otolith organs--were formerly supposed to +be the sense organ for noise; but noise now appears to be a compound +of tones, and its organ, therefore, the cochlea. The _semicircular +canals_, from their arrangement in three planes at right angles to +each other, were once supposed to analyze the sound according to the +direction from which it came; but no one could give anything but the +vaguest idea of how they might do this, and besides the ear is now +known to give practically no information regarding the direction of +sound, except the one fact whether it comes from the right or left, +which is given by the difference in the stimulation received by the +two ears, and not by anything that exists in either ear taken alone. + +The semicircular canals have been much studied by the physiologists. +They found that injury to these structures brought lack of equilibrium +and inability to walk, swim or fly in a straight course. If, for +example, the horizontal canal in the left ear is destroyed, the animal +continually deviates to the left as he advances, and so is forced into +a "circus movement". They found that the compensatory movements +normally made in reaction to a movement impressed on the animal from +without were no longer made when the canals were destroyed. They found +that something very much like these compensatory movements could be +elicited by direct stimulation of the end-organs in the canals or of +the sensory nerves leading from them. And they found that little +currents of the liquid filling the canals acted as a stimulus to these +end-organs and so aroused the {237} compensatory movements. They were +thus led to accept a view that was originally suggested by the +position of the canals in space. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 40.--How the sense cells in a semicircular canal +are stimulated by a water current. This current is itself an inertia +back-flow, resulting from a turning of the head in the opposite +direction. (Figure text: water current, nerve to brain)] + + +Each "semicircular" canal, itself considerably more than a +semicircular tube, opens into the vestibule at each end and thus +amounts to a complete circle. Therefore rotating the head must, by +inertia, produce a back flow of the fluid contents of the canal, and +this current, by bending the hairs of the sense cells in the canal, +would stimulate them and give a sensation of rotation, or at least a +sensory nerve impulse excited by the head rotation. + +When a human subject is placed, blindfolded, in a chair that can be +rotated without sound or jar, it is found that he can easily tell +whenever you start to turn him in either direction. If you keep on +turning him at a constant speed, he soon ceases to sense the movement, +but if then you stop him, he says you are starting to turn him in the +opposite {238} direction. He senses the beginning of the rotary +movement because this causes the back flow through his canals; he +ceases to sense the uniform movement because friction of the liquid in +the slender canal soon abolishes the back flow by causing the liquid +to move with the canal; and he senses the stopping of this movement +because the liquid, again by inertia, continues to move in the +direction it had been moving just before when it was keeping pace with +the canal. Thus we see that there are conscious sensations of rotation +from the canals, and that these give information of the starting or +stopping of a rotation, though not of its steady continuance. +Excessive stimulation of the canals gives the sensation of dizziness. + +The otolith organs in the vestibule are probably excited, not by +rotary movements, but by sudden startings and stoppings of rectilinear +motion, as in an elevator; and also by the pull of gravity when the +head is held in any position. They give information regarding the +position and rectilinear movements of the head, as the canals do of +rotary head movements. Both are important in maintaining equilibrium +and motor efficiency. + +The muscle sense is another sense of bodily movement; it was the +"sixth sense", so bitterly fought in the middle of the last century by +those who maintained that the five senses that were enough for our +fathers ought to be enough for us, too. The question was whether the +sense of touch did not account for all sensations of bodily movement. +It was shown that there must be something besides the skin sense, +because weights were better distinguished when "hefted" in the hand +than when simply laid in the motionless palm; and it was shown that +loss of skin sensation in an arm or leg interfered much less with the +coördinated movements of the limb than did the loss of all the sensory +nerves to the limb. + + + [Illustration: Fig. 41.--(From Cajal.) A "tendon spindle," very + similar to the muscle spindle spoken of in the text, but found at + the tendinous end of a muscle instead of embedded in the muscle + substance itself, "a" indicates the tendon, and "e" the muscle + fibers; "b" is a sensory axon, and "c" its end-brush about the + spindle. Let the tendon become taut in muscular contraction, and the + fine branches of the sensory axon will be squeezed and so + stimulated.] + + +Later, the crucial fact was established {239} that sense organs (the +"muscle spindles") existed in the muscles and were connected with +sensory nerve fibers; and that other sense organs existed in the +tendons and about {240} the joints. This sense accordingly might +better be called the "muscle, tendon and joint sense", but the shorter +term, "muscle sense", bids fair to stick. The Greek derivative, +"kinesthesis", meaning "sense of movement", is sometimes used as an +equivalent; and the corresponding adjective, "kinesthetic", is common. + +The muscle sense informs us of movements of the joints and of +positions of the limbs, as well as of resistance encountered by any +movement. Muscular fatigue and soreness are sensed through the same +general system of sense organs. This sense is very important in the +control of movement, both reflex and voluntary movement. Without it, a +person lacks information of where a limb is to start with, and +naturally cannot know what movement to make; or, if a movement is in +process of being executed, he has no information as to how far the +movement has progressed and cannot tell when to stop it. Thus it is +less strange than it first appears to learn that "locomotor ataxia", a +disease which shows itself in poor control of movement, is primarily a +disease affecting not the motor nerves but the sensory nerves that +take care of the muscle sense. + +{241} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter, rearranging the material somewhat, so as to + state, under each sense, (a) what sense cells, if any, are present + in the sense organ, (b) what accessory apparatus is present in the + sense organ, (c) what stimuli arouse the sense, (d) what are the + elementary responses of the sense, (e) peculiar blends occurring + within the sense or between this sense and another, (f) what can be + said regarding adaptation of the sense, and (g) what can be said + regarding after-images of the sense. + +2. Classify the senses according as they respond to stimuli + (a) internal to the body, (b) directly affecting the surface of the + body, (c) coming from a distance. + +3. What distinctive _uses_ are made of each sense? + +4. Explore a small portion of the skin, as on the back of the hand, + for cold spots, and for pain spots. + +5. Try to analyze the smooth sensation obtained by laying the + finger tip on a sheet of paper, and the rough sensation obtained by + laying the finger tip on the surface of a brush, and to describe + the difference in terms of the elementary skin sensations. + +6. Is the pain sense a highly developed sense, to judge from its + sense organ? Is it highly specialized? highly sensitive? How does + its peculiarity in these respects fit it for its use? + +7. Separation of taste and smell. Compare the taste of foods when + the nostrils are held closed with the taste of the same food when + the nostrils are opened. + +8. Make a complete analysis of the sensations obtained from chocolate + ice cream in the mouth. + +9. Peripheral vision. (a) Color sense. While your eyes are looking + rigidly straight ahead, take a bit of color in the hand and bring + it slowly in from the side, noticing what color sensation you get + from it when it can first be seen at all, and what changes in color + appear as it moves from the extreme periphery to the center of the + field of view, (b) Form sense. Use printed letters in the same way, + noticing how far out they can be read, (c) Sense of motion. Notice + how far out a little movement of the finger can be seen. Sum up + what you have learned of the differences between central and + peripheral vision. What is the use of peripheral vision? + +10. Light and dark adaptation. Go from a dimly lighted place + into bright sunlight, and immediately try for an instant to read + with the sun shining directly upon the page. Remaining in the + sunlight, {242} repeat the attempt every 10 seconds, and notice + how long it takes for the eye to become adapted to the bright + light. Having become light-adapted, go back into a dimly lighted + room, and see whether dark-adaptation takes more or less time than + light-adaptation. + +11. Color adaptation. Look steadily at a colored surface, and notice + whether the color fades as the exposure continues. Try looking at + the color with one eye only, and after a minute look at the color + with each eye separately, and notice whether the saturation + appears the same to the eye that has been exposed to the color, + and to the eye that has been shielded. + +12. Negative after-images. Look steadily for half a minute at a + black cross upon a white surface, and then turn the eyes upon a + plain gray surface, and describe what you see. (b) Look steadily + for half a minute at a colored spot upon a white or gray + background, and then turn the eyes upon a gray background, and + note the color of the after-image of the spot. Repeat with a + different color, and try to reach a general statement as to the + color of the negative after-image. + +13. Positive visual after-images. Look in the direction of a bright + light, such as an electric light, holding the hand as a screen + before the eyes, so that you do not see the light. Withdraw the + hand for a second, exposing the eyes to the light, and immediately + screen the eyes again, and notice whether the sensation of the + light outlasts the stimulus. + +14. Tactile after-images. Touch the skin lightly for an instant, + and notice whether the sensation ends as soon as the stimulus is + removed. If there is any after-image, is it positive or negative? + +15. Tactile adaptation. Support two fingers on the edge of a table, + and lay on them a match or some other light object. Let this + stimulus remain there, motionless, and notice whether the tactile + sensation remains steady or dies out. What is the effect of making + slight movements of the fingers, and so causing the stimulus to + affect fresh parts of the skin? + +16. Temperature sense adaptation. Have three bowls of water, one + quite warm, one cold, one medium. After holding one hand in the + warm water and the other in the cold, transfer both simultaneously + to the medium water and compare the temperature sensations got by + each hand from this water. State the result in terms of + adaptation. + +17. Overtones. These can be quite easily heard in the sound of a + large bell. What use does the sense of hearing make of overtones? + + + +REFERENCES +For a somewhat fuller discussion of the topic of sensation, see +Warren's _Human Psychology_, 1919, pp. 151-214; and for a much fuller +discussion, see Titchener's _Textbook of Psychology_, 1909, pp. +46-224. + +{243} + +For a really thorough consideration of the facts and theories of color +vision, see J. Herbert Parsons, _An Introduction to the Study of +Colour Vision_, 1915. + +For a more complete statement of the Ladd-Franklin theory, see the +article on "Vision", in Baldwin's _Dictionary of Philosophy and +Psychology_, 1902. + +For a recent study that has revolutionized the psychology of the sense +of smell, see _Der Geruch_, by Hans Henning, 1916, or a review of the +same by Professor Gamble in the _American Journal of Psychology_, +1921, Vol. 32, pp. 290-296. + +For an extensive discussion of the "Psychology of Sound", sec the book +with this title by Henry J. Watt, 1917. + +For a full account of taste, see Hollingworth and Poffenberger's +_Sense of Taste_, 1917. + + +{244} + + +CHAPTER XI + +ATTENTION + +HOW WE ATTEND, TO WHAT, AND WITH WHAT RESULTS + +"Attention!" shouts the officer as a preliminary to some more specific +command, and the athletic starter calls out "Ready!" for the same +purpose. Both commands are designed to put the hearer in an attitude +of readiness for what is coming next. They put a stop to miscellaneous +doings and clear the way for the specific reaction that is next to be +called for. They nullify the effect of miscellaneous stimuli that are +always competing for the hearer's attention, and make him responsive +only to stimuli coming from the officer. They make the hearer clearly +conscious of the officer. They arouse in the hearer a condition of +keen alertness that cannot be maintained for more than a few seconds +unless some further command comes from the officer. In all these ways +"attention" in the military sense, or "readiness" in the athletic +sense, affords a good picture of the psychology of attention. +Attention is preparatory, selective, mobile, highly conscious. To +attend to a thing is to be keenly conscious of that thing, it is to +respond to that thing and disregard other things, and it is to expect +something more from that thing. + +Attention is, in a word, exploratory. To attend is to explore, or to +start to explore. Primitive attention amounts to the same as the +instinct of exploration. Its natural stimulus is anything novel or +sudden, its "emotional state" is curiosity or expectancy, and its +instinctive reaction consists {245} of exploratory movements. Its +inherent impulse is to explore, examine, or await. + +Attention belongs fundamentally among the native forms of behavior. +The child does not have to learn to attend, though he must learn to +attend to many things that do not naturally get his attention. Some +stimuli naturally attract attention, and others attract attention only +because of previous experience and training. In considering the whole +subject of attention, then, we shall in part be dealing with native +responses, and in part with responses that are acquired. But the great +laws of attention, which will come to light in the course of the +chapter, are at the same time general laws of reaction, and belong +under the head of native characteristics. + + +The Stimulus, or What Attracts Attention + +We can attend to anything whatever, but are more likely to attend to +some things than to others. As stimuli for attention, some objects are +much more effective than others, and the question is, in what way one +object has the advantage over another. There are several ways, several +"factors of advantage", we may call them. + +_Change_ is the greatest factor of advantage. A steady noise ceases +after a while to be noticed, but let it change in any respect and +immediately it arrests attention. The ticking of the clock is a good +example: as long as it keeps uniformly on, it is unnoticed, but if it +should suddenly beat faster or louder or in a different key, or even +if it should stop altogether, it would "wake us up" with a start. The +change in the stimulus must not be too gradual if it is to be +effective, it must have a certain degree of suddenness. It may be a +change in intensity, a becoming suddenly stronger or weaker; or it may +be change in quality, as in tone, or {246} color, or odor; or it may +be a change in position, a movement in space. When one who is holding +our arm gives it a sudden squeeze to attract our attention, that is a +change of intensity; when we step from the bank into the water, the +sudden change from warmth to cold, that gets our attention without +fail, is a change of quality; and something crawling on the skin +attracts attention by virtue of its motion. Anything moving in the +field of view is also an unfailing stimulus to attention. + +_Strength_, or high intensity of a stimulus, is another important +factor of advantage. Other things being equal, a strong stimulus will +attract attention before a weak one. A loud noise has the advantage +over a low murmur, and a bright flash of light over a faint twinkle. + +In the case of visible objects, size has about the same effect as +intensity. The large features of the landscape are noticed before the +little details. The advertiser uses large type, and pays for big space +in the newspaper, in the effort to attract the attention of the +reader. + + [Footnote: Often he pays more than the space is worth; at least + doubling the size of his "ad" will not, on the whole, double the + amount of attention he gets, or the number of readers whose + attention he will catch. The "attention value" of an advertisement + has been found by Strong to increase, not as fast as the increase in + space, but about as the square root of the space occupied.] + +Another similar factor is _repetition_. Cover a billboard with several +copies of the same picture, and it attracts more attention than a +single one of the pictures would. Repeat a "motive" in the decoration +of a building, and it is more likely to be noticed. Repeat a cry or +call several times, and after a while it may be noticed, though not at +first. The "summation of stimuli" has much the same effect as +increasing the intensity of a single stimulus. + +If, however, a stimulus is repeated or continued for a long time, it +will probably cease to hold attention, because of its {247} monotony, +or, in other words, because it lacks the element of change. + +_Striking quality_ is an advantage, quite apart from the matter of +intensity. Saturated colors, though no stronger in intensity of light +than pale colors, are stronger stimuli for attention. High notes are +more striking than low. Itch, tickle and pain get attention in +preference to smooth touch. "Striking" cannot be defined in physical +terms, but simply refers to the fact that some kinds of stimulus get +attention better than others. + +_Definite form_ has the advantage over what is vague. A small, sharply +defined object, that stands out from its background, attracts the eye +more than a broad, indefinite expanse of light such as the sky. In the +realm of sound, "form" is represented by rhythm or tune, and by other +definite sequences of sound, such as occur in the jingles that catch +the little child's ear. + +The factors of advantage so far mentioned are native, and a stimulus +possessing one or more of them is a natural attention-stimulus. But +the individual also learns what is worth noticing, and what is not, +and thus forms _habits of attention_, as well as habits of +inattention. The automobile driver forms the habit of attending to the +sound of his motor, the botanist forms the habit of noticing such +inconspicuous objects as the lichens on the tree trunks. On the other +hand, any one forms the habit of not noticing repeated stimuli that +have no importance for him. Move into a house next the railroad, and +at first you notice every train that passes; even at night you awake +with a start, dreaming that some monster is pursuing you; but after a +few days the trains disturb you very little, night or day. The general +rule covering attention habits is this: anything that you have to work +with, or like to play with, acquires the power to attract your +attention, while anything that you do nothing {248} with loses +whatever hold on your attention it may have possessed by virtue of its +intensity, quality, etc. + +Besides these permanent habits of attention, there are temporary +adjustments determined by the _momentary interest_ or desire. Stimuli +relevant to the momentary interest have an unwonted hold upon +attention, while things out of line with this interest may escape +attention altogether, even though the same things would ordinarily be +noticed. What you shall notice in the store window is governed by what +you are looking for as much as by the prominence of the object in the +total display. When you are angry with a person, you notice bad points +about him that you usually overlook, and any aroused desire adjusts or +"sets" attention in a similar way. The desire or interest of the +moment _facilitates_ attention to certain stimuli and _inhibits_ +attention to others, and is thus an important factor of advantage. + +The interest of the moment is often represented by a question. Ask +yourself what spots of red there are in the field of view, and +immediately various red spots jump out and strike the eye; ask +yourself what pressure sensations you are getting from the skin, and +immediately several obtrude themselves. A question sets attention +towards whatever may furnish an answer. + +To sum up, we may say that three general factors of advantage +determine the power of any stimulus to attract attention. There is the +native factor, consisting of change, intensity, striking quality, and +definite form; there is the factor of habit, dependent on past +experience; and there is the factor of present interest and desire. + + +The Motor Reaction in Attention + +Attention is obviously a reaction of the individual to the stimulus +that gets his attention; and it is in part a motor {249} reaction. The +movements that occur in attending to an object are such as to afford a +better view of it, or a better hearing of it, or, in general, such as +to bring the sense organs to bear on it as efficiently as possible. + +We may distinguish two sorts of motor reaction that occur in +attention: the general attentive attitude, and the special adjustments +of the sense organs. An audience absorbed in a speech or musical +performance gives a good picture of the general _attentive attitude_. +You notice that most people look fixedly towards the speaker, as if +listening with their eyes, and that many of them lean forward as if it +were important to get just as close as possible. All the little +restless movements cease, so that you could "hear a pin drop", and at +the tensest moments even the breath is checked. The attitude of +attention is one of tense immobility, with the whole body oriented +towards the object of attention. When the object of attention is +something not present but thought of, a somewhat similar rigid +attitude is assumed; the body is apt to lean forward, the neck to be +held stiff, and the eyes to "stare at vacancy", i.e., to be fixed on +some convenient object as a mere resting place, while attention is +fixed outside the visual field altogether. + +But we spoke of attention as mobile, and it would be strange if its +mobility did not show itself in the motor reaction. It does in fact +show itself in the _sense organ adjustments_ which amount to +exploratory reactions. Attention to an object in the hand is shown by +"feeling of it", to a substance in the mouth by tasting movements, to +an odor by sniffing movements, to a sound by cocking the head and +turning the eyes towards the source of sound. The most instructive of +this type of attention-reactions are those of the eyes. The eye is +focused on the object that arouses attention, the lens being +accommodated for its distance by the action of the little ciliary +muscle inside the {250} eyeball; the two eyes are converged upon the +object, so that the light from it strikes the fovea or best part of +each retina; and the eyes are also turned up, down or sidewise, so as, +again, to receive the light from the object upon the fovea. + +This last class of eye movements is specially instructive and shows +specially well the mobility of attention. Let a bright or moving +object appear somewhere in the field of view--immediately the eyes +turn towards it with a quick jump, fixate it for a few seconds and +then jump elsewhere unless the object is found to be specially +significant. Watch the eyes of one who is looking at a picture or +scene of any sort, and you will see his eyes jumping hither and +thither, as his attention shifts from one part of the scene to +another. Ask him to abstain from this jumpy movement and let his eyes +"sweep over" the scene, and he will confidently try to follow your +instructions, but if you watch his eyes you will find them still +jumping. In fact, "sweeping the glance" is a myth. It cannot be done. +At least, there is only one case in which it can be done, and that is +when there is a moving object to look at. Given an object moving at a +moderate speed across the field of view, and the eyes can follow it +and keep pace with it pretty accurately. But without the moving object +as stimulus, the eyes can only execute the jump movement. There are +thus two types of exploratory eye movement: the "jump" in passing from +one object to another, and the "pursuit movement" in examining a +moving object. + +In reading, the eye moves by a series of short jumps from left to +right along the first line of print, makes a long jump back to the +beginning of the second line and another series of short jumps along +that line, and so on. To appreciate the value of this jerky movement, +we need to understand that each short jump occupies but a thirtieth to +a fiftieth {251} of a second, while the "fixation pauses" between +jumps last much longer, with the result that over ninety per cent. of +the time spent on a line of print is fixation time, and less than ten +per cent, is occupied in jumping from one fixation to the next. Now, +it has been found that nothing of any consequence is seen during the +eye jumps, and that the real seeing takes place only during the +fixations. The jump movement, therefore, is simply a means of passing +from one fixation to another with the least possible loss of time. + +The eye sees an object distinctly only when at rest with respect to +the object. If the object is still, the eye must be still to see it +distinctly, and to see its different parts must fixate one after the +other, jumping from one part to another. But if the object is in +motion, the eye may still be able to see it distinctly by means of the +pursuit movement, which is a sort of moving fixation. + + +The Shifting of Attention + +Eye movement affords a good picture of the mobility of attention. +Ordinarily the eye shifts frequently from one part of the field of +view to another. When simply exploring a scene, it shifts about in +what seems an indiscriminate way, though really following the +principle of deserting each object as soon as it has been examined, +and jumping to that other object which next has the advantage on +account of movement, brightness, color, definite form, or habit of +attention. In reading, however, the eye is governed by a definite +interest, and moves consecutively along the series of words, instead +of shifting irregularly about the page. + +A moving object, or an object that is doing something, or even a +complex object that presents a number of parts to be examined in turn, +can hold the eye for some time. But it is almost impossible to hold +the eye fixed for any length of time on a simple, motionless, +unchanging object. + +{252} + +Attention is mobile because it is exploratory; it continually seeks +something fresh for examination. In the presence of a complex of +sights and sounds and touch stimuli, it tends to shift every second or +two from one part of the situation to another. Even if you are lying +in bed with your eyes closed, the movement of attention still appears +in the rapid succession of thoughts and images, and some shift usually +occurs as often as once a second. + +A few simple experiments will serve to throw the shifting of attention +into clearer relief. Look fixedly at a single letter written on a +blank sheet of paper, and notice how one part after another of the +letter stands out; notice also that attention does not stick +absolutely to the letter, since thoughts obtrude themselves at +intervals. + + [Illustration: + + O O O + O O + O O O + O O + O O O + + Fig. 42.--A dot figure, from Sanford. Look steadily at it.] + + +Or, make a "dot figure", composed of six or eight or more dots +arranged either regularly or irregularly, and look steadily at the +collection. Probably you will find that the dots seem to fall into +figures and groups, and that the grouping changes frequently. +Objectively, of course, the dots are grouped in one way as much as +another, so that any particular grouping is your own doing. The +objective stimulus, in other words, is capable of arousing several +grouping reactions on your part, and does arouse different reactions +one after another + +Shifting also appears in looking at an {253} "ambiguous figure", drawn +so as to represent equally well a solid object in either of two +different positions. The transparent cube, showing near and far edges +alike, is a good example. Look steadily at such a drawing, and the +cube will appear to shift its position from time to time. Numerous +such figures can be constructed; the most celebrated is the ambiguous +staircase. Look steadily at it, and suddenly you see the under side of +a flight of stairs, instead of the upper; and if you keep on looking +steadily, it shifts back and forth between these two positions. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 43.--The ambiguous cube figure.] + + +[Illustration: Fig. 44.--The ambiguous staircase figure.] + + +A still more striking case of shifting goes by the name of "binocular +rivalry", and occurs when colors or figures that we cannot combine +into a single picture are presented, {254} one to one eye, and the +other to the corresponding part of the other retina. Hold red glass +close in front of one eye and blue before the other, and look through +both at once towards a bright background, and you will see red part of +the time and blue part of the time, the two alternating as in the case +of ambiguous figures. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 45.--Another ambiguous figure, which can be seen +in three ways.] + + +The stereoscope is a great convenience in applying inconsistent +stimuli to the two eyes, and by aid of this instrument a great variety +of experiments can be made. It is thus found that, if the field before +one eye is a plain color, while the other, of a different color, has +any little figure on it, this figure has a great advantage over the +rival plain color and stays in sight most of the time. Anything moving +in one field has a similar advantage, and a bright field has the +advantage over a darker one. Thus the same factors of advantage hold +good in binocular rivalry as in native attention generally. + +A different kind of shifting appears in what is called "fluctuation of +attention". Make a light gray smudge on a white sheet of paper, and +place this at such a distance that the gray will be barely +distinguishable from the white {255} background. Looking steadily at +the smudge, you will find it to disappear and reappear periodically. +Or, place your watch at such a distance that its ticking is barely +audible, and you will find the sound to go out and come back at +intervals. The fluctuation probably represents periodic fatigue and +recovery at the brain synapses concerned in observing the faint +stimulus. + +Shiftings of the fluctuation type, or of the rivalry type either, are +not to be regarded as quite the same sort of thing as the ordinary +shiftings of attention. The more typical movement of attention is +illustrated by the eye movements in examining a scene, or by the +sequence of ideas and images in thinking or dreaming. Rivalry and +fluctuation differ from this typical shifting of attention in several +ways: + +(1) The typical movement of attention is quicker than the oscillation +in rivalry or fluctuation. In rivalry, each appearance may last for +many seconds before giving way to the other, whereas the more typical +shift of attention occurs every second or so. In fact, during a +rivalry or fluctuation experiment, you may observe thoughts coming and +going at the same time, and at a more rapid rate than the changes in +the object looked at. Attention does not really hold steady during the +whole time that a single appearance of an ambiguous figure persists. + +(2) Rivalry shifts are influenced very little, if at all, by the +factor of momentary desire or interest, and are very little subject to +control. + +(3) In rivalry, the color that disappears goes out entirely, and in +looking at a dot figure or ambiguous figure you get the same effect, +since the grouping or appearance that gives way to another vanishes +itself for the time being. But when, in exploring a scene with the +eyes, you turn from one object to another, the object left behind +simply retires to the background, without disappearing altogether; +and, {256} in the same way, when attention shifts from one noise to +another, the first noise does not lapse altogether but remains vaguely +heard. Or when, in thinking of a number of people, one after another +comes to mind, the first one does not go out of mind altogether when +attention moves to the next, but remains still vaguely present for a +few moments. + + +Laws of Attention and Laws of Reaction in General + +Shifting occurs also in reflex action. Let two stimuli be acting at +once, the one calling for one reflex and the other for the opposed +reflex (as flexion and extension of the same limb), and the result is +that only one of these reactions will occur at the same time, the +other being completely inhibited; but the inhibited reflex gets its +turn shortly, provided the two stimuli continue to act, and, in fact, +the two reactions may alternate in a way that reminds us of binocular +rivalry or ambiguous figures. Three fundamental laws of reaction here +come to light. + +(1) The _law of selection_: of two or more inconsistent responses to +the same situation (or complex of stimuli), only one is made at the +same time. + +(2) The _law of advantage_: one of the alternative responses has an +initial advantage over the others, due to such factors as intensity +and change in the stimulus, or to habits of reaction. + +(3) The _law of shifting_: the response that has the initial advantage +loses its advantage shortly, and an alternative response is made, +provided the situation remains the same. + +These three laws hold good of reactions at all levels, from reflex +action to rational thinking. + +The mobility of attention obeys these same laws; only, attention is +livelier and freer in its movements than reflex action or than the +shifting in rivalry. Attention is more mobile and less bound to rigid +rules. + + +{257} + +Sustained Attention + +The mobility of attention is only half the story. When we speak, for +instance, of a student as having good powers of attention, we are not +thinking of mobility but rather of the opposite. + +Eye movement, which we employed before as a picture of the movement of +attention, affords also a picture of sustained attention. Remember how +the eye moves in reading. Every second it shifts, but still it keeps +to the line of print. Just so, attention keeps moving forward in the +story we are reading, but sticks to the story. The more absorbed we +are in the story, the more rapidly we read. Attention is sustained +here, and still it moves. Sustained attention is not glued to one +point, by any means, but is simply confined to a given object or +theme, within which its motion may be as lively as ever. + +What is it, then, that sustains attention? Evidently it is the factor +of present desire or interest, already mentioned. It is a +reaction-tendency, aroused to activity by some stimulus or other, +unable to reach its goal instantly, but persisting in activity for a +while and facilitating responses that are in its line, while +inhibiting others. Such a tendency facilitates response, i.e., +attention, to certain stimuli, and inhibits attention to others, thus +causing them to be overlooked and neglected. + +For the student, the ideal attention-sustainer is an interest in the +matter presented. If, however, he cannot get up any absorbing interest +in the subject-matter at once, he may generate the necessary motive +force by taking the lesson as a "stunt", as something to be mastered, +a spur to his self-assertion. In the old days, fear was often the +motive force relied upon in the schoolroom, and the switch hanging +{258} behind the efficient teacher's desk was the stimulus to +sustained attention. There must be _some_ tendency aroused if +attention is to be sustained. The mastery impulse is certainly +superior to fear for the purpose, but better than either is a genuine +interest in the subject studied. + +In order to get up a genuine interest in a subject--an objective or +inherent interest--it is usually necessary to penetrate into the +subject for some little distance. The subject may not appeal to any of +our native impulses, or to any interest that has been previously +acquired, and how then are we to hold attention to it long enough to +discover its inherent interest? Curiosity will give us a start, but is +too easily satisfied to carry us far. Fear of punishment or +disapproval, hope of reward or praise, being put on our mettle, or +realizing the necessity of this subject for our future success, may +keep us going till we find the subject attractive in itself. + +So, when the little child is learning to read, the printed characters +have so little attractiveness in themselves that he naturally turns +away from them after a brief exploration. But, because he is scolded +when his mind wanders from those marks, because other children make +fun of his blunders, because, when he reads correctly, he feels the +glow of success and of applause, he does hold himself to the printed +page till he is able to read a little, after which his interest in +what he is reading is sufficient, without extraneous motives, to keep +his nose between the covers of the story book more, perhaps, than is +good for him. The little child, here, is the type of the successful +student. + +Attention to a subject thus passes through three stages in its +development. First comes the instinctive exploratory sort of +attention, favored by the native factors of advantage. Next comes the +stage of forced attention, driven by {259} extraneous motives, such as +fear or self-assertion. Finally arrives the stage of objective +interest. In the first and last stages attention is spontaneous, in +the middle stage forced. The middle stage is often called that of +voluntary attention, since effort has to be exerted to sustain +attention, while the first and last stages, being free from effort, +may be called involuntary. + + +Distraction + +Distraction is an important topic for consideration in connection with +sustained attention. A distraction is a stimulus that attracts +attention away from the thing to which we mean to attend. There are +always competing stimuli, and the various factors of advantage, +especially desire or interest, determine which stimulus shall get +attention at any moment. + +In the excited insane condition known as "mania" or the "manic state", +the patient is excessively distractible. He commences to tell you +something, all interest in what he has to say, but, if you pull out +your watch while he is talking, he drops his story in the middle of a +sentence and shifts to some remark about the watch. He seems to have +no impulse persistent enough to hold his thoughts steady. There are +contrary insane conditions in which it is almost impossible to +distract the patient from his own inner broodings, so much is he +absorbed in his own troubles. + +Distraction is a favorite topic for experiment in the laboratory. The +subject is put to work adding or typewriting, and works for a time in +quiet, after which disturbances are introduced. A bell rings, a +phonograph record is played, perhaps a perfect bedlam of noise is let +loose; with the curious result that the subject, only momentarily +distracted, accomplishes more work rather than less. The distraction +has acted as a stimulus to greater effort, and by this effort {260} is +overcame. This does not always happen so in real life, but it shows +the possibilities of sustained attention. + +There are several ways of overcoming a distraction. First, greater +energy may be thrown into the task one is trying to perform. The extra +effort is apt to show itself in gritting the teeth, reading or +speaking aloud, and similar muscular activity which, while entirely +unnecessary for executing the task in hand, helps by keeping the main +stream of energy directed into the task instead of toward the +distracting stimuli. Effort is necessary when the main task is +uninteresting, or when the distraction is specially attractive, or +even when the distraction is something new and strange and likely to +arouse curiosity. But one may grow accustomed or "adapted" to an +oft-recurring distraction, so as to sidetrack it without effort; in +other words, a habit of inattention to the distracting stimulus may be +formed. There is another, quite different way of overcoming a +distraction, which works very well where it can be employed, and that +is to couple the distraction to the main task, so as to deal with both +together. An example is seen in piano playing. The beginner at the +piano likes to play with the right band alone, because striking a note +with the left hand distracts him from striking the proper note with +the right. But, after practice, he couples the two hands, strikes the +bass note of a chord with the left hand while his right strikes the +other notes of the same chord, and much prefers two-handed to +one-handed playing. In short, to overcome a distraction, you either +sidetrack it or else couple it to your main task. + + +Doing Two Things at Once + +The subject of distraction brings to mind the question that is often +asked, "Can any one do two things at once?" In this form, the question +admits of but one answer, for we {261} are always doing at least two +things at once, provided we are doing anything else besides breathing. +We have no trouble in breathing and walking at the same time, nor in +seeing while breathing and walking, nor even in thinking at the same +time. But breathing, walking, and seeing are so automatic as to +require no attention. The more important question then, is whether we +can do two things at once, when each demands careful attention. + +The redoubtable Julius Caesar, of happy memory, is said to have been +able to dictate at once to several copyists. Now, Caesar's copyists +were not stenographers, but wrote in long-hand, so that he could speak +much faster than they could write. What he did, accordingly, was +undoubtedly to give the first copyist a start on the first letter he +wished to send, then turn to the second and give him a start on the +second letter, and so on, getting back to the first in time to keep +him busy. Quite an intellectual feat, certainly! But not a feat +requiring absolutely simultaneous attention to several different +matters. In a small way, any one can do something of the same kind. It +is not impossible to add columns of numbers while reciting a familiar +poem; you get the poem started and then let it run on automatically +for a few words while you add a few numbers, switch back to the poem +and then back to the adding, and so on. But in all this there is no +doing of two things, attentively, at the same instant of time. + +You may be able, however, to combine two acts into a single +coördinated act, in the way just described under the head of +distraction, and give undivided attention to this compound act. + + +The Span of Attention + +Similar to the question whether we can attentively perform more than a +single act at a time is the question of {262} how many different +objects we can attend to at once. The "span of attention" for objects +of any given kind is measured by discovering how many such objects can +be clearly seen, or heard, or felt, in a single instant of time. +Measurement of this "span" is one of the oldest experiments in +psychology. Place a number of marbles in a little box, take a single +peek into the box and see if you know how many marbles are there. Four +or five you can get in a single glance, but with more there you become +uncertain. + +In the laboratory we have "exposure apparatus" for displaying a card +for a fifth of a second or less, just enough time for a single glance. +Make a number of dots or strokes on the card and see whether the +subject knows the number on sight. He can tell four or five, and +beyond that makes many mistakes. + +Expose letters not making any word and he can read about four at a +glance. But if the letters make familiar words, he can read three or +four words at a glance. If the words make a familiar phrase, he gets a +phrase of several words, containing as many as twenty letters, at a +single glance. + +Expose a number of little squares of different colors, and a +well-trained subject will report correctly as many as five colors, +though he cannot reach this number every time. + + +Summary of the Laws of Attention + +Bringing together now what we have learned regarding the higher and +more difficult forms of attention, as revealed by sustained attention +and work under distraction, by the span of attention and by trying to +do two things at once, we find the previously stated three laws of +attention further illustrated, and a couple of new laws making their +appearance. + +(1) The _law of selection_ still holds good in these more {263} +difficult performances, since only one attentive response is made at +the same instant of time. Automatic activities may be simultaneously +going on, but any two attentive responses seem to be inconsistent with +each other, so that the making of one excludes the other, in +accordance with the general law of selection. + +What shall we say, however, of reading four disconnected letters at +the same time, or of seeing clearly four colors at the same time? +Here, it would seem, several things are separately attended to at +once. The several things are similar, and close together, and the +responses required are all simple and much alike. Such responses, +under such very favorable conditions, are perhaps, then, not +inconsistent with each other, so that two, three, or even four such +attentive responses may be made at the same time. + +(2) The _law of advantage_ holds good, as illustrated by the fact that +some distractions are harder to resist than others. + +(3) The _law of shifting_ holds good, as illustrated by the constant +movement of attention, even when it is "sustained", and by the +alternation between two activities when we are trying to carry them +both along simultaneously. + +(4) The _law of sustained attention_, or of _tendency_ in attention, +is the same old law of tendency that has shown itself repeatedly in +earlier chapters. A tendency, when aroused to activity, facilitates +responses that are in its line and inhibits others. A tendency is thus +a strong factor of advantage, and it limits the shifting of attention. + +(5) A new law has come to light, the _law of combination_, which reads +as follows: _a single response may be made to two or more stimuli_; +or, _two or more stimuli may arouse a single joint response_. + +Even though, in accordance with the law of selection, only one +attentive response is made at the same time, more than {264} one +stimulus may be dealt with by this single attentive response. Groups +of four dots are grasped as units, familiar words are grasped as +units. Notice that these units are our own units, not external units. +Physically, a row of six dots is as much a unit as a row of four, but +we grasp the four as a unit in a way that we cannot apply to the six. +Physically, six letters are as much a unit when they do not form a +word as when they do; but we can make a unitary response to the six in +the one case and not in the other. The response is a unit, though +aroused by a number of separate stimuli. + +The law of combination, from its name, is open to a possible +misconception, as if we reached out and grasped and combined the +stimuli, whereas ordinarily we do nothing to the stimuli, except to +see them and recognize them, or in some such way respond to them. The +combination is something that happens _in us_; it is our response. If +the expression were not so cumbersome, we might more accurately name +this law that of "unitary response to a plurality of stimuli". + +Sometimes, indeed, we do make an actual motor response to two or more +stimuli, as when we strike a chord of several notes on the piano. The +law of combination still holds good here, since the movements of the +two hands are coördinated into a single act, which is thought of as a +unit ("striking a chord"), attended to as a unit, and executed as a +unit. Such coördinated movements may be called "higher motor units", +and we shall find much to say regarding them when we come to the +subject of learned reactions. The law of combination, all in all, will +be found later to have extreme importance in learned reactions. + +Passing now to another side of the study of attention, we shall +immediately come across a sixth law to add to our list. + +{265} + +Attention and Degree of Consciousness + +Up to this point, the introspective side of the psychology of +attention has not been considered. One of the surest of all +introspective observations belongs right here, to the effect that we +are more conscious of that to which we are attending than of anything +else. Of two stimuli acting at once upon us, we are the more conscious +of that one which catches our attention; of two acts that we perform +simultaneously, that one is more conscious that is performed +attentively. + +We need not be entirely unconscious of the act or the stimulus to +which we are not attending. We may be dimly conscious of it. There are +degrees of consciousness. Suppose, for example, you are looking out of +the window while "lost in thought". You are most conscious of the +matter of your thoughts, but conscious to a degree of what you see out +of the window. Your eyes are focused on some particular object +outside, and you are more conscious of this than of other objects seen +in indirect vision, though even of these last you are not altogether +unconscious. Consciousness shades off from high light to dim +background. + +The "field of attention" is the maximum or high light of +consciousness; it comprises the object under attentive observation, +the reaction attentively performed. The "field of consciousness" +includes the field of attention and much besides. It includes objects +of which we are vaguely aware, desires active but not clearly +formulated, feelings of pleasantness or unpleasantness, of tension, +excitement, confidence, etc. + +Apparently the field of consciousness shades off gradually into the +field of unconscious activity. Some physiological processes go on +unconsciously, and very habitual movements may be almost or entirely +unconscious. The boundary {266} between what is vaguely conscious and +what is entirely unconscious is necessarily very vague itself, but the +probability is that the field of consciousness is broader than we +usually suspect, and that many activities that we ordinarily think of +as unconscious, because we do not observe them at the time nor +remember them later, lie really near the margin of the field of +consciousness, but inside that field. "Unconscious motives", such as +spite or pride often seem to be, are probably vaguely conscious rather +than unconscious. We shall return to the fascinating topic of the +unconscious at the close of the book. + +Degree of consciousness does not always tally with intensity of +sensation or energy of muscular action. You may be more conscious of a +slight but significant sound than of much louder noises occurring at +the same time. You may be more conscious of a delicate finger movement +than of a strong contraction of big muscles occurring at the same +time. Degree of consciousness goes with degree of mental activity. Of +all the reactions we are making at the same time--and usually there +are several--the most active in a mental way is the most conscious. +The slight sound arouses intense mental response because it means +something of importance--like the faint cry of the baby upstairs, +noticed instead of the loud noises of the street. The delicate finger +movement aims at some difficult result, while the big muscles may be +doing their accustomed work automatically. + +It is not always the most efficient mental process that is most +conscious; indeed, practising an act makes it both more efficient and +less conscious. It is, rather, the less efficient processes that +require attention, because they require mental work to keep them going +straight. + +Our sixth law of attention, emerging from this introspective study, is +naturally of a different style from the remainder of the list, which +were objectively observed; yet it {267} is no less certain and perhaps +no less significant. It may be called: + +(6) The _law of degrees of consciousness_, and thus stated: _An +attentive response is conscious to a higher degree than any +inattentive response made at the same time_. An inattentive response +may be dimly conscious or, perhaps, altogether unconscious. The less +familiar the response, and the higher it stands in the scale of mental +performances, the more attentive it is, and the more conscious. + + +The Management of Attention + +Attentive observation is more trustworthy than inattentive, and also +gives more facts. Attentive movement is more accurate than +inattentive, and may be quicker as well. Attentive study gives quicker +learning than inattentive, and at the same time fixes the facts more +durably. + +Shall we say, then, "Do everything attentively"? But that is +impossible. We sense so many stimuli at once that we could not +possibly attend to all of them. We do several things at once, and +cannot give attention to them all. A skilful performance consists of +many parts, and we cannot possibly give careful attention to all the +parts. Attention is necessarily selective, and the best advice is, not +simply to "be attentive", but to attend to the right things. + +In observation, the best plan is obviously to decide beforehand +exactly what needs to be observed, and then to focus attention on this +precise point. That is the principle underlying the remarkably sure +and keen observation of the scientist. Reading may be called a kind of +observation, since the reader is looking for what the author has to +tell; and the rule that holds for other observation holds also for +reading. That is to say that the reader finds the most when he knows +just what he is looking for. We can learn {268} something here from +story-reading, which is the most efficient sort of reading, in the +sense that you get the point of the story better than that of more +serious reading matter, the reason being that attention is always +pressing forward in the story, looking for something very definite. +You want to know how the hero gets out of the fix he is in, and you +press forward and find out with great certainty and little loss of +time. The best readers of serious matter have a similar eagerness to +discover what the author has to say; they get the author's question, +and press on to find his answer. Such readers are both quick and +retentive. The dawdling reader, who simply spends so much time and +covers so many pages, in the vague hope that something will stick, +does not remember the point because he never got the point, and never +got it because he wasn't looking for it. + +In skilled movement, or skilled action of any sort, the best rule is +to fix attention on the end-result or, if the process is long, on the +result that immediately needs to be accomplished. "Keep your eye on +the ball" when the end just now to be achieved is hitting the ball. +Attention to the details of the process, though necessary in learning +a skilled movement, is distracting and confusing after skill has been +acquired. The runner does not attend to his legs, but to the goal or, +if that is still distant, to the runner just ahead of him. + + +Theory of Attention + +The chief facts to take account of in attempting to form a conception +of the brain action in attention are mobility, persistence in spite of +mobility, and focusing. + +The mobility of attention must mean that brain activities are in +constant flux, with nerve currents continually shooting hither and +thither and arousing ever fresh groups of neurones; but sustained +attention means that a brain {269} activity (representing the desire +or interest or reaction-tendency dominant at the time) may persist and +limit the range of the mobile activities, by facilitating some of +these and inhibiting others. + +The "focusing" of mental activity is more difficult to translate into +neural terms. The fact to be translated is that, while several mental +activities may go on at once, only one occupies the focus of +attention. This must mean that, while several brain activities go on +at once, one is superior in some way to the rest. The superiority +might lie in greater intensity of neurone action, or in greater +extent; that is, one brain activity is bigger in some way than any +other occurring at the same time--bigger either because the neurones +in it are working more energetically or because it includes a larger +number of active neurones. + +But why should not two equally big brain activities sometimes occur at +the same moment, and attention thus be divided? The only promising +hypothesis that has been offered to explain the absence of divided +attention is that of "neurone drainage", according to which one or the +other of two neurone groups, simultaneously aroused to activity, +drains off the energy from the other, so putting a quietus on it. +Unfortunately, this hypothesis explains too much, for it would make it +impossible for minor brain activities to go on at the same time as the +major one, and that would mean that only one thing could be done at a +time, and that the field of consciousness was no broader than the +field of attention. On the whole, we must admit that we do not know +exactly what the focusing of attention can mean in brain terms. + +{270} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter, in the form of a number of "laws", putting + under each law the chief facts that belong there. + +2. See if you can verify, by watching another person's eyes, the + statements made on page 250 regarding eye movements. + +3. Choose a spot where there is a good deal going on, stay there + for five minutes and jot down the things that attract your + attention. Classify the stimuli under the several "factors of + advantage". + +4. Mention some stimulus to which you have a habit of attention, + and one to which you have a habit of inattention. + +5. Close the eyes, and direct attention to the field of cutaneous + and kinesthetic sensations. Do sensations emerge of which you are + ordinarily only dimly conscious? Does shifting occur? + +6. Of the several factors of advantage, which would be most effective + in catching another person's attention, and which in holding his + attention? + +7. How does attention, in a blind person, probably differ from that + of a seeing person? + +8. Doing two things at once. Prepare several columns of one-place + numbers, ten digits in a column. Try to add these columns, at the + same time reciting a familiar poem, and notice how you manage it, + and how accurate your work is. + +9. Consider what would be the best way to secure sustained + attention to some sort of work from which your mind is apt to wander. + + + +REFERENCES + +Walter B. Pillsbury gives a full treatment of the subject in his book +on _Attention_, 1908, and a condensed account of the matter in Chapter +V of his _Essentials of Psychology_, 2nd edition, 1920. + +Another full treatment is that of Titchener, in his _Textbook of +Psychology_, 1909, pp. 265-302. + +On the topic of distraction, see John J. B. Morgan's _Overcoming of +Distraction and Other Resistances_, 1916. + +{271} + + +CHAPTER XII + +INTELLIGENCE + +HOW INTELLIGENCE IS MEASURED, WHAT IT CONSISTS IN AND EVIDENCE OF ITS +BEING LARGELY A MATTER OF HEREDITY + +Before leaving the general topic of native traits and passing to the +process of learning or acquiring traits, we need to complete our +picture of the native mental constitution by adding intelligence to +reflex action, instinct, emotion, feeling, sensation and attention. +Man is an intelligent animal by nature. The fact that he is the most +intelligent of animals is due to his native constitution, as the fact +that, among the lower animals, some species are more intelligent than +others is due to the native constitution of each species. A rat has +more intelligence than a frog, a dog than a rat, a monkey than a dog, +and a man than a monkey, because of their native constitutions as +members of their respective species. + +But the different individuals belonging to the same species are not +all equal in intelligence, any more than in size or strength or +vitality. Some dogs are more intelligent than others, and the same is +notably true of men. Now, are these differences between members of the +same species due to heredity or environment? This question we can +better approach after considering the methods by which psychologists +undertake to measure intelligence; and an analysis of these methods +may also serve to indicate what is included under the term +"intelligence". + +{272} + +Intelligence Tests + +Not far from the year 1900 the school authorities of the city of +Paris, desiring to know whether the backwardness of many children in +school resulted from inattention, mischievousness and similar +difficulties of a moral nature, or from genuine inability to learn, +put the problem into the hands of Alfred Binet, a leading psychologist +of the day; and within a few years thereafter he and a collaborator +brought out the now famous Binet-Simon tests for intelligence. In +devising these tests, Binet's plan was to leave school knowledge to +one side, and look for information and skill picked up by the child +from his elders and playmates in the ordinary experience of life. +Further, Binet wisely decided not to seek for any _single_ test for so +broad a matter as intelligence, but rather to employ many brief tests +and give the child plenty of chances to demonstrate what he had +learned and what he could do. These little tests were graded in +difficulty from the level of the three-year-old to that of the +twelve-year-old, and the general plan was to determine how far up the +scale the child could successfully pass the tests. + +These were not the first tests in existence by any means, but they +were the first attempt at a measure of general intelligence, and they +proved extraordinarily useful. They have been added to and revised by +other psychologists, notably by Terman in America, who has extended +the scale of tests up to the adult level. A few samples from Terman's +revision will give an idea of the character of the Binet tests. + + From the tests for three-year-olds: Naming familiar objects--the + child must name correctly at least three of five common objects that + are shown him. + + Six-year test: Finding omissions in pictures of faces, from which + the nose, or one eye, etc., is left out. Four such pictures are + shown, and three correct responses are required to pass the test. + + Eight-year test: Tell how wood and coal are alike; and so with three + other pairs of familiar things; two out of four correct responses + are required to pass the test. + +{273} + + Twelve-year test: Vocabulary test--rough definitions showing the + child's understanding of forty words out of a standard list of one + hundred. + +The question may be raised, "Why such arbitrary standards-three out of +five required here, two out of four there, forty out of a hundred the +next time?" The answer is that the tests have been standardized by +actual trial on large numbers of children, and so standardized that +the average child of a given age can just barely pass the tests of +that age. + +Intelligence is measured by Binet on a scale of _mental age_. The +average child of, let us say, eight years and six months is said to +have a mental age of eight years and six months; and any individual +who does just as well as this is said to have this mental age, no +matter what his chronological age may be. The average child of this +age passes all the tests for eight years and below, and three of the +six tests for age nine; or passes an equivalent number of tests from +the total series. Usually there is some "scatter" in the child's +successes, as he fails in a test here and there below his mental age, +and succeeds here and there above his mental age, but the failures +below and the successes above balance each other in the average child, +so that he comes out with a mental age equal to his chronological age. + + [Footnote: The Binet scale, it must be understood, is an instrument + of precision, not to be handled except by one who has been + thoroughly trained in its use. It looks so simple that any student + is apt to say, "Why, I could give those tests!" The point is that he + couldn't--not until he knew the tests practically by heart, not till + he had standardized his manner of conducting them to agree perfectly + with the prescribed manner and till he knew how to score the varying + answers given by different children according to the scoring system + that goes with the tests, and not till, by experience in handling + children in the tests, he was able to secure the child's confidence + and get him to do his best, without, however, giving the child any + assistance beyond what is prescribed. Many superior persons have + looked down on the psychological examiner with his (or her) + assortment of little tests, and have said, "Certainly no special + training is necessary to give these tests. You simply want to find + out whether the child can do these stunts. I can find out as well as + you." They miss the point altogether. The question is not whether + the child can do these stunts (with an undefined amount of + assistance), but whether he _does_ them under carefully prescribed + conditions. The child is given two, three or four dozen chances to + see how many of them he will accept; and the whole scale has been + standardized by try-out on many children of each age, and so adapted + that when given according to instructions, it will give a correct + measure of the child's mental age. But when given by superior + persons in ignorance of its true character, it gives results very + wide of the mark. So much by way of caution.] + +{274} + +If a child's mental age is the same as his chronological age, he is +just average, neither bright nor dull. If his mental age is much above +his chronological, he is bright; if much below, dull. His degree of +brightness or dullness can be measured by the number of years his +mental age is above or below his chronological age. He is, mentally, +so many years advanced or retarded. + +Brightness or dullness can also be measured by the _intelligence +quotient_, which is employed so frequently that it is customarily +abbreviated to "IQ". This is the mental age divided by the +chronological, and is usually expressed in per cent. The IQ of the +exactly average child, of any age, is 1, or 100 per cent. The IQ of +the bright child is above 100 and of the dull child below 100. About +sixty per cent. of all children have an IQ between 90 and 110, twenty +per cent, are below 90 and twenty per cent, above 110. The following +table gives the distribution in somewhat greater detail: + +IQ below 70, 1% +IQ 70-79, 5% +IQ 80-89, 14% +IQ 90-99, 30% +IQ 100-109, 30% +IQ 110-119, 14% +IQ 120-129, 5% +IQ over 129, 1% + --- + 100 + +{275} + +For convenience, those with IQ under 70 are sometimes labeled +"feeble-minded", and the others, in order, "borderline", "low normal", +"average" (from 90 to 110), "superior", "very superior", "exceedingly +superior"; but this is arbitrary and really unscientific, for what the +facts show is not a separation into classes, but a continuous +gradation from one extreme to the other. The lower extreme is near +zero, and the upper extreme thus far found is about 180. + +While the mental age tells an individual's intellectual level at a +given time, the IQ tells how fast he has progressed. An IQ of 125 +means that he has picked up knowledge and skill 25 per cent. faster +than the average individual--that he has progressed as far in four +years as the average child does in five, or as far in eight as the +average does in ten, or as far in twelve as the average does in +fifteen. The IQ usually remains fairly constant as the child grows +older, and thus represents his rate of mental growth. It furnishes a +pretty good measure of the individual's intelligence. + + +Performance Tests + +Since, however, the Binet tests depend greatly on the use of language, +they are not fair to the deaf child, nor to the child with a speech +defect, nor to the foreign child. Also, some persons who are clumsy in +managing the rather abstract ideas dealt with in the Binet tests show +up better in managing concrete objects. For all such cases, +_performance tests are useful. Language plays little part in a +performance test_, and concrete objects are used. The "form board" is +a good example. Blocks of various simple shapes are to be fitted into +corresponding holes in a board; the time of performance is measured, +and the errors (consisting in trying to put a block into a differently +shaped hole) are also counted. To the normal adult, this task seems +too simple {276} to serve as a test for intelligence, but the young +child finds it difficult, and the mentally deficient adult goes at it +in the same haphazard way as a young child, trying to force the square +block into the round hole. He does not pin himself down to the one +essential thing, which is to match blocks and holes according to +shape. + +Another good performance test is the "picture completion". A picture +is placed before the child, out of which several square holes have +been cut. These cut-out pieces are mounted on little blocks, and there +are other similar blocks with more or less irrelevant objects pictured +on them. The child must select from the whole collection of little +blocks the one that belongs in each hole in the picture. The better +his understanding of the picture, the better his selection. + + +Group Testing + +The tests so far described, because they have to be given to each +subject individually, require a great deal of time from the trained +examiner, and tests are also needed which can be given to a whole +group of people at once. For persons who can read printed directions, +a group test can easily be conducted, though much preliminary labor is +necessary in selecting and standardizing the questions used. Group +testing of foreigners, illiterates, and young children is more +difficult, but has been accomplished, the directions being conveyed +orally or by means of pantomime. + +The first extensive use of group intelligence tests was made in the +American Army during the Great War. A committee of the American +Psychological Association prepared and standardized the tests, and +persuaded the Army authorities to let them try them out in the camps. +So successful were these tests--when supplemented, in doubtful cases, +by individual tests--that they were adopted in the receiving {277} +camps; and they proved very useful both in detecting those individuals +whose intelligence was too low to enable them to learn the duties of a +soldier, and those who, from high intelligence, could profitably be +trained for officers. + +The "Alpha test", used on recruits who could read, consisted of eight +pages of questions, each page presenting a different type of problem +for solution. On the first page were rows of circles, squares, etc., +to which certain things were to be done in accordance with spoken +commands. The subject had to attend carefully to what he was told to +do, since he was given each command only once, and some of the +commands called for rather complicated reactions. The second page +consisted of arithmetical problems, ranging from very simple at the +top of the page to more difficult ones below, though none of them went +into the more technical parts of arithmetic. One page tested the +subject's information on matters of common knowledge; and another +called for the selection of the best of three reasons offered for a +given fact, as, for example, "Why is copper used for electric wires? +Because--it is mined in Montana--it is a good conductor--it is the +cheapest metal." Another page presented disarranged sentences (as, +"wet rain always is", or "school horses all to go"), to be put +straight mentally, and indicated on the paper as true or false. + +Many group tests are now in use, and among them some performance +tests. In the latter, pictures are often employed; sometimes the +subject has to complete the picture by drawing in a missing part, +sometimes he has to cancel from the picture a part that is +superfluous. He may have to draw a pencil line indicating the shortest +path through a maze, or he may have to continue a series of marks +which starts off according to a definite plan. The problems set him +under each class range from very easy to fairly difficult. + +{278} + +Some Results of the Intelligence Tests + +The principal fact discovered by use of standardized intelligence +tests is that the tests serve very well the purpose for which they +were intended. In expert hands they actually give a fairly reliable +measure of the individual's intelligence. They have located the +trouble in the case of many a backward school child, whose +intelligence was too low to enable him to derive much benefit from the +regular school curriculum. His schooling needed to be adjusted to his +intelligence so as to prepare him to do what he was constitutionally +able to do. + +On the other hand, it sometimes happens that a child who is +mischievous and inattentive in school, and whose school work is rather +poor, tests high in intelligence, the trouble with him being that the +work set him is below his mental level and therefore unstimulating. +Such children do better when given more advanced work. The +intelligence tests are proving of great service in detecting boys and +girls of superior intelligence who have been dragging along, forming +lazy habits of work, and not preparing for the kind of service that +their intelligence should enable them to give. + +Some results obtained by the "Alpha test" are given in the following +table, and in the diagram which restates the facts of the table in +graphic form. The Alpha test included 212 questions in all, and a +correct answer to any question netted the subject one point. The +maximum score was thus 212 points, a mark which could only be obtained +by a combination of perfect accuracy and very rapid work (since only a +limited time was allowed for each page of the test). Very seldom does +even a very bright individual score over 200 points. The table shows +the approximate per cent, of individuals scoring between certain +limits; thus, {279} of men drafted into the Army, approximately 8 per +cent. scored below 15 points, 12 per cent. scored from 16 to 29 +points, etc. Of college freshmen, practically none score below 76 +points, 1 per cent. score from 76 to 89 points, etc. + + + Per cent. of Per cent. of + drafted men college freshmen + making these making these + Scores Scores +Scores +0-14 points 3 0 + +15-29 12 0 + +30-44 15 0 + +45-59 16 0 + +60-74 13 0 + +75-89 11 1 + +90-104 9 4 + +105-119 7 8 + +120-134 6 14 + +135-149 4 23 + +150-164 2 24 + +165-179 1.3 13 + +180-194 0.5 7 + +195-212 0.2 1 + ----- --- + 100 100 + + +The "drafted men", consisting of men between the ages of twenty-one +and thirty-one, fairly represent the adult male white population of +the country, except in two respects. Many able young men were not +included in the draft, having previously volunteered for officers' +training camps or for special services. Had they been included, the +percentages making the higher scores would have gone up slightly. On +the other hand, many men of very low intelligence never reached the +receiving camps at all, being inmates of institutions for the +feebleminded or excluded from the draft because of known mental +deficiency; and, of those who reached {280} the camps, many, being +illiterate, did not take the Alpha test. It is for this reason that +the graph for drafted men stops rather short at the lower end; to +picture fairly the distribution of intelligence, it should taper off +to the left, beyond the zero of the Alpha test. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 46.--Distribution of the scores of drafted men, +and also of college freshmen, in the Alpha test. The height of the +broken line above the base line is made proportional to the percent of +the group that made the score indicated just below along the base +line. (Figure text: army median--65, freshman median--150)] + + +College freshmen evidently are, as they should be, a highly selected +group in regard to intelligence. The results obtained at different +colleges differ somewhat, and the figures here given represent an +approximate average of results obtained at several colleges of high +standing. The median {281} score for freshmen has varied, at different +colleges, from 140 to 160 points. + + [Footnote: The "median" is a statistical measure very similar to the + average; but, while the average score would be obtained by adding + together the scores of all the individuals and dividing the sum by + the number of individuals tested, the median is obtained by + arranging all the individual scores in order, from the lowest to the + highest, and then counting off from either end till the middle + individual is reached; his score is the median. (If the number of + individuals tested is an even number, there are two middle + individuals, and the point midway between them is taken as the + median.) Just as many individuals are below the median as above it. + The median is often preferred to the average in psychological work, + not only because it is more easily computed, but because it is less + affected by the eccentric or unusual performances of a few + individuals, and therefore more fairly represents the whole + population.] + +It will be noticed in the graph that none of the freshmen score as low +as the median of the drafted men. All of the freshmen, in fact, lie +well above the median for the general population. A freshman who +scores below 100 points finds it very difficult to keep up in his +college work. Sometimes, it must be said, a freshman who scores not +much over 100 in the test does very well in his studies, and sometimes +one who scores very high in the test has to be dropped for poor +scholarship, but this last is probably due to distracting interests. + +No such sampling of the adult female population has ever been made as +was afforded by the draft, and we are not in a position to compare the +average adult man and woman in regard to intelligence. Boys and girls +under twelve average almost the same, year by year, according to the +Binet tests. In various other tests, calling for quick, accurate work, +girls have on the average slightly surpassed boys of the same age, but +this may result from the fact that girls mature earlier than boys; +they reach adult height earlier, and perhaps also adult intelligence. +College women, in the Alpha test, score on the average a few points +below college men, but this, on the other hand, may be due to the fact +that the Alpha test, being prepared for men, includes a few questions +that lie rather outside the usual range of women's interests. On the +whole, tests have given very little evidence of any significant +difference between the general run of intelligence in the two sexes. + + +Limitations of the Intelligence Tests + +Tests of the Binet or Alpha variety evidently do not cover the whole +range of intelligent behavior. They do not test {282} the ability to +manage carpenter's or plumber's tools or other concrete things, they +do not test the ability to manage people, and they do not reach high +enough to test the ability to solve really big problems. + +Regarding the ability to manage concrete things, we have already +mentioned the performance tests, which provide a necessary supplement +to the tests that deal in ideas expressed in words. It is an +interesting fact that some men whose mental age is below ten, +according to the Binet tests, nevertheless have steady jobs, earn good +wages, and get on all right in a simple environment. There are many +others, with a mental age of ten or eleven, who cannot master the +school work of the upper grades, and yet become skilled workmen or +even real artists. Now, it takes mentality to perform skilled or +artistic work; only, the mentality is different from that demanded by +what we call "intellectual work". + +Managing people requires tact and leadership, which are obviously +mental traits, though not easily tested. It is seldom that a real +leader of men scores anything but high in the intelligence tests, but +it more often happens that an individual who scores very high in the +tests has little power of leadership. In part this is a matter of +physique, or of temperament, rather than of intelligence, but in part +it is a matter of _understanding_ people and seeing how they can be +influenced and led. + +Though the intelligence tests deal with "ideas", they do not, as so +far devised, reach up to the great ideas nor make much demand on the +superior powers of the great thinker. If we could assemble a group of +the world's great authors, scientists and inventors, and put them +through the Alpha test, it is probable that they would all score high, +but not higher than the upper ten per cent, of college freshmen. Had +their IQ's been determined when they were children, {283} probably all +would have measured over 180 and some as high as 200, but the tests +would not have distinguished these great geniuses from the gifted +child who is simply one of a hundred or one of a thousand. + + +The Correlation of Abilities + +There is no opposition between "general intelligence", as measured by +the tests, and the abilities to deal with concrete things, with +people, or with big ideas. Rather, there is a considerable degree of +correspondence. The individual who scores high in the intelligence +tests is likely, but not certain, to surpass in these respects the +individual who scores low in the tests. In technical language, there +is a "positive correlation" between general intelligence and ability +to deal with concrete things, people and big ideas, but the +correlation is not perfect. + +_Correlation_ is a statistical measure of the degree of +correspondence. Suppose, for an example, we wish to find out how +closely people's weights correspond to their heights. Stand fifty +young men up in single file in order of height, the tallest in front, +the shortest behind. Then weigh each man, and shift them into the +order of their weights. If no shifting whatever were needed, the +correlation between height and weight would be perfect. Suppose the +impossible, that the shortest man was the heaviest, the tallest the +lightest, and that the whole order needed to be exactly reversed; then +we should say that the correlation was perfectly inverse or negative. +Suppose the shift from height order to weight order mixed the men +indiscriminately, so that you could not tell _anything_ from a man's +position in the height order as to what his position would be in the +weight order; then we should have "zero correlation". The actual +result, however, would be that, while the height order would be {284} +somewhat disturbed in shifting to the weight order, it would not be +entirely lost, much less reversed. That is, the correlation between +height and weight is positive but not perfect. + +Statistics furnishes a number of formulae for measuring correlations, +formulae which agree in this, that perfect positive correlation is +indicated by the number + 1, perfect negative correlation by the +number - 1, and zero correlation by 0. A correlation of +.8 indicates +close positive correspondence, though not perfect correspondence; a +correlation of +.3 means a rather low, but still positive, +correspondence; a correlation of -.6 means a moderate tendency towards +inverse relationship. + +The correlation between two good intelligence tests, such as the Binet +and the Alpha, comes out at about +.8, which means that if a fair +sample of the general population, ranging from low to high +intelligence, is given both tests, the order of the individuals as +measured by the one test will agree pretty closely with the order +obtained with the other test. The correlation between a general +intelligence test and a test for mechanical ability is considerably +lower but still positive, coming to about +.4. Few if any real +negative correlations are found between different abilities, but low +positive or approximately zero correlations are frequent between +different, rather special abilities. + +In other words, there is no evidence of any antagonism between +different sorts of ability, but there is plenty of evidence that +different special abilities may have little or nothing in common. + + [Footnote] + Possibly some readers would like to see a sample of the + statistical formulae by which correlation is measured. Here is one + of the simplest. Number the individuals tested in their order as + given by the first test, and again in their order as given by the + second test, and find the difference between each individual's two + rank numbers. If an individual who ranks no. 5 in one test ranks no. + 12 in the other, the difference in his rank numbers is 7. Designate + this difference by the letter D. and the whole number of individuals + tested by n. Square each D, and get the sum of all the squares, + calling this sum "sum of D2[squared]". Then the correlation is given + by the formula, + + 1 - ( ( 6 X sum of D[squared] ) / (n x ( n[squared] - 1)) ) + + As an example in the use of this formula, take the following: + + + + Individuals Rank of each Rank of each D D[squared] + tested individual in individual in + first test second test + + Albert 3 5 2 4 + + George 7 6 1 1 + + Henry 5 3 2 4 + + James 2 1 1 1 + + Stephen 1 4 3 9 + + Thomas 4 2 2 4 + + William 6 7 1 1 + + + n = 7 + + sum of D[squared] = 24 + + n[squared] - 1 = 48 + + 6 x sum of D[squared] = 144 + + 6 x sum of D[squared] / n ( n[squared] - 1 ) + + = 1 - 144/(7 x 48) + + = +.57 + + In order to get a full and true measure of the correlation between + two tests, the following precautions are necessary: + + (1) The _same individuals_ must be given both tests. + + (2) The number of individuals tested must be as great as 15 or 20, + preferably more. + + (3) The individuals should be a fair sample of the population in + regard to the abilities tested; they should not be so selected as to + represent only a small part of the total range of ability. + + (4) The tests should be thorough enough to determine each + individual's rank in each test, with a high degree of certainty. + Sloppy testing gives a correlation nearer zero than it should be, + because it "pies" the true orders to some extent. + [End footnote] + +{285} + +General Factors in Intelligence + +If now we try to analyze intelligence and see in what it consists, we +can best proceed by reviewing the intelligence tests, and asking how +it is that an individual succeeds in them. Passing the tests is a very +specific instance of {286} intelligent behavior, and an analysis of +the content of the tests should throw some light on the nature of +intelligence. + +The first thing that strikes the eye in looking over the tests is that +they call for so many different reactions. They call on you to name +objects, to copy a square, to tell whether a given statement is true +or false, to tell wherein two objects are alike or different. The +first impression, then, is that intelligence consists simply in doing +a miscellaneous lot of things and doing them right. + +But can we not state in more general terms how the individual who +scores high in the tests differs from one who scores low? If you +survey the test questions carefully, you begin to see that the person +who passes them must possess certain general characteristics, and that +lack of these characteristics will lead to a low score. We may speak +of these characteristics as "general factors" in intelligent behavior. + +First, the tests evidently require the use of past experience. They +call, not for instinctive reactions, but for previously learned +reactions. Though the Binet tests attempt to steer clear of specific +school knowledge, they do depend upon knowledge and skill picked up by +the child in the course of his ordinary experience. They depend on the +ability to learn and remember. One general factor in intelligence is +therefore _retentiveness_. + +But the tests do not usually call for simple memory of something +previously learned. Rather, what has been previously learned must be +applied, in the test, to a more or less novel problem. The subject is +asked to do something a little different from anything he has +previously done, but similar enough so that he can make use of what he +has learned. He has to _see the point_ of the problem now set him, and +to _adapt_ what he has learned to this novel situation. Perhaps +"seeing the point" and "adapting oneself to {287} a novel situation" +are to be held apart as two separate general factors in intelligence, +but on the whole it seems possible to include both under the general +head, _responsiveness to relationships_, and to set up this +characteristic as a second general factor in intelligence. + +In the form board and picture completion tests, this responsiveness to +relationships comes out clearly. To succeed in the form board, the +subject must respond to the likeness of shape between the blocks and +their corresponding holes. In picture completion, he must see what +addition stands in the most significant relationship to the total +picture situation. In telling how certain things are alike or +different, he obviously responds to relationships; and so also in +distinguishing between good and poor reasons for a certain fact. This +element of response to relationships occurs again and again in the +tests, though perhaps not in the simplest, such as naming familiar +objects. + +Besides these two intellectual factors in intelligent behavior, there +are certain moral or impulsive factors. One is _persistence_, which is +probably the same thing as the mastery or self-assertive instinct. The +individual who gives up easily, or succumbs easily to distraction or +timidity, is at a disadvantage in the tests or in any situation +calling for intelligent behavior. + +But, as we said before, in discussing the instincts, excessive +stubbornness is a handicap in meeting a novel situation, which often +cannot be mastered by the first mode of response that one makes to it. +Some giving up, some _submissiveness_ in detail along with persistence +in the main effort, is needed. The too stubborn young child may waste +a lot of time trying with all his might to force the square block into +the round hole, and so make a poorer score in the test, than if he had +given up his first line of attack and tried something else. +Intelligent behavior must perforce {288} often have something of the +character of "trial and error", and trial and error requires both +persistence in the main enterprise and a giving up here in order to +try again there. + +Finally, the instinct of _curiosity_ or exploration is evidently a +factor in intelligence. The individual who is stimulated by novel +things to explore and manipulate them will amass knowledge and skill +that can later be utilized in the tests, or in intelligent behavior +generally. + + +Special Aptitudes + +We distinguish between the general factors in intelligence, just +mentioned, and special aptitudes for dealing with colors, forms, +numbers, weights etc. A special aptitude is a specific responsiveness +to a certain kind of stimulus or object. The special aptitudes are +factors in intelligent behavior--as we may judge from the content of +the intelligence tests--only, the tests are so contrived as not to +depend too much on any one or any few of the special aptitudes. +Arithmetical problems alone would not make a fair test for +intelligence, since they would lay undue stress on the special +aptitude for number; but it is fair enough to include them along with +color naming, weight judging, form copying, and word remembering, and +so to give many special aptitudes a chance to figure in the final +score. + +There are tests in existence for some special aptitudes: tests for +color sense and color matching, for musical ability, for ability in +drawing, etc.; but as yet we have no satisfactory list of the special +aptitudes. They come to light when we compare one individual with +another, or one species with another. Thus, while man is far superior +to the dog in dealing with colors, the dog is superior in dealing with +odors. Man has more aptitude for form, but some animals are fully his +equal in sense of location and ability to find {289} their way. Man is +far superior in dealing with numbers and also with tools and +mechanical things. He is superior in speech, in sense of rhythm, in +sense of humor, in sense of pathos. Individual human beings also +differ markedly in each of these respects. They differ in these +special directions as well as in the "general factors" of +intelligence. + + +Heredity of Intelligence and of Special Aptitudes + +Let us now return to the question raised at the very outset of the +chapter, whether or not intelligence is a native trait. We then said +that the differing intelligence of different species of animals must +be laid to their native constitutions, but left the question open +whether the differing intelligence of human individuals was a matter +of heredity or of environment. + +Intelligence is of course quite different from instinct, in that it +does not consist in ready-made native reactions. The intelligence of +an individual at any age depends on what he has learned previously. +But the factors in intelligent behavior--retentiveness, responsiveness +to relationships, persistence, etc.--may very well be native traits. + +But what _evidence_ is there that the individual's degree of +intelligence is a native characteristic, like his height or color of +hair? The evidence is pretty convincing to most psychologists. + +First, we have the fact that an individual's degree of intelligence is +an inherent characteristic, in the sense that it remains with him from +childhood to old age. Bright child, bright adult; dull child, dull +adult. That is the rule, and the exceptions are not numerous enough to +shake it. Many a dull child of well-to-do parents, in spite of great +pains taken with his education, is unable to escape from his inherent +limitations. The intelligence quotient remains fairly {290} constant +for the same child as he grows up, and stands for an inherent +characteristic of the individual, namely, the rate at which he +acquires knowledge and skill. Give two children the same environment, +physical and social, and you will see one child progress faster than +the other. Thus, among children who grow up in the same community, +playing together and going to the same schools, the more rapid mental +advance of some than of others is due to differences in native +constitution, and the IQ gives a measure of the native constitution in +this respect. There are exceptions, to be sure, depending on physical +handicaps such as deafness or disease, or on very bad treatment at +home, but in general the IQ can be accepted as representing a fact of +native constitution. + +Another line of evidence for the importance of native constitution in +determining degrees of intelligence comes from the study of mental +resemblance among members of the same family. Brothers or sisters test +more alike than children taken at random from a community, and twins +test more alike than ordinary brothers and sisters. Now, as the +physical resemblance of brothers or sisters, and specially of twins, +is accepted as due to native constitution, we must logically draw the +same conclusion from their mental resemblance. + +The way feeble-mindedness runs in families is a case in point. Though, +in exceptional instances, mental defect arises from brain injury at +the time of birth, or from disease (such as cerebrospinal meningitis) +during early childhood, in general it cannot be traced to such +accidents, but is inherent in the individual. Usually mental defect or +some similar condition can be found elsewhere in the family of the +mentally defective child; it is in the family stock. When both parents +are of normal intelligence and come from families with no mental +abnormality in any ancestral line, it is practically unknown that they +should have a feeble-minded {291} child; but if mental deficiency has +occurred in some of the ancestral lines, an occasional feeble-minded +child may be born even of parents who are themselves both normal. If +one parent is normal and the other feeble-minded, some of the children +are likely to be normal and others feeble-minded; but if both parents +are feeble-minded, it is said that all the children are sure to be +feeble-minded or at least dull. + +These facts regarding the occurrence of feeble-mindedness cannot be +accounted for by environmental influences, especially the fact that +some children of the same family may be definitely feeble-minded and +others normal. We must remember that children of the same parents need +not have precisely similar native constitutions; they are not always +alike in physical traits such as hair color or eye color that are +certainly determined by native constitution. + +The special aptitudes also run in families. You find musical families +where most of the children take readily to music, and other families +where the children respond scarcely at all to music, though their +general intelligence is good enough. You find a special liking and +gift for mathematics cropping out here and there in different +generations of the same family. No less significant is the fact that +children of the same family show ineradicable differences from one +another in such abilities. In one family were two brothers, the older +of whom showed much musical ability and came early to be an organist +and composer of church music; while the younger, possessing +considerable ability in scholarship and literature, was never able to +learn to sing or tell one tune from another. Being a clergyman, he +desired very much to be able to lead in singing, but he simply could +not learn. Such obstinate differences, persisting in spite of the same +home environment, must depend on native constitution. + +Native constitution determines mental ability in two respects. It +fixes certain limits which the individual cannot {292} pass, no matter +how good his environment, and no matter how hard he trains himself; +and, on the positive side, it makes the individual responsive to +certain stimuli, and so gives him a start towards the development of +intelligence and of special aptitudes. + + +Intelligence and the Brain + +There is certainly some connection between the brain and intelligent +behavior. While the spinal cord and brain stem vary according to the +size of the body, and the cerebellum with the motility of the species +of animal, the size of the cerebrum varies more or less closely with +the intelligence of the species. It does vary also with bodily size, +as illustrated by the whale and elephant, which have the largest +cerebrum of all animals, including man. But the monkey, which shows +more intelligence than most animals, has also a very large cerebrum +for his size of body; and the chimpanzee and gorilla, considerably +surpassing the ordinary monkeys in intelligence, have also a much +larger cerebrum. The cerebrum of man, in proportion to the size of his +body, far surpasses that of the chimpanzee or gorilla. + +The cerebrum varies considerably in size from one human individual to +another. In some adults it is twice as large as in others, and the +question arises whether greater intelligence goes with a larger brain. +Now, it appears that an extremely small cerebrum spells idiocy; not +all idiots have small brains, but all men with extremely small brains +are idiots. The brain weight of quite a number of highly gifted men +has been measured in post-mortem examination, and many of these gifted +men have had a very large cerebrum. On the whole, the gifted +individual seems to have a large brain, but there are exceptions, and +the relationship between brain size and intelligence cannot be very +close. Other factors must enter, one factor being undoubtedly the +fineness {293} of the internal structure of the cortex. Brain function +depends on dendrites and end-brushes, forming synapses in the cortex, +and such minute structures make little impression on the total brain +weight. + +While intelligence is related to the cerebrum as a whole, rather than +to any particular "intelligence center", there is some likelihood that +the special aptitudes are related to special parts of the cortex, +though it must be admitted that few aptitudes have as yet been +localized. The pretended localizations of phrenology are all wrong. +But we do know that each sense has its special cortical area, and that +adjacent to these sensory areas are portions of the cortex intimately +concerned in response to different classes of complex stimuli. Near +the auditory center the cortex is concerned in recognizing spoken +words, and in following music; near the visual center it is concerned +in recognizing printed words, in recognizing seen objects, in finding +one's way by the sense of sight, etc. These special aptitudes thus +have a fairly definite cortical localization, and possibly others have +also. + +Examined microscopically, the cortex shows differences of structure in +different parts, and to the structural differences probably correspond +differences of function. Now it is practically impossible that such a +function as attention or memory should have any localized cortical +center, for these are general functions. The instincts are specialized +enough to have local centers, but none have so far been localized. +What has been localized is of the nature of special aptitudes. + +{294} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. Pick out the true statements from the following list: + + (a) Man is the most intelligent of animals. + + (b) Intelligence depends on the development of the cerebellum. + + (c) It has not been found possible to use any single + performance as a reliable index of intelligence. + + (d) Children of different mental ages may have the same IQ. + + (e) A child with a mental age of 10 years can do all the tests + for 10 years and below, but none of those for the higher ages. + + (f) The intelligence tests depend wholly on accurate response + and not at all on speed of reaction. + + (g) If intelligence tests depended upon previous training, they + could not be measures of native intelligence. + + (h) High correlation between the test scores of brothers and + sisters is a fact that tends to indicate the importance of + heredity in determining intelligence. + + (i) The "general factors" in intelligence are the same as the + instincts. + + (j) Feeble-minded individuals include all those who are below + the average intelligence. + +3. It is found that eminent men very often have eminent brothers, + uncles and cousins. How would this fact be explained? + +4. It is also found that the wives of eminent men often have eminent + relatives. How would this fact be explained? + +5. How could it happen that a boy of 9, in the third school grade, + with an IQ of 140, should be mischievous and inattentive? What + should be done with him? + +6. If a boy of 12, by industrious work, does pretty well in the + fourth grade, why should we not accept the teacher's estimate of + him as a "fairly bright boy"? + +7. How might the brain of an idiot be underdeveloped, aside from + the matter of the number of nerve cells in the cortex? + +8. Can it be that high intelligence is a disadvantage in any form + of industrial work, and, if so, how? + +9. Show how "general intelligence" and "special aptitudes" may + work together to give success in some special line of work. + +{295} + +REFERENCES + +For the Binet tests and some results obtained by their use, see Louis +M. Terman, _The Measurement of Intelligence_, 1916. + +The group tests used in the American Army during the War are described +in detail In Vol. 15 of the _Memoirs of the National Academy of +Sciences_, 1921, edited by Robert M. Yerkes. This large book describes +the work of preparing and standardizing the tests, and also gives some +results bearing on the Intelligence of different sections of the +population. Some of the interesting results appear on pp. 507, 522, +528, 537, 693, 697, 705, 732, 743, 799, 815, 819, 829, 856 and 869. + +For briefer treatments of the subject, see Walter S. Hunter's _General +Psychology_, 1919, pp. 36-58, and W. B. Pillsbury's _Essentials of +Psychology_, 2nd edition, 1920, pp. 388-407. + +For the poor results obtained in attempting to judge intelligence from +photographs, see an illustrated article by Rudolph Pintner, in the +_Psychological Review_ for 1918, Vol. 25, pp. 286-296. + +For a study of one of the special aptitudes, see C. E. Seashore's +_Psychology of Musical Talent_, 1919. + +For a comprehensive survey of test methods and results, see the two +volumes of Whipple's _Manual of Mental and Physical Tests_, 2nd +edition, 1914, 1915. + +{296} + + +CHAPTER XIII + +LEARNING AND HABIT FORMATION + +THE DEPENDENCE OF ACQUIRED REACTIONS UPON INSTINCT AND REFLEX ACTION, +AND THE MODIFICATION OF NATIVE REACTIONS BY EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING. + + +Already, in considering intelligence, we have partially rounded the +corner from native to acquired traits, and now, fairly around the +corner, we see ahead of us a long straight stretch of road. For there +is much to say regarding acquired traits and regarding the process of +acquisition. All knowledge is acquired, the whole stock of ideas, as +well as motor skill, and there are acquired motives in addition to the +native motive forces that we called instincts, and acquired likes and +dislikes in addition to those that are native; so that, all in all, +there are thousands on thousands of acquired reactions, and the daily +life of the adult is made up of these much more than of strictly +native reactions. + +It will take us several chapters to explore this new territory that +now lies before us, a chapter on acquiring motor habits and skill, a +chapter on memory, a chapter on acquired mental reactions, and a +chapter devoted to the general laws that hold good in this whole +field. Our general plan is to proceed from the simple to the complex, +generalizing to some extent as we go, but leaving the big +generalizations to the close of the discussion, where we shall see +whether the whole process of acquiring reactions of all sorts cannot +be summed up in a few general laws of acquisition, or "laws of +association" as they are traditionally called. On reaching that {297} +goal, the reader may well come back, with the general laws in mind, +and see how well they fit in detail all the instances of acquired +responses that we are about to describe. We might have begun by +stating the general laws, but on the whole it will be better to +proceed "inductively", beginning with the observed facts and working +up to the general laws. + + +Acquired Reactions Are Modified Native Reactions + +Though we have "turned a corner" in passing from native traits to +acquired, it would be a mistake to suppose we had left what is native +altogether behind. It would be a mistake to suppose that the +individual outgrew and left behind his native reactions and acquired +an entirely new outfit. The reactions that he acquires--or _learns_, +as we speak of acquisition in the sphere of reactions--develop out of +his native reactions. Consider this: how is the individual ever going +to learn a reaction? Only by reacting. Without native reactions, he +would be entirely inactive at the outset, and would never make a start +towards any acquisition. His acquired reactions, then, are his native +reactions modified by use. + +The vast number of motor acts that the individual acquires are based +upon the reflexes. They are modified reflexes. The simplest kind of +modification is the mere _strengthening_ of an act by exercise. By his +reflex breathing and crying, the new-born baby exercises his lungs and +breathing muscles and the nerve centers that control them, with the +result that his breathing becomes more vigorous, his crying louder. +The strengthening of a reaction through exercise is a fundamental +fact. + +But we should scarcely speak of "learning" if the only modification +consisted in the simple strengthening of native reactions, and at +first thought it is difficult to see how the {298} exercise of any +reaction could modify it in any other respect. But many reflexes are +not perfectly fixed and invariable, but allow of some free play, and +then exercise may fix or stabilize them, as is well illustrated in the +case of the pecking response of the newly hatched chick. If grains are +strewn before a chick one day old, it instinctively strikes at them, +seizes them in its bill and swallows them; but, its aim being poor and +uncertain, it actually gets, at first, only a fifth of the grains +pecked at; by exercise it improves so as to get over half on the next +day, over three-fourths after another day or two, and about 86 percent +(which seems to be its limit) after about ten days of practice. +Exercise has here modified a native reaction in the way of making it +more definite and precise, by strengthening the accurate movement as +against all the variations of the pecking movement that were made at +the start. Where a native response is variable, exercise tends towards +constancy, and so towards the _fixation_ of definite habits. + +A reflex may come to be _attached_ to a new stimulus, that does not +naturally arouse it. A child who has accidentally been pricked with a +pin, and of course made the flexion reflex in response to this natural +stimulus, will make this same reaction to the sight of a pin +approaching his skin. The seen pin is a _substitute stimulus_ that +calls out the same response as the pin prick. This type of +modification gives a measure of control over the reflexes; for when we +pull the hand back voluntarily, or wink at will, or breathe deeply at +will, we are executing these movements without the natural stimulus +being present. + +Voluntary control includes also the ability to omit a response even if +the natural stimulus is present. Holding the breath, keeping the eyes +wide open in spite of the tendency to wink, not swallowing though the +mouth is full of saliva, holding the hand steady when it is being +pricked, and many {299} similar instances of control over reflexes are +cases of _detachment_ of a native reaction from its natural stimulus. +Not "starting" at a sudden sound to which we have grown used and not +turning the eyes to look at a very familiar object, are other +instances of this detachment. + +The _substitute response_ is another modification to be placed +alongside of the substitute stimulus. Here a natural stimulus calls +out a motor response different from its natural response. The muttered +imprecation of the adult takes the place of the child's scream of +pain. The loose holding of the pen between the thumb and the first two +fingers takes the place of the child's full-fisted grasp. + +Finally, an important type of modification consists in the +_combination_ of reflex movements into larger coördinations. One hand +grasps an object, while the other hand pulls, pushes or strikes it. +Or, both hands grasp the object but in different ways, as in handling +an ax or shovel. These cases illustrate simultaneous coördination, and +there is also a serial coördination, in which a number of simple +instinctive movements become hitched together in a fixed order. +Examples of this are seen in dancing, writing a word, and, most +notably, in speaking a word or familiar phrase. + +In these ways, by strengthening, fixing and combining movements, and +by new attachments and detachments between stimulus and response, the +instinctive motor activity of the baby passes over into the skilled +and habitual movement of the adult. + + +Acquired Tendencies + +In the sphere of _impulse_ and _emotion_ the same kinds of +modification occur. Detachment of an impulse or emotion from its +natural stimulus is very much in evidence, since {300} what frightens +or angers or amuses the little child may have no such power with the +adult. One little boy of two could be thrown into gales of laughter by +letting a spoon drop with a bang to the floor; and you could repeat +this a dozen times in quick succession and get the response every +time. But this stimulus no longer worked when he had advanced to the +age of four. + +The emotions get attached to substitute stimuli. Amusement can be +aroused in an older child by situations that were not at all amusing +to the baby. New objects arouse fear, anger, rivalry or curiosity. The +emotions of the adult--with the exception of sex attraction, which is +usually very weak in the child--are the emotions of the child, but +they are aroused by different stimuli. + +Not only so, but the emotions express themselves differently in the +child and the adult. Angry behavior is one thing in the child, and +another thing in the adult, so far as concerns external motor action. +The child kicks and screams, where the adult strikes with his fist, or +vituperates, or plots revenge. The internal bodily changes in emotion +are little modified as the individual grows up--except that different +stimuli arouse them--but the overt behavior is greatly modified; +instead of the native reactions we find substitute reactions. + +A little girl of three years, while out walking in the woods with her +family, was piqued by some correction from her mother, but, instead of +showing the instinctive signs of temper, she picked up a red autumn +leaf and offered it to her mother, with the words, very sweetly +spoken, "Isn't that a pretty leaf?" "Yes," said her mother, +acquiescently. "Wouldn't you like to have that leaf?" "Yes, indeed." +"I'll throw it away!" (in a savage tone of voice, and with a gesture +throwing the leaf away). Here we have an early form of substitute +reaction, and can glimpse how such {301} reactions become attached to +the emotions. The natural outlet for the child's anger was blocked, +probably because previous outbursts of rage had not had satisfactory +consequences, so that the anger was dammed up, or "bottled up", for +the instant, till the child found some act that would give it vent. +Now supposing that the substitute reaction gave satisfaction to the +child, we can well imagine that it would become attached to the angry +state and be used again in a similar case. Thus, without outgrowing +the emotions, we may outgrow emotional behavior that is socially +unacceptable. + +Emotions are also combined, much as reflexes are combined. The same +object which on one occasion arouses in us one emotion may arouse +another emotion on another occasion, so that eventually, whenever we +see that object, we respond by a blend of the two emotions. Your chief +may terrify you on some occasions, at other times amaze you by his +masterly grasp on affairs, and again win your affection by his care +for your own welfare; so that your attitude toward "the boss" comes to +be a blend of fear, admiration and gratitude. Religion and patriotism +furnish good examples of compound emotions. + +Well, then, adult behavior compared with the instinctive behavior of +the little child shows these several types of modification. This is +interesting, but it is not all we wish to know. We want to know how +the modification comes about; that is, we want to get an insight into +the process of learning. Scientifically, this is one of the most +fascinating topics in psychology--how we learn, how we are molded or +modified by experience--and practically, it is just as important, +since if we wish to educate, train, mold, improve ourselves or others, +it is the _process_ of modification that we must control; and to +control it we must understand it. + +To understand it we must watch the process itself; and {302} therefore +we turn to studies that trace the course of events in human and animal +learning. + + +Animal Learning + +Animals do learn, all the vertebrates, at least, and many of the +invertebrates. They often learn more slowly than men, but this is an +advantage for our present purpose, since it makes the learning process +easier to follow. Mere anecdotes of intelligent behavior in animals +are of little value, but experimental studies, in which the animal's +progress is followed, step by step, from the time when he is +confronted with a perfectly novel situation till he has mastered the +trick, have now been made in great numbers, and a few typical +experiments will serve as a good introduction to the whole subject of +learning. + + +The negative adaptation experiment. + +Apply a harmless and meaningless stimulus time after time; at first +the animal makes some instinctive exploring or defensive reaction; but +with continued repetition of the stimulus, he ceases after a while to +respond. The instinctive reaction has been detached from one of its +natural stimuli. + +Even in unicellular animals, negative adaptation can be observed, but +in them is only temporary, like the "sensory adaptation" described in +the chapter on sensation. Stop the stimulus and the original +responsiveness returns after a short time. Nothing has been learned, +for what is learned remains after an interval of rest. + +In higher animals, permanent adaptation is common, as illustrated by a +famous experiment on a spider. While the spider was in its web, a +tuning fork was sounded, and the spider made the defensive reaction of +dropping to the ground. It climbed back to its web, the fork was +sounded again, the spider dropped again; but after several {303} +repetitions in quick succession, the spider ceased to respond. Next +day, to be sure, it responded as at first; but after the same +performance had been repeated on several days, it ceased permanently +to respond to this stimulus. + +Negative adaptation is common in domestic animals, as well as in men. +The horse "gets used" to the harness, and the dog to the presence of a +cat in the house. Man grows accustomed to his surroundings, and to +numerous unimportant sights and sounds. + + +The conditioned reflex experiment. + +Put into a dog's mouth a tasting substance that arouses the flow of +saliva, and at the same instant ring a bell; and repeat this +combination of stimuli many times. Then ring the bell alone, and the +saliva flows in response to the bell. The bell is a _substitute +stimulus_, which has become attached to the salivary response by dint +of having been often given along with the natural stimulus that +arouses this response. At first thought, this is very weird, but do we +not know of similar facts in every-day experience? The dinner bell +makes the mouth water; the sight of food does the same, even the name +of a savory dish will do the same. + +Quite possibly, the learning process by which the substitute stimulus +becomes attached to the salivary reaction is more complex in man's +case. He may _observe_ that the dinner bell means dinner, whereas the +dog, we suppose, does not definitely observe the connection of the +bell and the tasting substance. What the experiment shows is that a +substitute stimulus can become attached to a reaction under very +simple conditions. + +A conditioned reflex experiment on a child deserves mention. A young +child, confronted with a rabbit, showed no fear, but on the contrary +reached out his hand to take the rabbit. At this instant a loud +rasping noise was produced just behind the child, who quickly withdrew +his hand with {304} signs of fear. After this had been repeated a few +times, the child shrank from the rabbit and was evidently afraid of +it. Probably it is in this way that many fears, likes and dislikes of +children originate. + + +The signal experiment. + +Place a white rat before two little doors, both just alike except that +one has on it a yellow circle. The rat begins to explore. If he enters +the door with the yellow sign, he finds himself in a passage which +leads to a box of food; if he enters the other door he gets into a +blind alley, which he explores, and then, coming out, continues his +explorations till he reaches the food box and is rewarded. After this +first trial is thus completed, place him back at the starting point, +and he is very apt to go straight to the door that previously led to +the food, for he learns simple locations very quickly. But meanwhile +the experimenter may have shifted the yellow sign to the other door, +connected the passage behind the marked door with the food box, and +closed off the other passage; for the yellow disc in this experiment +always marks the way to the food, and the other door always leads to a +blind alley. The sign is shifted irregularly from one door to the +other. Whenever the rat finds himself in a blind alley, he comes out +and enters the other door, so finally getting his reward on every +trial. But for a long time he seems incapable of responding to the +yellow signal. However, the experimenter is patient; he gives the rat +twenty trials a day, keeping count of the number of correct responses, +and finds the number to increase little by little, till after some +thirty days every response is correct and unhesitating. The rat has +learned the trick. + +He learns the trick somewhat more rapidly if punishment for incorrect +responses is added to reward for correct responses. Place wires along +the floor of the two passages, and switch an electric current into the +blind alley, behind {305} the door that has no yellow circle on it. +When the rat enters the blind alley and gets a shock, he makes a +prompt avoiding reaction, scampering back to the starting point and +cowering there for some time; eventually he makes a fresh start, +avoids the door that led to the shock and therefore enters the other +door, though apparently without paying any attention to the yellow +sign, since when, on the next trial, the sign is moved, he avoids the +_place_ where he got the shock, without reference to the sign. But in +a series of trials he learns to follow the sign. + +Learning to respond to a signal might be classified under the head of +substitute stimulus, since the rat learns to respond to a stimulus, +the yellow disk, that at first left him unmoved. But more careful +consideration shows this to be, rather, a case of substitute response. +The natural reaction of a rat to a door is to enter it, not to look at +its surface, but the experiment forces him to make the preliminary +response of attending to the appearance of the door before entering +it. The response of attending to the surface of the door is +substituted for the instinctive response of entering. Otherwise put: +the response of finding the marked door and entering that is +substituted for the response of entering any door at random. + + +The maze experiment. + +An animal is placed in an enclosure from which it can reach food by +following a more or less complicated path. The rat is the favorite +subject for this experiment, but it is a very adaptable type of +experiment and can be tried on any animal. Fishes and even crabs have +mastered simple mazes, and in fact to learn the way to a goal is +probably possible for any species that has any power of learning +whatever. The rat, placed in a maze, explores. He sniffs about, goes +back and forth, enters every passage, and actually covers every square +inch of the maze at least once; and in the course of these +explorations {306} hits upon the food box. Replaced at the starting +point, he proceeds as before, though with more speed and less dallying +in the blind alleys. On successive trials he goes less and less deeply +into a blind alley, till finally he passes the entrance to it without +even turning his head. Thus eliminating the blind alleys one after +another, he comes at length to run by a fixed route from start to +finish. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 47.--(From Hicks.) Ground plan of a maze used in +experiments on the rat. The central square enclosure is the food box. +The dotted line shows the path taken by a rat on Its fourth trial, +which occupied 4 minutes and 2 seconds.] + + +At first thought, the elimination of useless moves seems to tell the +whole story of the rat's learning process; but careful study of his +behavior reveals another factor. When the rat approaches a turning +point in the maze, his course bends so as to prepare for the turn; he +does not simply advance to the turning point and then make the turn, +but several steps before he reaches that point are organized or +coördinated into a sort of unit. + +{307} + + [Illustration: Fig. 48.--(From Watson.) Learning curve for the rat + in the maze. This is a composite or average, derived from the + records of four animals. The height of the heavy line above the base + line, for any trial, indicates the number of minutes consumed in + that trial in passing through the maze and reaching the food box. + The gradual descent of the curve indicates the gradual decrease in + time required, and thus pictures the progress of the animals in + learning the maze.] + + +The combination of steps into larger units is shown also by certain +variations of the experiment. It is known that the rat makes little +use of the sense of sight in learning the maze, guiding himself mostly +by the muscle sense. Now if the maze, after being well learned, is +altered by shortening one of the straight passages, the rat runs full +tilt against the new end of the passage, showing clearly that he was +proceeding, not step by step, but by _runs_ of some length. Another +variation of the experiment is to place a rat that has learned a maze +down in the midst of it, instead of at {308} the usual starting point. +At first he is lost, and begins exploring, but, hitting on a section +of the right path, he gets his cue from the "feel" of it, and races +off at full speed to the food box. Now his cue could not have been any +single step or turn, for these would all be too much alike; his cue +must have been a familiar _sequence_ of movements, and that sequence +functions as a unit in calling out the rest of the habitual movement. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 49.--(From Watson.) A puzzle box. The animal must +here reach his paw out between the bars and raise the latch, _L_. A +spring then gently opens the door.] + + +In short, the rat learns the path by _elimination_ of false reactions +and by _combination_ of single steps and turns into larger +reaction-units. + + +The puzzle-box experiment. + +Place a hungry young cat in a strange cage, with a bit of fish lying +just outside, and you are sure to get action. The cat extends his paw +between the slats but cannot reach the fish; he pushes his nose +between the slats but cannot get through; he bites the slats, claws at +anything small, shakes anything loose, and tries every part of the +cage. Coming to the button that fastens {309} the door, he attacks +that also, and sooner or later turns the button, gets out, and eats +the fish. The experimenter, having noted the time occupied in this +first trial, replaces the cat, still hungry, in the cage, and another +bit of fish outside. Same business, but perhaps somewhat quicker +escape. More trials, perhaps on a series of days, give gradually +decreasing times of escape. The useless reactions are gradually +eliminated, till finally the cat, on being placed in the cage, goes +instantly to the door, turns the button, goes out and starts to eat, +requiring but a second or two for the whole complex reaction. Perhaps +15 or 20 trials have been required to reach this stage of prompt, +unerring response. The course of improvement is rather irregular, with +ups and downs, but with no sudden shift from the varied reaction of +the first trial to the fixed reaction of the last. The learning +process has been gradual. + +This is the typical instance of learning by "trial and error", which +can be defined as varied reaction with gradual elimination of the +unsuccessful responses and fixation of the successful one. It is also +a case of the substitute response. At first, the cat responds to the +situation by reaching or pushing straight towards the food, but it +learns to substitute for this most instinctive response the less +direct response of going to another part of the cage and turning a +button. + +The cat in this experiment is evidently trying to get out of the cage +and reach the food. The situation of being confined in a cage while +hungry arouses an impulse or tendency to get out; but this tendency, +unable at once to reach its goal, is dammed up, and remains as an +inner directive force, facilitating reactions that are in the line of +escape and inhibiting other reactions. When the successful response is +hit upon, and the door opened, the dammed-up energy is discharged into +this response; and, by repetition, {310} the successful response +becomes closely attached to the escape-tendency, so as to occur +promptly whenever the tendency is aroused. + +There is no evidence that the cat reasons his way out of the cage. His +behavior is impulsive, not deliberative. There is not even any +evidence that the cat clearly observes how he gets out. If he made a +clean-cut observation of the manner of escape, his time for escaping +should thereupon take a sudden drop, instead of falling off gradually +and irregularly from trial to trial, as it does fall off. Trial and +error learning is learning by doing, and not by reasoning or +observing. The cat learns to get out by getting out, not by seeing how +to get out. + + +Summary of Animal Learning + +Let us take account of stock at this point, before passing to human +learning, and attempt to generalize what we have observed in animals +of the process of learning. + +(1) _Elimination_ of a response, which means _detachment_ of a +response from the stimulus that originally aroused it, occurs in three +main cases: + + (a) Elimination occurs most quickly when the response brings actual + _pain_; the animal makes the avoiding reaction to the pain and + quickly comes to make this response to the place where the pain + occurred; and thus the positive reaction to this place is + eliminated. + + (b) Elimination occurs more gradually when the response, without + resulting in actual pain, brings _failure_ or delay in reaching a + goal towards which the animal is tending. The positive response of + entering and exploring a blind alley grows weaker and weaker, till + the blind alley is neglected altogether. + + (c) Elimination of a response also occurs, slowly, through _negative + adaptation_ to a stimulus that is harmless and also useless. + +{311} + +(2) New _attachments_ or _linkages_ of stimulus and response occur in +two forms, which are called "substitute stimulus" and "substitute +response". + + [Footnote: The writer hopes that no confusion will be caused by + his use of several words to express this same meaning. + "Attachment of stimulus and response", "linkage of stimulus and + response", "connection between stimulus and response", and "bond + between stimulus and response", all mean exactly the same; but + sometimes one and sometimes another seems to bring the meaning + more vividly to mind.] + + (a) _Substitute stimulus_ refers to the case where the natural + response is not itself modified, but becomes attached to another + stimulus than the one that originally aroused it. This new linkage + can sometimes be established by simply giving the original stimulus + and the substitute stimulus at the same time, and doing so + repeatedly, as in the conditioned reflex experiment. + + (b) _Substitute response_ refers to the case where the stimulus + remaining as it originally was, a new reaction is attached to it in + place of the original response. The conditions under which this + takes place are more complex than those that give the substitute + stimulus. A tendency towards some goal must first be aroused, and + then blocked by the failure of the original response to lead to the + goal. The dammed-up tendency then facilitates other responses, and + gives trial and error behavior, till some one of the trial responses + leads to the goal; and this successful response is gradually + substituted for the original response, and becomes firmly attached + to the situation and tendency. + +(3) New _combinations of responses_ occur, giving higher motor units. + + +Human Learning + +To compare human and animal learning, and notice in what ways the +human is superior, cannot but throw light on the whole problem of the +process of learning. It is obvious {312} that man learns more quickly +than the animals, that he acquires more numerous reactions, and a much +greater variety of reactions; but the important question is how he +does this, and how his learning process is superior. + +We must first notice that all the forms of learning displayed by the +animal are present also in the human being. Negative adaptation is +important in human life, and the conditioned reflex is important, as +has already been suggested. Without negative adaptation, the adult +would be compelled to attend to everything that aroused the child's +curiosity, to shrink from everything that frightened the child, to +laugh at everything that amused the child. The conditioned reflex type +of learning accounts for a host of acquired likes and dislikes. Why +does the adult feel disgust at the mere sight of the garbage pail or +the mere name of cod liver oil? Because these inoffensive visual and +auditory stimuli have been associated, or paired, with odors and +tastes that naturally aroused disgust. + +The signal experiment is duplicated thousands of times in the +education of every human being. He learns the meaning of signs and +slight indications; that is, he learns to recognize important facts by +aid of signs that are of themselves unimportant. We shall have much to +say on this matter in a later chapter on perception. Man learns signs +more readily than such an animal as the rat, in part because the human +being is naturally more responsive to visual and auditory stimuli. Yet +the human being often has trouble in learning to read the signs +aright. He assumes that a bright morning means good weather all day, +till, often disappointed, he learns to take account of less obvious +signs of the weather. Corrected for saying, "You and me did it", he +adopts the plan of always saying "you and I", but finds that this +quite unaccountably brings ridicule on him at times, so that gradually +he _may_ come to say the one or the {313} other according to obscure +signs furnished by the structure of the particular sentence. The +process of learning to respond to obscure signs seems to be about as +follows: something goes wrong, the individual is brought to a halt by +the bad results of his action, he then sees some element in the +situation that he had previously overlooked, responds to this element, +gets good results, and so--perhaps after a long series of +trials--comes finally to govern his action by what seemed at first +utterly insignificant. + +Trial and error learning, though often spoken of as characteristically +"animal", is common enough in human beings. Man learns by impulsively +doing in some instances, by rational analysis in others. He would be +at a decided disadvantage if he could not learn by trial and error, +since often the thing he has to manage is very difficult of rational +analysis. Much motor skill, as in driving a nail, is acquired by +"doing the best you can", getting into trouble, varying your +procedure, and gradually "getting the hang of the thing", without ever +clearly seeing what are the conditions of success. + + +Human Compared With Animal Learning + +Fairly direct comparisons have been made between human and animal +learning of mazes and puzzles. In the maze, the human subject has an +initial advantage from knowing he is in a maze and has to master it, +while the rat knows no more than that he is in a strange place, to be +explored with caution on the odd chance that it may contain something +eatable, or something dangerous. But, after once reaching the food +box, the rat begins to put on speed in his movements, and within a few +trials is racing through the maze faster than the adult man, though +not so fast as a child. Adults are more circumspect and dignified, +they make less speed, cover less distance, but also make fewer false +moves {314} and finish in less time. That is in the early trials; +adults do not hold their advantage long, since children and even rats +also reach complete mastery of a simple maze in ten or fifteen trials. + +The chief point of superiority of adults to human children, and of +these to animals, can be seen in the adjacent table. It is in the +_first trial_ that the superiority of the adults shows most clearly. +They get a better start, and adapt themselves to the situation more +promptly. Their better start is due to (1) better understanding of the +situation at the outset, (2) more plan, (3) less tendency to "go off +on a tangent", i.e., to respond impulsively to every opening, without +considering or looking ahead. The adult has more inhibition, the child +more activity and responsiveness; the adult's inhibition stands him in +good stead at the outset, but the child's activity enables him to +catch up shortly in so simple a problem as this little maze. + + AVERAGE NUMBER OF ERRORS MADE, IN EACH TRIAL IN + LEARNING A MAZE, BY RATS, CHILDREN AND ADULT MEN + + (From Hicks and Carr) + + + Trial + No. Rats Children Adults + + 1 53 35 10 + 2 45 9 15 + 3 30 18 5 + 4 22 11 2 + 5 11 9 6 + 6 8 13 4 + 7 9 6 2 + 8 4 6 2 + 9 9 5 1 + 10 3 5 1 + 11 4 1 0 + 12 5 0 1 + 13 4 1 1 + 14 4 0 1 + 15 4 1 1 + 16 2 0 1 + 17 1 0 1 + + + The table reads that, on the first trial in the maze, the rats + averaged 53 errors, the children 35 errors, and the adults 10 + errors, and so on. An "error" consisted in entering a blind alley or + in turning back on {315} the course. The subjects tested consisted + of 23 rats, five children varying in age from 8 to 18 years, and + four graduate students of psychology. The human maze was much larger + than those used for the rats, but roughly about the same in + complexity. Since rats are known to make little use of their eyes in + learning a maze, the human subjects were blindfolded. The rats were + rewarded by food, the others simply by the satisfaction of success. + + +The puzzle boxes used in experiments on animal learning are too simple +for human adults, but mechanical puzzles present problems of +sufficient difficulty. The experimenter hands the subject a totally +unfamiliar puzzle, and notes the time required by the subject to take +it apart; and this is repeated in a series of trials till mastery is +complete. In addition to taking the time, the experimenter observes +the subject's way of reacting, and the subject endeavors at the end of +each trial to record what he has himself observed of the course of +events. + +The human subject's behavior in his first trial with a puzzle is often +quite of the trial and error sort. He manipulates impulsively; seeing +a possible opening he responds to it, and meeting a check he backs off +and tries something else. Often he tries the same line of attack time +and time again, always failing; and his final success, in the first +trial, is often accidental and mystifying to himself. + +On the second trial, he may still be at a loss, and proceed as before; +but usually he has noticed one or two facts that help him. He is most +likely to have noticed _where_ he was in the puzzle when his +accidental success occurred; for it appears that _locations_ are about +the easiest facts to learn for men as well as animals. In the course +of a few trials, also, the human subject notices that some lines of +attack are useless, and therefore eliminates them. After a time he may +"see into" the puzzle more or less clearly, though sometimes he gets a +practical mastery of the handling of the puzzle, while still obliged +to confess that he does not understand it at all. + +{316} + +Insight, when it does occur, is of great value. Insight into the +general principle of the puzzle leads to a better general plan of +attack, and insight into the detailed difficulties of manipulation +leads to smoother and defter handling. The human "learning curve" (see +Figure 50) often shows a prolonged stretch of no improvement, followed +by an abrupt change to quicker work; and the subject's introspections +show that 76 per cent, or more of these sudden improvements followed +immediately after some fresh insight into the puzzle. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 50.--(From Ruger.) Curve for human learning of a +mechanical puzzle. Distance above the base line represents the time +occupied in each trial, the successive trials being arranged in order +from left to right. A drop in the curve denotes a decrease in time, +and thus an improvement. At _X_, the subject saw something about the +puzzle that he had not noticed before and studied it out with some +care, so increasing his time for this one trial, but bringing the time +down thereafter to a new and steady level.] + + +The value of insight appears in another way when the subject, after +mastering one puzzle, is handed another involving the same principle +in a changed form. If he has seen the principle of the first puzzle, +he is likely to carry over this knowledge to the second, and master +this readily; {317} but if he has simply acquired motor skill with the +first puzzle, without any insight into its principle, he may have as +hard a time with the second as if he had never seen the first. + + +Learning by Observation + +"We learn by doing" is a true proverb, in the sense that we acquire a +reaction by making just that reaction. We must make a reaction in +order to get it really in hand, so that the proverb might be +strengthened to read, "To learn, we must do". But we should make it +false if we strengthened it still further and said "We learn _only_ by +doing". For human beings, at least, learn also by observing. + +The "insight" just spoken of consists in observing some fact--often +some relationship--and the value of insight in hastening the process +of learning is a proof that we learn by observation as well as by +actual manipulation. To be sure, observation needs to be followed by +manipulation in order to give practical mastery of a thing, but +manipulation without observation means slow learning and often yields +nothing that can be carried over to a different situation. + +Learning by observation is typically human. The adult's superiority in +tackling a maze may be summed up by saying that he observes more than +the child--much more than the animal--and governs his behavior by his +observations. The enormous human superiority in learning a simple +puzzle, of the sort used in experiments on animals, arises from seeing +at once the key to the situation. + +A chimpanzee--one of the most intelligent of animals--was tested with +a simple puzzle box, to be opened from outside by turning a button +that prevented the door from opening. The device was so simple that +you would expect the animal to see into it at once. A banana was put +into the box and the door fastened with the button. The {318} +chimpanzee quickly found the door, and quickly found the button, which +he proceeded to pull about with one hand while pulling the door with +the other. Without much delay, he had the button turned and the door +open. After about three trials, he had a practical mastery of the +puzzle, showing thus considerable superiority over the cat, who would +more likely have required twelve or fifteen trials to learn the trick. +But now a second button was put on a few inches from the first, both +being just alike and operating in the same way. The chimpanzee paid no +attention to this second button, but turned the first one as before, +and when the door failed to open, kept on turning the first button, +opening it and closing it and always tugging at the door. After a +time, he did shift to the second button, but as he had left the first +one closed, his manipulation of the second was futile. It was a long, +hard job for him to learn to operate both buttons correctly; and the +experiment proved that he did not observe how the button kept the door +from opening, but only that the button was the thing to work with in +opening the door. At one time, indeed, in order to force him to deal +with the second button, the first one was removed, but he still went +to the place where it had been and fingered about there. What he had +observed was chiefly the place to work at in order to open the door. +We must grant that animals observe locations, but most of their +learning is by doing and not by observing. + +Here is another experiment designed to test the ability of animals to +learn by observation. The experimenter takes two cats, one having +mastered a certain puzzle box, the other not, and places the untrained +cat where it can watch the trained one do its trick. The trained cat +performs repeatedly for the other's benefit, and is then taken away +and the untrained cat put into the puzzle box. But he has derived no +benefit from what has gone on before his eyes, and must learn by trial +{319} and error, the same as any other cat; he does not even learn any +more quickly than he otherwise would have done. + +The same negative results are obtained even with monkeys, but the +chimpanzee shows some signs of learning by observation. One chimpanzee +having learned to extract a banana from a long tube by pushing it out +of the further end with a stick which the experimenter had kindly left +close by, another chimpanzee was placed where he could watch the first +one's performance and did watch it closely. Then the first animal was +taken away and the second given a chance. He promptly took the stick +and got the banana, without, however, imitating the action of the +first animal exactly, but pulling the banana towards him till he could +reach it. This has been called learning by imitation, but might better +be described as learning by observation. + +Such behavior, quite rare among animals, is common in human children, +who are very observant of what older people do, and imitate them on +the first opportunity, though often this comes after an interval. The +first time a child speaks a new word is usually not right after he has +heard it. When, on previous occasions, he has heard this word, he has +not attempted to copy it, but now he brings it out of himself. He has +not acquired the word by direct imitation, evidently, but by what has +been called "delayed imitation", which consists in observation at the +time followed later by attempts to do what has been observed. +Observation does not altogether relieve the child of the necessity of +learning by trial and error, for often his first imitations are pretty +poor attempts; but observation gives him a good start and hastens the +learning process considerably. "Learning by imitation", then, is, more +properly, "learning by observation followed by trial and error" and +the reason so little of it appears in animals is their lack of +observation. + +_Learning by thinking_ depends on observation, since in {320} thought +we make use of facts previously observed. Seldom, unless in the +chimpanzee and other manlike apes, do we see an animal that appears to +be thinking. The animal is always doing, or waiting, or sleeping. He +seems too impulsive to stop and think. But a man may observe something +in the present problem that calls previous observations to mind, and +by mentally combining observations made at different times may figure +out the solution before beginning motor manipulation. Usually, +however, some manipulation of the trial and error sort is needed +before the thought-out solution will work perfectly. + +Sometimes mental rehearsal of a performance assists in learning it, as +we see in the beginner at automobile driving, who, while lying in bed +after his first day's experience, mentally goes through the motions of +starting the engine and then the car, and finds that this "absent +treatment" makes the car easier to manage the next day. + +In summing up the points of superiority of human over animal learning, +we may note that-- + +1. Man is perhaps a quicker learner, anyway, without regard to his +better methods of learning. This, however, is open to doubt, in view +of the very rapid learning by animals of such reactions as the +avoidance of a place where they have been hurt. + +2. Man is a better observer, and this is the great secret of his quick +learning. He is especially strong in observing relationships, or +"principles" as we often call them. + +3. He has more control over his impulses, and so finds time and energy +for observing and thinking. + +4. He is able to work mentally with things that are not present; he +remembers things he has seen, puts together facts observed at +different times, thinks over problems that are not actually +confronting him at the moment, and maps out plans of action. + +{321} + + +The Learning of Complex Practical Performances + +A great deal of light has been thrown on the learning process by +psychological studies of the course of improvement in mastering such +trades as telegraphy and typewriting. + +A student of telegraphy was tested once a week to see how rapidly he +could send a message, and also how rapidly he could "receive a message +off the wire", by listening to the clicking of the sounder. The number +of letters sent or received per minute was taken as the measure of his +proficiency. This number increased rapidly in the first few weeks, and +then more and more slowly, giving a typical learning curve, or +"practice curve", as it is also called. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 51.--(From Bryan and Harter.) Practice curve of +student W. J. R. in learning telegraphy. The height of the curve +indicates the number of letters sent or received per minute. Therefore +a rise of the curve here indicates improvement.] + + +The curve for sending, aside from minor irregularities, rose with a +fairly smooth sweep, tapering off finally towards the "physiological +limit", the limit of what the nerves and muscles of this individual +could perform. + + [Footnote: A good example of the physiological limit is seen in the + hundred yard dash, since apparently no one, with the best of + training, can lower the record much below ten seconds; and any given + individual's limit may be considerably worse than this, according to + his build, muscular strength and quickness of nerve centers. The + simple reaction gives another good example; every one has his limit, + beyond which no amount of training will lower his reaction time; the + neuromuscular system simply will not work any faster.] + + +The receiving {322} curve rose more slowly than the sending curve, and +flattened out after about four months of practice, showing little +further improvement for the next two months. This was a discouraging +time for the student, for it seemed as if he could never come up to +the commercial standard. In fact, many learners drop out at this +stage. But this student persisted, and, after the long period of +little improvement, was gratified to find his curve going up rapidly +again. It went up rapidly for several months, and when it once more +tapered off into a level, he was well above the minimum standard for +regular employment. + +Such a flat stretch in a practice curve, followed by a second +rise--such a period of little or no improvement, followed by rapid +improvement--is called a "plateau". Sometimes due to mere +discouragement, or to the inattention that naturally supervenes when +an act becomes easy to perform, it often has a different cause. It +may, in fact, represent a true physiological limit for the act as it +is being performed, and the subsequent rise to a higher level may +result from _improved methods_ of work. That was probably the case +with the telegrapher. + + [Footnote: A plateau of this sort is present in the learning curve + for mastery of a puzzle, given on p. 316.] + +The telegrapher acquires skill by improving his methods, rather than +by simply speeding up. He acquires methods that he didn't dream of at +first. At the start, he must learn the alphabet of dots and dashes. +This means, for purposes of sending, that he must learn the little +rhythmical pattern of finger movements that stands for each letter; +and, for purposes of receiving, that he must learn the rhythmical +{323} pattern of clicks from the sounder that stands for a letter. +When he has learned the alphabet, he is able to send and receive +slowly. In sending, he spells out the words, writing each letter as a +separate act. In receiving, at this early stage, he must pick out each +separate letter from the continuous series of clicks that he hears +from the sounder. By degrees, the letters become so familiar that he +goes through this spelling process easily; and, doing now so much +better than at the outset, he supposes he has learned the trade, in +its elements, and needs only to put on more speed. + +But not at all! He has acquired but a small part of the necessary +stock-in-trade of the telegrapher. He has his "letter habits", but +knows nothing as yet of "word habits". These gradually come to him as +he continues his practice. He comes to know words as units, motor +units for sending purposes, auditory units for receiving. The +rhythmical pattern of the whole word becomes a familiar unit. Short, +much used words are first dealt with as units, then more and more +words, till he has a large vocabulary of word habits. A word that has +become a habit need not be spelled out in sending, nor laboriously dug +out letter by letter in receiving; you simply think the word "train", +and your finger taps it out as a connected unit; or, in receiving, you +recognize the characteristic pattern of this whole series of clicks. +When the telegrapher has reached this word habit stage, he finds the +new method far superior, in both speed and sureness, to the letter +habit method which he formerly assumed to be the whole art of +telegraphy. He does not even stop with word habits, but acquires a +similar control over familiar phrases. + + +Higher Units and Overlapping + +The acquisition of skill in telegraphy consists mostly in learning +these _higher units_ of reactions. It is the same in {324} learning to +typewrite. First you must learn your alphabet of letter-striking +movements; by degrees you reduce these finger movements to firm +habits, and are then in the letter-habit stage, in which you spell out +each word as you write it. After a time, you write a familiar word +without spelling it, by a coördinated series of finger movements; you +write by word units, and later, in part, by phrase units; and these +higher units give you speed and accuracy. + +Along with this increase in the size of the reaction-units employed +goes another factor of skill that is really very remarkable. This is +the "overlapping" of different reactions, a species of doing two or +more things at once, only that the two or more reactions are really +parts of the same total activity. The simplest sort of overlap can be +illustrated at an early stage in learning to typewrite. The absolute +beginner at the typewriter, in writing "and", pauses after each letter +to get his bearings before starting on the next; but after a small +amount of practice he will locate the second letter on the keyboard +while his finger is still in the act of striking the first letter. +Thus the sensory part of the reaction to the second letter commences +before the motor part of reacting to the first letter is finished; and +this overlap does away with pauses between letters and makes the +writing smoother and more rapid. + +With further practice in typewriting, when word habits and phrase +habits are acquired, overlap goes to much greater lengths. One expert +kept her eyes on the copy about four words ahead of her fingers on the +keyboard, and thus was reacting to about four words at the same time: +one word was just being read from the copy, one word was being +written, and the two words between were being organized and prepared +for actual writing. The human typewriting mechanism, consisting of +eye, optic nerve, parts of the brain and cord, motor nerves and +muscles, works somewhat like one of {325} those elaborate machines +which receive raw material steadily at one end perform a series of +operations upon it, and keep turning out finished product at the other +end. + +All this is very remarkable, but the same sort of overlapping and +working with large units can be duplicated in many linguistic +performances that every one makes. In reading aloud, the eyes keep +well ahead of the voice, and seeing, understanding and pronouncing are +all applied simultaneously to different words of the passage read. In +talking, the ideas keep developing and the spoken words tag along +behind. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 52.--(From Book.) Practice curve of a young man +learning to typewrite. Each point on the "curve" represents a daily +record in number of strokes per minute. With improvement, the curve +rises.] + + +In telegraphy and typewriting, it is almost inevitable that the +learner should start with the alphabet and proceed to gradually larger +units. But in learning to talk, or to read, the process goes the other +way. The child understands spoken words and phrases before breaking +them up into their elementary vocal sounds; and he can better be +taught to read by beginning with whole words, or even with whole {326} +sentences, than by first learning the alphabet and laboriously +spelling out the words. In short, the learning process often takes its +start with the higher units, and reaches the smaller elements only for +the purpose of more precise control. + + +Moderate Skill Acquired in the Ordinary Day's Work + +Merely repeating a performance many times does not give the high +degree of skill that we see in the expert telegrapher or typist. +Ordinarily, we practise much less assiduously, are much less zealous, +and have no such perfect measure of the success of our work. For +"practice to make perfect", it must be strongly motivated, and it must +be sharply checked up by some index or measure of success or failure. +If the success of a performance can be measured, and chalked up before +the learner's eyes in the form of a practice curve, so that he can see +his progress, this acts as a strong incentive to rapid improvement. + +Ordinarily, we have no clear indication of exactly how well we are +doing, and are satisfied if we get through our job easily and without +too much criticism and ridicule from people around. Consequently we +reach only a moderate degree of skill, nowhere near the physiological +limit, and do not acquire the methods of the real expert. + +This is very true of the manual worker. Typesetters of ten or more +years' experience were once selected as subjects for an experiment on +the effects of alcohol, because it was assumed that they must have +already reached their maximum skill. In regard to alcohol, the result +was that this drug caused a falling off in speed and accuracy of +work--but that is another story. What we are interested in here is the +fact that, as soon as these long-practised operators found themselves +under observation, and their work measured, they all began to improve +and in the course of a couple of weeks {327} reached quite a new level +of performance. Their former level had been reasonably satisfactory +under workaday conditions, and special incentive was needed to make +them approach their limit. + +A similar condition of affairs has been disclosed by "motion studies" +in many kinds of manual work; the movements of the operative have been +photographed or closely examined by the efficiency expert, and +analyzed to determine whether there are any superfluous movements that +could be eliminated, and whether a different method of work would be +economical of time and effort. Usually, superfluous motion has been +found and considerable economy seen to be possible. There is evidently +no law of learning to the effect that continued repetition of a +performance necessarily makes it perfect in speed, ease, or adaptation +to the task in hand. What the manual worker attains as the result of +prolonged experience is a passable performance, but not at all the +maximum of skill. + +The brain worker has little to brag of as against the manual worker. +He, too, is only moderately efficient in doing his particular job. +There are brilliant exceptions--bookkeepers who add columns of figures +with great speed and precision, students who know just how to put in +two hours of study on a lesson with the maximum of effect, writers who +always say just what they wish to say and hit the nail on the head +every time--but the great majority of us are only passable. We need +strong incentive, we need a clear and visible measure of success or +failure, we need, if such a thing were possible, a practice curve +before us to indicate where we stand at the present moment with +respect to our past and our possible future. + +{328} + +Habit + +A habit is contrasted with a reflex, in that the reflex is native, the +habit acquired; but both are alike in being prompt and automatic +reactions. The best antithesis to a habit is the response of a person +to a novel situation, where neither nature nor previous experience +gives him a ready response. The new response is exploratory and +tentative, while habit is fixed and definite. The new response is +variable, the habit regular. The new response is slow and uncertain, +the habit fairly quick and accurate. The new response is attended by +effort and strained attention, the habit is easy and often only +half-conscious. The new response is apt to be unsatisfying to the one +who makes it, while habit is comfortable and a source of satisfaction. + +To break a habit is most uncomfortable. Nature--at least that "second +nature" which is habit--calls aloud for the customary performance. +Strenuous effort is required to get out of the rut, and the slipping +back into the rut which is almost sure to occur in moments of +inadvertence is humiliating. Result--usually the habit sticks. + +But if the habit simply must be broken? Breaking a habit is forming a +counter-habit, and the more positive the counter-habit the better for +us. This counter-habit must not be left to form itself, but must be +practised diligently. Strong motivation is necessary, no half-hearted +acquiescence in somebody else's injunction to get rid of the habit. We +must adopt the counter-habit as ours, and work for a high standard of +skill in it. For example, if we come to realize that we have a bad +habit of grouchiness with our best friends, it is of little use merely +to attempt to deaden this habit; we need to aim at being a positive +addition to the company whenever we are present, and to practise the +art of being good company, checking up our efforts to be sure we are +hitting {329} the right vein, and persisting in our self-training till +we become real artists. It takes some determination for a grouchy +individual to make such a revolution in his conduct; his +self-assertion resists violently, for the grouchiness is part and +parcel of himself and he hates to be anything but himself. He must +conceive a new and inspiring ideal of himself, and start climbing up +the practice curve towards the new ideal. + +{330} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. Which of the acts performed in eating breakfast are instinctive, + which are matters of habit, and which are partly the one and partly + the other? + +3. Compare your mental attitude in approaching an unfamiliar and + a familiar task. + +4. How does the performance of the expert in swimming or dancing, etc., + differ from the performance of the beginner? Analyze out the points + of superiority. + +5. Show that the element of trial and error is present in (a) the + child's learning to pronounce a word, and (b) learning "how to + take" a person so as to get on well with him. + +6. Why is it that our handwriting, though exercised so much, is apt + to grow worse rather than better, while on the contrary our + spelling is apt to improve? + +7. How would you rate your efficiency in study? Is it near your + physiological limit, on a plateau, or in a stage of rapid + improvement? + +8. A practice experiment. Take several pages of uniform printed + matter, and mark it off into sections of 15 lines. Take your time + for marking every word in one section that contains both e and r. + The two letters need not be adjacent, but must both be present + somewhere In the word. Having recorded your time for this first + section, do the same thing with the next section, and so on for 12 + sections. What were you able to observe, introspectively, of your + method of work and changes with practice. From the objective + observations, construct a practice curve. + +9. Write brief explanations of the following terms: + practice + habit + higher unit + overlapping + plateau + physiological limit + insight + trial and error + negative adaptation + substitute stimulus + substitute response + conditioned reflex + +{331} + +REFERENCES + +Thorndike's _Animal Intelligence, Experimental Studies,_ 1911, reports +his own pioneer work in this field. See also Chapter X in the same +author's _Educational Psychology, Briefer Course_, 1914. + +For other reviews of the work on animal learning, see Watson's +_Behavior_, 1914, pp. 184-250; also Washburn's _Animal Mind_, 2nd +edition, 1917, pp. 257-312. + +For human learning and practice, see Thorndike's _Educational +Psychology, Briefer Course_, 1914, Chapters XIV and XV; also Starch's +_Educational Psychology_, 1919, Chapter XI. + +For an experiment showing the acquisition of fears by a child, see +Watson and Raynor, "Conditioned Emotional Reactions", in the _Journal +of Experimental Psychology_, 1920, Vol. 3, pp. 1-14. + +James's chapter on "Habit", in his _Principles of Psychology_, 1890, +Vol. I, is a classic which every one should read. + + +{332} + +CHAPTER XIV + +MEMORY + +HOW WE MEMORIZE AND REMEMBER, AND IN WHAT +RESPECTS MEMORY CAN BE MANAGED AND IMPROVED + +So much depends on a good memory in all walks of life, and especially +in brain work of any sort, that perhaps it is no wonder that many +students and business and professional men become worried about their +memories and resort to "memory training courses" in the hope of +improvement. The scientific approach to this very practical problem +evidently lies through a careful study of the way in which memory +works, and the general problem may be expressed in the question, how +we learn and remember. This large problem breaks up, on analysis, into +four subordinate questions: how we commit to memory, how we retain +what has been committed to memory, how we get it back when we want it, +and how we know that what we now get back is really what we formerly +committed to memory. In the case of a person's name which we wish to +remember, how do we "fix it in mind", how do we carry it around with +us when we are not thinking of it, how do we call it up when needed, +and what assures us that we have called up the right name? The four +problems may be named those of + + (1) Memorizing, or learning, + (2) Retention + (3) Recall + (4) Recognition + +{333} + +The Process of Memorizing + +As memorizing is one sort of learning, what we have found in the +preceding chapter regarding the learning process should throw light on +our present problem. We found animals to learn by doing, and man by +doing and also by observation or observation combined with doing. +Observation is itself a form of doing, a mental reaction as +distinguished from a purely passive or receptive state; so that +learning is always active. Observation we found to be of great +assistance, both by way of hastening the learning process, and by way +of making what is learned more available for future use. Our previous +studies of learning thus lead us to inquire whether committing to +memory may not consist partly in rehearsing what we wish to learn, and +partly in observing it. Learning by rote, or by merely repeating a +performance over and over again, is, indeed, a fact; and observant +study is also a fact. + +Let us see how learning is actually done, as indicated by laboratory +experiments. The psychologist experiments a great deal with the +_memorizing of nonsense material_, because the process can be better +observed here, from the beginning, than when sensible material is +learned. Suppose a list of twenty one-place numbers is to be studied +till it can be recited straight through. The learner may go at it +simply by "doing", which means here by reading the list again and +again, in the hope that it will finally stick. This pure rote learning +will perhaps do the job, but it is slow and inefficient. Usually the +learner goes to work in quite a different way. He observes various +facts about the list. He notices what numbers occur at the beginning +and end, and perhaps in other definite positions. He may group the +digits into two-place or three-place numbers, and notice the +characteristics of these. Any familiar combinations that {334} may +occur, such as 1492, he is likely to spy and remember. Lacking these, +he can at least find similar and contrasting number-groups. + +For example, the list + + 5 7 4 0 6 2 7 3 5 1 4 0 9 2 8 6 3 8 0 1, + +which at first sight seemed rather bare of anything characteristic, +was analyzed in a way partly indicated by the commas and semicolons, + + 5, 74, 0; 62, 73; 5140; 9, 286; 380, 1, + +and memorized easily. These observed facts transformed the list from a +shapeless mass into something having definite characteristics, and the +observed characteristics stuck in mind and held the rest together. + +Lists of nonsense syllables, such as + + wok pam zut bip seg ron taz vis lab mer koj yad + +are apt to be learned largely by observation of similarities and +contrasts, by reading meanings into the syllables, and by grouping +into pairs and reading rhythmically. Grouping reduces the twelve +syllables to six two-syllabled nonsense words, some of which may +suggest meaningful words or at least have a swing that makes them easy +to remember. Perhaps the first syllable of every pair is accented, and +a pause introduced after each pair; such devices assist memorizing. + +The rhythmical and other _groups_ that are found or made by the +learner in memorizing nonsense lists are, in effect, "higher units", +and have much the same value as the higher units of telegraphy or +typewriting. One who learns many lists in the course of a laboratory +experiment develops a {335} regular system of grouping. First he reads +the list through, in groups of two, three or four items, noticing each +group as a whole; later, he notices the items in each group and how +they are related to each other. He also notices the interrelations of +different groups, and the position of each group in the total series. +All this is quite different from a mere droning along through the +items of the list; it is much more active, and much more observant. + +Very interesting are the various ways in which the learner attacks a +list of nonsense syllables, numbers, or disconnected words. He goes to +work something like the cat trying to escape from a strange cage. He +proceeds by a sort of trial and error observation; he keeps looking +for something about the list that will help to fix it. He sees +something that promises well for a moment, then gives it up because he +sees something better. He notices positions, i.e., connects items with +their position in the list. He finds syllables that stand out as +peculiar in some way, being "odd", "fuzzy", smooth, agreeable, +disagreeable, or resembling some word, abbreviation or nickname. He +notes resemblances and contrasts between different syllables. He also +finds groups that resemble each other, or that resemble words. + +Besides what he actually finds in the list, he imports _meanings_, +more or less far-fetched, into the list. He may make a rhythmical line +of verse out of it; he may make a story out of it. In short, he both +explores the list as it stands and manipulates it into some shape that +promises to be rememberable. + +His line of attack differs according to the particular test that is +later to be made of his memory. Suppose he is shown a number of +pictures, with the understanding that later those now shown are to be +mixed with others, and that he must then pick out those now +shown--then he simply examines each picture for something +characteristic. But {336} suppose each picture is given a name, and he +must later tell the name of each--then he seeks for something in the +picture that can be made to suggest its name. Or suppose, once more, +that the pictures are spread out before him in a row, and he is told +that they will later be mixed and he be required to rearrange them in +the same order in which they are now shown--then he seeks for +relationships between the several pictures. His process of memorizing, +always observant, exploratory and manipulatory, differs in detail +according to the memory task that he expects later to perform. + +For another example, suppose an experiment is conducted by the method +of "paired associates". The subject is handed a list of pairs of +words, such as + + soprano emblem + grassy concise + nothing ginger + faraway kettle + shadow next + mercy scrub + hilltop internal + recite shoestring + narrative thunder + seldom harbor + jury eagle + windy occupy + squirm hobby + balloon multiply + necktie unlikely + supple westbound + obey inch + broken relish + spellbound ferment + desert expect + +He must learn to respond with the second word of each pair when the +first word of the pair is given. What he does, in learning this +lesson, is to take each pair of words as a unit, and try to find +something in the pair that shall make it a firm unit. It may be simply +the peculiar sound or look of a pair that he notes, or it may be some +connection {337} of meaning. Perhaps the pair suggests an image or a +little story. After a few readings, he has the pairs so well in hand +that he can score almost one hundred per cent., if tested immediately. + +But now suppose the experimenter springs a surprise, by asking the +subject, as far as possible, to recite the pairs in order, or to tell, +after completing one pair, what was the first word of the next pair. +The subject can do very little at this, and protests that the test is +not fair, since he "paid no attention to the order of the pairs, but +concentrated wholly on each pair separately". Had he expected to +recite the whole list of pairs in order, he would have noticed the +relationship of successive pairs, and perhaps woven them into a sort +of continued story. + +In memorizing _connected passages_ of prose or poetry, the "facts +observed" are the general sense and drift of the passage, the meanings +of the parts and their places in the general scheme, the grammatical +structure of the sentences and phrases, and the author's choice of +particular words. Memorizing here is the same general sort of +observant procedure as with nonsense material, greatly assisted by the +familiar sequences of words and by the connected meaning of the +passage, so that a connected passage can be learned in a fraction of +the time needed to memorize an equally long list of unrelated words. +No one in his senses would undertake to memorize an intelligible +passage by the pure rote method, for this would be throwing away the +best possible aid in memorizing; but you will find students who fail +to take full advantage of the sense, because, reading along passively, +they are not on the alert for general trends and outlines. For fixing +in mind the sense of a passage, the essential thing is to see the +sense. If the student gets the point with absolute clearness, he has +pretty well committed it to memory. + +{338} + +Short-circuiting. + +The peculiarities of words or syllables in a list or passage that is +being memorized, the relationships observed among the parts, and the +meanings suggested or imported into the material, though very useful +in the early stages of memorizing, tend to drop out of mind as the +material becomes familiar. A pair of syllables, "lub--mer", may have +first been associated by turning them into "love mother", but later +this meaning fades out, and the two syllables seem simply to belong +together in their own right. A pair of words, like "seldom--harbor", +that were first linked together by the intermediary thought of a boat +that seldom came into the harbor, become directly bound together as +mere words. A short-circuiting occurs, indirect attachments giving way +to direct. Even the outline and general purpose of a connected passage +may fade out of mind, when the passage becomes well learned, so that +it may be almost impossible for a schoolboy, who has learned his +little speech by heart, to deliver it with any consciousness of its +real meaning. A familiar act flattens out and tends to become +automatic and mechanical. + + +Economy in Memorizing + +Memorizing is a form of mental work that is susceptible of management, +and several principles of scientific management have been worked out +that may greatly assist in the learning of a long and difficult +lesson. The problem has been approached from the angle of economy or +efficiency. Suppose a certain amount of time is allowed for the study +of a lesson, how can this time be best utilized? + +The first principle of economy has already been sufficiently +emphasized: observant study, directed towards the finding of +relationships and significant facts, is much more efficient than mere +dull repetition. + +{339} + +The value of recitation in memorizing. + +"Recitation" here means reciting to oneself. After the learner has +read his lesson once or twice, he may, instead of continuing simply to +read it, attempt to recite it, prompting himself without much delay +when he is stuck, and verifying his recitation by reference to the +paper. The question is whether this active reciting method of study is +or is not economical of time in memorizing, and whether or not it +fixes the lesson durably in memory. The matter has been thoroughly +tested, and the answer is unequivocally in favor of recitation. The +only outstanding question is as to how soon to start attempting to +recite, and probably no single answer can be given to this question, +so much depends on the kind of material studied, and on peculiarities +of the individual learner. Where the sense rather than the exact +wording of a lesson has to be learned, it is probably best to recite, +in outline, after the first reading, and to utilize the next reading +for filling in the outline. + +The results of one series of experiments on this matter are summarized +in the adjoining table. + + +THE VALUE OF RECITATION IN MEMORIZING (from Gates) + +Material studied 16 nonsense syllables 5 short biographies, + totalling about 170 words + + Per cent, remembered Per cent. remembered + + immediately after 4 hours immediately after 4 hours + + +All time devoted +to reading 35 15 35 16 + +1/5 of time devoted +to recitation 50 26 37 19 + +2/5 of time devoted +to recitation 54 28 41 25 + +3/5 of time devoted +to recitation 57 37 42 26 + +4/5 of time devoted +to recitation 74 48 42 26 + + + The time devoted to study was in all cases 9 minutes, and this time + was divided between reading and recitation in different proportions + as stated in the first column at the left. Reading down the next + column, {340} we find that when nonsense syllables were studied and + the test was conducted immediately after the close of the study + period, 35 per cent. were remembered when all the study time had + been devoted to reading, 50 per cent, when the last 1/5 of the study + time had been devoted to recitation, 54 per cent when the last 2/5 + of the time had been devoted to recitation; and so on. The next + column shows the per cents. remembered four hours after the study + period. Each subject in these experiments had before him a sheet of + paper containing the lesson to be studied, and he simply read it + till the experimenter gave a signal to recite, after which the + subject recited the lesson to himself as well as he could, prompting + himself from the paper as often as necessary, and proceeded, thus + till the end of the study period. The subjects in these particular + experiments were eighth grade children; adult subjects gave the same + general results. + + +Three facts stand out from the table: (1) Reading down the columns, we +see that recitation was always an advantage. (2) The advantage was +more marked in the test conducted four hours after study than in the +test immediately following the study. To be sure, there is always a +falling off from the immediate to the later test; there is bound to be +some forgetting when the lesson has been studied for so short a time +as here; but the forgetting proceeds more slowly after recitation than +after all reading. Recitation fixes the matter more durably. (3) The +advantage of recitation is less marked in the meaningful material than +in case of nonsense syllables, though it is marked in both cases. The +reason is that meaningful material can better be read observantly, +time after time, than is possible with nonsense material. Continued +reading of nonsense material degenerates into a mere droning, while in +repeatedly reading meaningful material the learner who is keenly +interested in mastering the passage is sure to keep his mind ahead of +his eyes to some extent, so that his reading becomes half recitation, +after all. + +Whence comes the advantage of recitation? It has a twofold advantage: +it is more stimulating, and it is more satisfying. When you know you +are going to attempt recitation at once, you are stimulated to observe +positions, peculiarities, relationships, and meanings, and thus your +study {341} goes on at a higher level than when the test of your +knowledge is still far away, with many readings still to come. You are +also stimulated to manipulate the material, by way of grouping and +rhythm. + +On the side of satisfaction, recitation shows you what parts of the +lesson you have mastered and gives you the glow of increasing success. +It shows you exactly where you are failing and so stimulates to extra +attention to those parts of the lesson. It taps the instincts of +exploration, manipulation, and mastery much more effectively than +continued re-reading of the same lesson can do. The latter becomes +very uninteresting, monotonous and fatiguing. + +Perhaps, after all, the greatest advantage of reciting is that it +makes you do, in learning, the very act that you have later to perform +in the test; for what you have finally to do is to recite the lesson +without the book. When reading, you are doing something different; and +if it were altogether different, it probably would not help you at all +towards success in the test. But since intelligent reading consists +partly in anticipating and outlining as you go, it is a sort of half +recitation, it is halfway doing what you are trying to learn to do. +Memorizing consists in performing an act, now, with assistance, that +you later wish to perform without assistance; and recitation first +stimulates you to fashion the act conformably to the object in view, +and then exercises you in performing that act. + + +Spaced and unspaced repetition. + +Another question on the economical management of memorizing: Is it +better to keep steadily going through the lesson till you have it, or +to go through it at intervals? If you were allowed a certain time, and +no more, in which to prepare for examination on a certain memory +lesson, how could the study time be best distributed? This question +also has received a very definite answer. + +{342} + +Spaced repetitions are more effective than unspaced. In an experiment +of Piéron, a practised subject went through a list of twenty numbers +with an interval of only thirty seconds between readings, and needed +eleven readings to master the list. But a similar list, with +five-minute intervals, was mastered in six readings; and the number of +readings went down to five with an interval of ten minutes, and +remained the same for longer intervals up to two days. With this +particular sort of lesson, then, ten minutes was a long enough +interval, and two days not too long, to give the greatest economy of +time spent in actual study. + +In a somewhat different experiment in another laboratory, lists of +nonsense syllables were studied either two, four, or eight times in +immediate succession, and this was repeated each day till a total of +twenty-four readings had been given to each list; then, one day after +the last reading of each list, the subjects were tested as to their +memory of it. The result appears in the adjoining table. + + +EFFECT OF SPACED STUDY ON ECONOMY OF MEMORIZING (From Jost) + + Distribution of + the 24 readings Total score Total score + of Mr. B. of Mr. M. + 8 readings a day for 3 days 18 7 + + 6 readings a day for 4 days 39 31 + + 2 readings a day for 12 days 58 55 + + + +The widest distribution gave the best score. Undoubtedly, then, if you +had to memorize a poem or speech, you would get better value for time +spent if you read it once or twice at a time, with intervals of +perhaps a day, than if you attempted to learn it at one continuous +sitting. What exact spacing would give the very greatest economy would +depend on the length and character of the lesson. + +Spaced study also fixes the matter more durably. Every student knows +that continuous "cramming" just before an {343} examination, while it +may accomplish its immediate purpose, accomplishes little for +permanent knowledge. + +When we say that spaced repetitions give best results in memorizing, +that does not mean that study generally should be in short periods +with intervals of rest; it says nothing one way or the other on that +question. The probability is, since most students take a certain time +to get well "warmed up" to study, that fairly long periods of +consecutive study would yield larger returns than the same amount of +time divided into many short periods. What we have been saying here is +simply that repetition of the _same material_ fixes it better in +memory, when an interval (not necessarily an empty interval) elapses +between the repetitions. + + +Whole versus part learning. + +In memorizing a long lesson, is it more economical to divide it into +parts, and study each part by itself till mastered, or to keep the +lesson entire and always go through the whole thing? Most of us would +probably guess that study part by part would be better, but +experimental results have usually been in favor of study of the whole. + +If you had to memorize 240 lines of a poem, you would certainly be +inclined to learn a part at a time; but notice the following +experiment. A young man took two passages of this length, both from +the same poem, and studied one by the whole method, the other by the +part method, in sittings of about thirty-five minutes each day. His +results appear in the table. + +LEARNING PASSAGES OF 240 LINES, BY WHOLE AND PART METHODS +(Pyle and Snyder) + + Method of study Number of days Total number of + required minutes required + + 30 lines memorized per day, + then whole reviewed till it + could be recited 12 431 + + 3 readings of whole per day + till it could be recited 10 348 + + +{344} + +Here there was an economy of eighty-three minutes, or nearly twenty +per cent., by using the whole method as against the part method. +Similar experiments have regularly given the same general result. + +However, the matter is not quite so simple, as, under certain +conditions, the results tend the other way. Let us consider a very +different type of learning test. A "pencil maze", consisting of +passages or grooves to be traced out with a pencil, while the whole +thing was concealed from the subject by a screen, was so arranged that +it could be divided into four parts and each part learned separately. +Four squads of learners were used. Squads A and B learned the maze as +a whole, squads C and D part by part. Squads A and C learned by spaced +trials, two trials per day. Squad B learned the whole thing at one +sitting; while squad D, which came off best of all, learned one part a +day for four days, and on the fifth day learned to put the parts +together. The results appear in the adjoining table, which shows the +average time required to master the maze by each of the four methods. + + +PART AND WHOLE LEARNING, SPACED AND UNSPACED, +IN THE PENCIL MAZE (From Pechstein) + + Spaced trials Unspaced trials + +Whole learning A 641 seconds B 1250 seconds + +Part learning C 1220 seconds D 538 seconds + + +When the trials were spaced, the whole method was much the better; but +when the trials were bunched, the part method was much the better; +and, on the whole, the unspaced part learning was the best of all. +Thus the result stands in apparent contradiction with two accepted +laws: that of the advantage of spaced learning, and that of the +advantage of whole learning. + +This contradiction warns us not to accept the "laws" {345} too +blindly, but rather to analyze out the factors of advantage in each +method, and govern ourselves accordingly. Among the factors involved +are the following four: + +(1) The factor of interest, confidence and visible accomplishment--the +emotional factor, we might call it. This is on the side of part +learning, especially with beginners, who soon feel out of their depth +when wading into a long lesson, and lose hope of ever learning it in +this way. This factor is also largely on the side of unspaced as +against spaced learning, when the part studied is of moderate length +and when there are recitations to keep up the interest; for when the +learner sees he is getting ahead, he would rather keep right on than +wait for another day to finish. To have a task that you can hope to +accomplish at once, and to attack it with the intention of mastering +it at once, is very stimulating. + +(2) The factor of recency, of "striking while the iron is hot". When +an act has just been successfully performed it can easily be repeated, +and when a fact has just been observed it can readily be put to use. +This factor is clearly on the side of unspaced learning; and it is +also on the side of part learning, since by the time you have gone +through the whole long lesson and got back to where you are now, the +recency value of what you have just now accomplished will have +evaporated. + +(3) The factor of meaning, outlining and broad relationships. This is +on the side of whole learning, for it is when you are going through +the whole that you catch its general drift, and see the connections of +the several parts and their places in the whole. This factor is so +important as to outweigh the preceding two in many cases, especially +with experienced learners dealing with meaningful material. Even if +you should prefer the part method, you would be wise to begin by a +careful survey of the whole. + +{346} + +(4) The factor of permanency. This is something "physiological", and +it is on the side of spaced learning. The muscles profit more by +exercise with intervals of rest than by a large amount of continuous +exercise, and no athlete would think for a moment of training for a +contest of strength by "cramming" for it. Apparently the neurones obey +the same law as the muscles, and for that reason spaced learning gives +more durable results than unspaced. + + +Unintentional Learning + +What we have been examining is intentional memorizing, with the "will +to learn" strongly in the game. The assertion has sometimes been made +that the will to learn is necessary if any learning is to be +accomplished. We must look into this matter, for it has an important +bearing on the whole question of the process of learning. + +There is a famous incident that occurred in a Swiss psychological +laboratory, when a foreign student was supposed to be memorizing a +list of nonsense syllables. After the list had been passed before him +many times without his giving the expected signal that he was ready to +recite, the experimenter remarked that he seemed to be having trouble +in memorizing the syllables. "Oh! I didn't understand that I was to +learn them", he said, and it was found that, in fact, he had made +almost no progress towards learning the list. He had been observing +the separate syllables, with no effort to connect them into a series. + +Another incident: subjects were put repeatedly through a "color naming +test", which consisted of five colors repeated in irregular order, the +object being to name the one hundred bits of color as rapidly as +possible. After the subjects had been through this test over two +hundred times, you would think they could recite it from memory; but +not {347} at all! They had very little memory of the order of the bits +of color. Their efforts had been wholly concentrated upon naming the +bits as seen, and not in connecting them into a series that could be +remembered. + +The experiment described a few pages back on "paired associates" is +another case in point. The subjects memorized the pairs, but made no +effort to connect the pairs in order, and consequently were not able +later to remember the order of the pairs. + +Many somewhat similar experiments have been performed, with the object +of measuring the reliability of the testimony of eye-witnesses; and it +has been found that testimony is very unreliable except for facts that +were specifically noted at the time. Enact a little scene before a +class of students who do not suspect that their memory of the affair +is later to be tested, and you will find that their memory for many +facts that were before their eyes is hazy, absent, or positively +false. + +These facts all emphasize the importance of the will to learn. But let +us consider another line of facts. An event occurs before our eyes, +and we do notice certain facts about it, not with any intention of +remembering them later, but simply because they arouse our interest; +later, we recall such facts with great clearness and certainty. Or, we +hear a tune time after time, and gradually come to be able to sing it +ourselves, without ever having attempted to memorize it. Practically +all that the child learns in the first few years of his life, he +learns without any "will to learn". + +What is the difference between the case where the will to learn is +necessary, and the case where it is unnecessary? The difference is +that in the one case we observe facts for the purpose of committing +them to memory, and in the other case we observe the facts without any +such intention. In both cases we remember what we have definitely +observed, {348} and fail to remember what we have not observed. +Sometimes, to be sure, it is not so much observation as doing that is +operative. We may make a certain reaction with the object of learning +it so as to make it later, or we may make the reaction for some other +reason; but in either case we learn it. + +What is essential, then, is not the will to learn, but the doing and +observing. The will to learn is sometimes important, as a directive +tendency, to steer doing and observing into channels relevant to the +particular memory task that we need to perform. But committing to +memory seems not to be any special form of activity; rather, it +consists of reactions that also occur without any view to future +remembering. Not only do we learn _by_ doing and observing, but doing +and observing _are_ learning. + + +Retention + +We come now to the second of our four main problems, and ask how we +retain, or carry around inside of us, what we have learned. The answer +is, not by any process or activity. Retention is a resting state, in +which a learned reaction remains until the stimulus arrives that can +arouse it again. We carry around with us, not the reaction, but the +machinery for making the reaction. + +Consider, for example, the retention of motor skill. A boy who has +learned to turn a handspring does not have to keep doing it all the +time in order to retain it. He may keep himself in better form by +reviewing the performance occasionally, but he retains the skill even +while eating and sleeping. The same can be said of the retention of +the multiplication table, or of a poem, or of knowledge of any kind. +The machinery that is retained consists very largely in brain +connections. Connections formed in the process of {349} learning +remain behind in a resting condition till again aroused to activity by +some appropriate stimulus. + +But the machinery developed in the process of learning is subject to +the wasting effects of time. It is subject to the law of "atrophy +through disuse". Just as a muscle, brought by exercise into the pink +of condition, and then left long inactive, grows weak and small, so it +is with the brain connections formed in learning. With prolongation of +the condition of rest, the machinery is less and less able to +function, till finally all retention of a once-learned reaction may be +lost. + +But _is_ anything once learned ever completely forgotten and lost? +Some say no, being strongly impressed by cases of recovery of memories +that were thought to be altogether gone. Childhood experiences that +were supposed to be completely forgotten, and that could not at first +be recalled at all, have sometimes been recovered after a long and +devious search. Sometimes a hypnotized person remembers facts that he +could not get at in the waking state. Persons in a fever have been +known to speak a language heard in childhood, but so long disused as +to be completely inaccessible in the normal state. Such facts have +been generalized into the extravagant statement that nothing once +known is ever forgotten. For it is an extravagant statement. It would +mean that all the lessons you had ever learned could still be recited, +if only the right stimulus could be found to arouse them; it would +mean that all the lectures you ever heard (and attended to) are still +retained, that all the stories you ever read are still retained, that +all the faces you ever noticed are still retained, that all the scenes +and happenings that ever got your attention could still be revived if +only the right means were taken to revive them. There is no evidence +for any such extreme view. + +The modern, scientific study of this matter began with {350} +recognizing the fact that there are _degrees of retention_, ranging +all the way from one hundred per cent, to zero, and with the invention +of methods of measuring retention. Suppose you have memorized a list +of twenty numbers some time ago, and kept a record of the time you +then took to learn it; since when you have not thought of it again. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 53.--(From Ebbinghaus.) The curve of forgetting. +The curve sinks at first rapidly, and then slowly, from the 100 per +cent line towards the zero line, 100 per cent. here meaning perfect +retention, and 0 no retention.] + + +On attempting now to recite it, you make no headway and are inclined +to think you have entirely forgotten it. But, finding the list again, +you _relearn_ it, and probably find that your time for relearning is +less than the original learning time--unless the lapse of time has run +into months. Now consider--if no time at all were needed for +relearning, because the list could be recited easily without, your +retention would be one hundred per cent. If, on the contrary, it took +you just as long now to relearn as it did originally to learn, the +retention would be zero. If it takes you now two-thirds as long to +relearn as it originally took to learn, then {351} one-third of the +work originally done on the list does not have to be done over, and +_this saving is the measure of retention_. + +By the use of this method, the curve of retention, or curve of +forgetting, as it is also called, has been determined. It is a curve +that first goes down steeply, and then more and more gradually, till +it approximates to zero; which means that the loss of what has been +learned proceeds rapidly at first and then more and more slowly. + +The curve of forgetting can be determined by other methods besides the +saving method--by the recall method or by the recognition method; and +data obtained by these methods are given in the adjoining tables. It +will be seen that the different methods agree in showing a curve that +falls off more rapidly at first than later. More is lost in the first +hour than in the second hour, and more in the first week than in the +second week. Few of the experiments have been continued long enough to +bring the curve actually to the zero line, but it has come very close +to that line in tests conducted after an interval of two to four +months. + + +PER CENT. OF WORDS RECOGNIZED AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS AFTER BEING SEEN +(From Strong) + + Interval between Per cent. recognized with + exposure and test certainty and correctness + + 15 secs. 84 + + 5 min. 73 + + 15 min. 62 + + 30 min. 58 + + 1 hour 56 + + 2 hours 50 + + 4 hours 47 + + 8 hours 40 + + 12 hours 38 + + 1 day 29 + + 2 days 24 + + 4 days 19 + + 7 days 10 + + + The subject read a list of 20 disconnected words once through, + giving careful attention to each word. Immediately at the close of + the reading he performed an example in mental arithmetic, to prevent + his reviewing the list of words mentally. After an interval, he was + shown these {352} twenty words mixed with twenty others, and had to + pick out those he surely recognized as having been shown before. + Many lists were used, for testing after the different intervals. + Five adult subjects took part in the experiment, and in all 15 lists + were used with each interval; the per cents. given in the table are + the averages for the 15 lists. + + + THE PER CENT. OF ERROR IN RECALLING DETAILS OF A + PICTURE AFTER DIFFERENT INTERVALS OF TIME + (From Dallenbach) + + Time of test Per cent, of error Per cent of error + in spontaneous in answering + recall questions regarding + the picture + + Immediately after exposure 10 14 + + After 5 days 14 18 + + After 15 days 18 20 + + After 46 days 22 22 + + + The picture was placed in the subject's hands, and he examined it + for one minute, at the end of which time he wrote down as complete a + description of the picture as possible, and then answered a set of + sixty questions covering all the features of the picture. After five + days he was retested in the same way, and again after fifteen days, + etc. In one respect this is not a typical memory experiment, since + the test after five days would revive the subject's memory of the + picture and slacken the progress of forgetting. The experiment + corresponds more closely to the conditions of ordinary life, when we + do recall a scene at intervals; or it corresponds to the conditions + surrounding the eye-witness of a crime, who must testify regarding + it, time after time, before police, lawyers and juries. However, the + subjects in this experiment realized at the time that they were to + be examined later, and studied the picture more carefully than the + eye-witness of a crime would study the event occurring before his + eyes; so that the per cent. of error was smaller here than can be + expected in the courtroom. + + +It must be understood that this classical curve of forgetting only +holds good, strictly, for material that has _barely_ been learned. +Reactions that have been drilled in thoroughly and repeatedly fall off +very slowly at first, and the further course of the curve of +forgetting has not been accurately followed in their case. A typist +who had spent perhaps two hundred hours in drill, and then dropped +typewriting for a year, recovered the lost ground in less than an hour +of fresh practice, so that the retention, as measured by the saving +method, was over ninety-nine per cent. + +Somewhat different from the matter of the curve of forgetting is the +question of the _rate of forgetting_, as {353} dependent on various +conditions. The rate of forgetting depends, first, on the thoroughness +of the learning, as we have just seen. It depends on the kind of +material learned, being very much slower for meaningful than for +nonsense material, though both have been learned equally well. Barely +learned nonsense material is almost entirely gone by the end of four +months, but stanzas of poetry, just barely learned, have shown a +perceptible retention after twenty years. + +Very fortunately, the principles of economy of memorizing hold good +also for retention. Forgetting is slower when relationships and +connections have been found in the material than when the learning has +been by rote. Forgetting is slower after active recitation than when +the more passive, receptive method of study has been employed. +Forgetting is slower after spaced than after unspaced study, and +slower after whole learning than after part learning. + +An old saying has it that quick learning means quick forgetting, and +that quick learners are quick forgetters. Experiment does not wholly +bear this out. A lesson that is learned quickly because it is clearly +understood is better retained than one which is imperfectly understood +and therefore slowly learned; and a learner who learns quickly because +he is on the alert for significant facts and connections retains +better than a learner who is slow from lack of such alertness. The +wider awake the learner, the quicker will be his learning and the +slower his subsequent forgetting; so that one is often tempted to +admonish a certain type of studious but easy-going person, "for +goodness' sake not to dawdle over his lessons", with any idea that the +more time he spends with them the longer he will remember them. More +gas! High pressure gives the biggest results, provided only it is +directed into high-level observation, and does not simply generate +fear and worry and a rattle-brained frenzy of rote learning. + +{354} + +Recall + +Having committed something to memory, how do we get it back when we +want it? To judge from such simple cases as the animal's performance +of a previously learned reaction, all that is necessary is a +_stimulus_ previously linked with the response. How, for example, +shall we get the cat to turn the door-button, this being an act that +the cat has previously learned? Why, we put the cat into the same +cage, i.e., we supply the stimulus that has previously given the +reaction, and trust to it to give the same reaction again. The +learning process has attached this reaction to this stimulus. Now can +we say the same regarding material committed to memory by the human +subject? Is recall a species of learned reaction that needs only the +linked stimulus to arouse it? + +If you have learned and still retain a list of numbers or syllables, +you can recite it on thinking of it, on hearing words that identify it +in your mind, or on being given the first few items in the list as a +start. The act of reciting the list became linked, during the +learning, with the thought of the list, with words signifying this +particular list, and with the first items of the list; therefore, +these stimuli can now arouse the reaction of reciting the list. As you +advance into the list, reciting it, the parts already recited act as +stimuli to keep you going forward. In the same way, if you have +memorized Hamlet's soliloquy, this title serves as the stimulus to +make you recall the beginning of the speech and that in turn calls up +the next part and so on; or, if you have analyzed the speech into an +outline, the title calls up the outline and the outline acts as the +stimulus to call up the several parts that were attached to the +outline in the process of memorization. When one idea calls up +another, the first acts as a stimulus and the second is a {355} +response previously attached to this stimulus. In general, then, +recall is a learned response to a stimulus. + +There is an exceptional case, where recall seems to occur without any +stimulus. This form of recall goes by the name of _perseveration_, and +a good instance of it is the "running of a tune in the head", shortly +after it has been heard. Another instance is the vivid flashing of +scenes of the day before the "mind's eye" as one lies in bed before +going to sleep. It appears as if the sights or sounds came up of +themselves and without any stimulus. Possibly there is some vague +stimulus which cannot itself be detected. Only a slight stimulus would +be needed, because these recent and vivid experiences are so easily +aroused. + + +Difficulties in recall. + +Sometimes recall fails to materialize when we wish it and have good +reason for expecting it. We know this person's name, as is proved by +the fact that we later recall it, but at the moment we cannot bring it +up. We know the answer to this examination question, but in the heat +of the examination we give the wrong answer, though afterwards the +right answer comes to mind. This seldom happens with thoroughly +learned facts, but frequently with facts that are moderately well +known. Some sort of inhibition or interference blocks recall. + +One type of interference is emotional. Fear may paralyze recall. +Anxious self-consciousness, or stage fright, has prevented the recall +of many a well-learned speech, and interfered with the skilful +performance of many a well-trained act. + +Distraction is an interference, since it keeps the stimulus from +exerting its full effect. Sometimes the stimulus that is present has +been linked with two or more responses, and these get in each other's +way; as you will sometimes hear a speaker hesitate and become confused +from having two ways {356} of expressing the same thought occur to him +at almost the same instant. + + +Helps in recall. + +There are no sure rules for avoiding these intricate interferences; +and, in general, recall being a much less manageable process than +memorizing, we do not have anything like the same mass of practical +information regarding it. One or two suggestions have some value, +however. + +(1) Give the stimulus a good chance. Look squarely at the person whose +name you wish to recall, avoiding doubt as to your ability to recall +it; for doubt is itself a distraction. Put yourself back into the time +when you formerly used this person's name. In extemporaneous speaking, +go ahead confidently, avoid worry and self-consciousness, and, full of +your subject, trust to your ideas to recall the words as needed. Once +carried away with his subject, a speaker may surprise himself by his +own fluency. + +(2) Drop the matter for a while, and come back to it afresh. +Sometimes, when you cannot at once recall a name, it does no good to +keep doggedly hunting, while half an hour later you get it without the +least trouble. The explanation of this curious phenomenon is found in +interference and the dying out of interference. At your first attempt +to recall the name, you simply got on the wrong track, and thus gave +this wrong track the "recency" advantage over the right track; but +this temporary advantage fades out rapidly with rest and leaves the +advantage with the track most used in the past. + +The rule to drop a matter when baffled and confused, and take it up +again when fresh, can be used in more complex cases than hunting for a +name. When, in trying to solve any sort of problem, you find yourself +in a rut, about the only escape is to back off, rest up, and make an +entirely fresh start. + +{357} + +Recognition + +The fourth question propounded at the beginning of the chapter, as to +how we can know that the fact now recalled is what we formerly +committed to memory and now wish to recall, is part of the larger +question of how we recognize. What we recognize includes not only +facts recalled, but also facts not recalled but presented a second +time to the senses. Recognition of objects seen, heard, touched, etc., +is the most rudimentary form of memory. The baby shows signs of +recognizing persons and things before he shows signs of recall. A +little later, he recognizes and understands words before he begins to +speak (recall) them; and everybody's vocabulary of recognized words +remains much greater than his speaking vocabulary. We recognize faces +that we could not recall, and names that we could not recall. In +short, recognition is easier than recall. + +Consequently any theory of recognition that makes it depend on recall +can scarcely be correct. One such theory held that an object is +recognized by recalling its original setting in past experience; an +odor would be recognized by virtue of recalling the circumstances +under which it was formerly experienced. Now sometimes it does happen +that an odor which seems familiar, but cannot be identified, calls up +a past experience and thus is fully recognized; but such "indirect +recognition" is not the usual thing, for direct recognition commonly +takes place before recall of the past experience has time to occur. +You see a person, and know him at once, though it may require some +moments before you can recall where and when you have seen him before. + +Recognition may be more or less complete. At its minimum, it is simply +a "feeling of familiarity" with the object; at its maximum it is +locating the object precisely in your autobiography. You see a man, +and say, "He looks {358} familiar, I must have seen him somewhere", +and then it dawns on you, "Oh! yes, now I know exactly who he is; he +is the man who . . ." Between these extremes lie various degrees of +recognition. This man seems to be some one seen recently, or a long, +long time ago, or at the seashore, or as a salesman in a store; or as +some one you looked up to, or felt hostility towards, or were amused +at; and often these impressions turn out to be correct, when you +succeed in fully recognizing the person. These impressions resemble +the first signs of recognition in the baby's behavior; you say that +the baby remembers people because he smiles at one who has pleased him +before, and shrinks from one who has displeased him. + + +Recognition described in terms of stimulus and response. + +Recognition is a form of learned response, depending on previous +reaction to the object recognized. To recognize an object is to +respond to it as we responded before--except for the feeling of +familiarity, which could not occur the first time we saw the object. +But notice this: though the object is the same identical object it was +before, it may have changed somewhat. At least, its setting is +different; this is a different time and perhaps a different place, and +the circumstances are bound to be more or less different. In spite of +this difference in the situation, we make the same response as before. + +Now, the response we made to the object in its original setting was a +response to the whole situation, object _plus_ setting; our response +to the object was colored by its setting. When we now recognize the +object, we make the same response to the object in a different +setting; the response originally called out by the object _plus_ its +setting is now aroused by the object alone. Consequently we have an +uneasy feeling of responding to a situation that is not present. {359} +This uneasy feeling is the feeling of familiarity in its more haunting +and "intriguing" form. + +We see some one who seems familiar and who arouses a hostile attitude +in us that is not accounted for in the least by his present actions. +We have this uneasy feeling of responding to a situation that is not +present, and cannot rest till we have identified the person and +justified our hostile attitude. + +Or, we see some one who makes us feel as if we had had dealings with +him before in a store or postoffice where he must have served us; we +find ourselves taking the attitude towards him that is appropriate +towards such a functionary, though there is nothing in his present +setting to arouse such an attitude. Or, we see some one in the city +streets who seems to put us back into the atmosphere of a vacation at +the seashore, and by searching our memory we finally locate him as an +individual we saw at such and such a resort. At other times, the +feeling of familiarity is rather colorless, because the original +situation in which the person was encountered was colorless; but we +still have the feeling of responding to something that is not present. +We make, or start to make, the same response to the person that we +originally made to him _plus_ his setting, and this response to +something that is not there gives the feeling of familiarity. + +When we see the same person time after time in the same setting, as +when we go into the same store every morning and buy a paper from the +same man, we cease to have any strong feeling of familiarity at sight +of him, the reason being that we are always responding to him in the +same setting, and consequently have no feeling of responding to +something that is not there. But if we see this same individual in a +totally different place, he may give us a queer feeling of +familiarity. When we see the same person time after time {360} in +various settings, we end by separating him from his surroundings and +responding to him alone, and therefore the familiarity feeling +disappears. + +Complete recognition, or "placing" the object, involves something more +than these feelings and rudimentary reactions. It involves the recall +of a context or scheme of events, and a fitting of the object into the +scheme. + + +Memory Training + +The important question whether memory can be improved by any form of +training breaks up, in the light of our previous analysis, into the +four questions, whether memorizing can be improved, whether the power +of retention can be improved, whether recall can be improved, and +whether recognition can be improved. As to recognition, it is +difficult to imagine how to train it; the process is so elusive and so +direct. It has been found, however, that practice in recognizing a +certain class of objects improves one's standards of judgment as to +whether a feeling of familiarity is reliable or not; it enables one to +distinguish between feelings that have given correct recognitions and +the vaguer feelings that often lead one astray. + +As to recall, certain hints were given above as to the efficient +management of this process, and probably practice in recalling a +certain sort of facts, checked up by results, would lead to +improvement. + +As to retention, since this is not a performance but a resting state, +how could we possibly go about to effect an improvement? One +individual's brain is, to be sure, more retentive than another's; but +that seems a native trait, not to be altered by training. + +On the other hand, the process of committing to memory, being a +straightforward and controllable activity, is {361} exceedingly +susceptible to training, and it is there, for the most part, that +memory training should be concentrated in order to yield results. It +does yield marked results. In the laboratory, the beginner in learning +lists of nonsense syllables makes poor work of it. He is emotionally +wrought up and uncertain of himself, goes to work in a random way +(like any beginner), perhaps tries to learn by pure rote or else +attempts to use devices that are ill-adapted to the material, and has +a slow and tedious job of it. With practice in learning this sort of +material, he learns to observe suitable groupings and relationships, +becomes sure of himself and free from the distraction of emotional +disturbance, and may even come to enjoy the work. Certainly he +improves greatly in speed of memorizing nonsense syllables. If, +instead, he practises on Spenser's "Faery Queen", he improves in that, +and may cut down his time for memorizing a twelve-line stanza from +fifteen minutes to five. This improvement is due to the subject's +finding out ways of tackling this particular sort of material. He gets +used to Spenser's style and range of ideas. And so it is with any kind +of material; practice in memorizing it brings great improvement in +memorizing that particular material. + +Whether practice with one sort of material brings skill that can be +"transferred", or carried over to a second kind of material, is quite +another question. Usually the amount of _transfer_ is small compared +with the improvement gained in handling the first material, or +compared with the improvement that will result from specific training +with the second kind. What skill is transferred consists partly of the +habit of looking for groupings and relationships, and partly in the +confidence in one's own ability as a memorizer. It is really worth +while taking part in a memory experiment, just to know what you can +accomplish after a little training. Most persons who complain of poor +memory would be {362} convinced by such an experiment that their +memory was fundamentally sound. But these laboratory exercises do not +pretend to develop any general "power of memory", and the much +advertised systems of memory training are no more justified in such a +claim. What is developed, in both cases, is skill in memorizing +certain kinds of material so as to pass certain forms of memory test. + +One who suffers from poor memory for any special material, as names, +errands, or engagements, probably is not going to work right in +committing the facts to memory; and if he gives special attention to +this particular matter, keeping tab on himself to see whether he +improves, he is likely to find better ways of fixing the facts and to +make great improvement. It was said of a certain college president of +the older day that he never failed to call a student or alumnus by +name, after he had once met the man. How did he do it? He had the +custom of calling each man in the freshman class into his office for a +private interview, during which, besides fatherly advice, he asked the +man personal questions and studied him intently. He was interested in +the man, he formed a clear impression of his personality, and to that +personality he carefully attached the name. Undoubtedly this able +scholar was possessed of an unusually retentive memory; but his memory +for names depended largely on his method of committing them to memory. + +Contrast this with the casual procedure of most of us on being +introduced to a person. Perhaps we scarcely notice the name, and make +no effort to attach the name to the personality. To have a good memory +for names, one needs to give attention and practice to this specific +matter. It is the same with memory for errands; it can be specifically +trained. Perhaps the best general hint here is to connect the errand +beforehand in your mind with the {363} place where you should think, +during the day, to do the errand. + +Often some little _mnemonic system_ will help in remembering +disconnected facts, but such devices have only a limited field of +application and do not in the least improve the general power of +memory. Some speakers, in planning out a speech, locate each +successive "point" in a corner of the hall, or in a room of their own +house; and when they have finished one point, look into the next +corner, or think of the next room, and find the following point there. +It would seem that a well-ordered discourse should supply its own +logical cues so that such artificial aids would be unnecessary. + +In training the memory for the significant facts that constitute the +individual's knowledge of his business in life, the best rule is to +systematize and interrelate the facts into a coherent whole. Thus, a +bigger and stronger stimulus is provided for the recall of any item. +This, along with the principles of "economy" in memorizing, is the +best suggestion that psychology has to make towards memory +improvement. + +{364} + +EXERCISES + +1. In outlining the chapter, regroup the material so as to separate + the practical applications from the description of memory + processes. This gives you two main heads: A. Memory processes, and + B. The training and management of memory. Each of these main heads + should be divided into four sub-heads: Memorizing, retention, etc., + and the information contained in the chapter grouped under these + sub-heads. + +2. Disorders of memory can be classified under the four heads of + disorders of learning, of retention, of recall and of recognition. + Where would you place each of the following? + + (a) Aphasia, where, through brain injury, the subject's + vocabulary is very much reduced. + + (b) The condition of the very old person, who cannot remember + what has happened during the day, though he still remembers + experiences of his youth. + + (c) The "feeling of having been there before", in which you have + a weird impression that what is happening now has happened in + just the same way before, as if events were simply repeating + themselves. + + (d) The loss of memory which sometimes occurs after a physical + or emotional shock, or after a fever, and which passes away + after a time. + +3. How fully can you recall what happened on some interesting + occasion when you were a child of 5-8 years? Dwell on the + experience, and see whether you get back more than at first seemed + possible. Try the same with an experience of five years ago. + +4. If a student came to you for advice, complaining of poor memory, + and said that though he put hours and hours on a lesson and read it + over many times, still he failed on it, what questions would you + ask regarding his method of study, and what suggestions would you + offer? + +5. An experiment on memorising lists of numbers. Prepare several + lists of 20 digits, and shuffle them; draw out one and take your + time for learning it to the point of perfect recitation. Write an + introspective account of the process. Repeat with a second list + +6. An experiment in memorizing word-pairs. Prepare 20 pairs of + words as follows: take 20 cards or slips of paper, and write a + different word on each. Then turn them over, shuffle, and write + another word on the back of each. Thus, though you may know what + words you have written, you do not how how they are paired; and now + your job is to learn the pairs. Note starting time, take the first + card and look at both {365} sides, and study the pair of words on + this card for about 5 seconds, passing then to the second card, and + so on through the pack. Shuffle the pack, take the top card and + give yourself about 5 seconds to recall the word on the reverse, + then turning the card over and reading it. Proceed in this way + through the pack, shuffle again, and repeat. Continue thus till you + score 100 per cent. Note total time required, and report on process + of memorizing. + +7. Memorizing a series of related words. Prepare a list of 40 + words, as follows: first write the numbers 1 to 40 in a column; + then write any word for No. 1; for No. 2, write some word closely + related to No. 1; for No. 3 some word closely related to No. 2; and + so on. Your list, for example, might begin like this: house, roof, + chimney, soot, fire, coal, mine, miner, strike, arbitration, etc. + Having finished writing your list, cover it and see how much of it + you can recite without further study, and how long it takes you to + complete the memorizing. Explain the results obtained. + +8. Plot the curve of forgetting from the following data, which give + the per cent, of retention of stanzas of a poem at different + intervals after the end of memorizing. + + after 1 day 79% + after 2 days 67% + after 6 days 42% + after 14 days 30% + after 30 days 24% + + +REFERENCES + +Ebbinghaus, _On Memory_, 1885, translated by Ruger and Bussenius, +1918. This is the pioneer experimental study of memory, and is still +worth reading, and is not specially hard reading. + +James's chapter on Memory, in Vol. I of his _Principles of +Psychology_, 1890, is still one of the best references, and contains +some important remarks on the improvement of memory. + +Of the numerous special studies on memory, mention may be made of that +by Arthur I. Gates, _Recitation as a Factor in Memorizing_, 1917, +which, on pp. 65-104, gives a valuable account of the various devices +used by one who is memorizing. + +For the psychology of testimony, see G. M. Whipple's article on "The +Obtaining of Information: Psychology of Observation and Report", in +the _Psychological Bulletin_ for 1918, Vol. 15, pp. 217-248, +especially pp. 233-248. See also a popularly written account of the +matter by Münsterberg, in _On the Witness Stand_, 1908, pp. 15-69. + +{366} + + +CHAPTER XV + +ASSOCIATION AND MENTAL IMAGERY + +SOMETHING ABOUT THINKING AS RELATED TO MEMORY + +Memory plays a part, not only in "memory work", and not only in +remembering particular past experiences, but in all sorts of thinking. +Recall furnishes the raw material for thought. A large share of any +one's daily work, whether it be manual or mental, depends on the +recall of previously learned reactions. Most of the time, though we +are not exactly trying to remember facts committed to memory, we are +recalling what we have previously learned, and utilizing the recalled +material for our present purposes. For example, in conversation we +recall words to express our meaning, and we recall the meanings of the +words we hear. In adding a column of figures, we recall the sums of +the numbers. In cooking a meal, we recall the ingredients of the dish +we wish to prepare, and the location of the various materials and +utensils required for our purpose. In planning a trip, we recall +places and routes. Any sort of problem is solved by means of recalled +facts put together in a new way. A writer in constructing a story puts +together facts that he has previously noted, and any work of the +imagination consists of materials recalled from past experience and +now built into a new composition. + + +What Can Be Recalled + +If recall is so important in thinking and acting, it is worth while to +make a survey of the materials that recall {367} furnishes. In +general, using the term "recall" rather broadly, we say that any +previously learned reaction may be recalled. Writing _movements_ may +be said to be recalled when we write, and speech movements when we +speak. "Higher units", like the word habits and phrase habits of the +telegrapher and typist, are in a broad sense recalled whenever they +are used. The typist does not by any means recall the experience of +learning a higher unit, but he calls into action again the response +that he has learned to make. In the same way, the word habits and +phrase habits of vocal speech are called into action, i.e., recalled, +whenever we speak. + +Besides these motor reactions, _tendencies_ to reaction can be +recalled. The attitude of hostility that may have become habitual in +us towards a certain person, or towards a certain task, is called into +activity at the mention of that person or task. The acquired interest +in architecture that we may have formed by reading or travel is +revived by the sight of an ambitious group of buildings. A slumbering +purpose may be recalled into activity by some relevant stimulus. + +Observed _facts_ can be recalled, and this is the typically human form +of recall. In animals, we see the recall of tendencies and of learned +movements, but no clear evidence of the recall of observed facts. To +be recalled with certainty, a fact must have been definitely noted +when it was before us. If we have definitely noted the color of a +person's eyes, we are in a position to testify that his eyes are +brown, for example; otherwise, we may say that we think probably his +eyes are brown; because we have certainly noticed that he is dark, and +the dark eyes fit best into this total impression. + +We say that a fact is recalled when we think of it without its being +present to the senses. While the original {368} observation of the +fact was a response to a sensory stimulus, the recall of it is a +response to some other stimulus, some "substitute stimulus". When John +is before me, I observe that his eyes are brown in response to a +visual stimulus; but I later recall this fact in response simply to +the name "John", or in response to the question as to what is the +color of John's eyes. I see what a square is by seeing squares and +handling them, and later I get this idea simply in response to the +word "square" in conversation or reading. + + +Memory Images + +Now, can _sensations_ be recalled, can they be aroused except by their +natural sensory stimuli? Can you recall the color blue, or the sound +of a bugle, or the odor of camphor, or the feel of a lump of ice held +in the hand? Almost every one will reply "Yes" to some at least of +these questions. One may have a vivid picture of a scene before the +"mind's eye", and another a realistic sound in the "mind's ear", and +they may report that the recalled experience seems essentially the +same as the original sensation. Therefore, sensory reactions are no +exception to the rule of recall by a substitute stimulus. + +A sensation or complex of sensations recalled by a substitute stimulus +is called a "mental image" or a "memory image". + +Individuals seem to differ in the vividness or realism of their memory +images--the likeness of the image to an actual sensation--more than in +any other respect. Galton, in taking a sort of census of mental +imagery, asked many persons to call up the appearance of their +breakfast table as they had sat down to it that morning, and to +observe how lifelike the image was, how complete, how adequate in +respect to color, how steady and lasting, and to compare {369} the +image in these respects with the sensory experience aroused by the +actual presence of the scene. Some individuals reported that the image +was "in all respects the same as an original sensation", while others +denied that they got anything at all in the way of recalled sensation, +though they could perfectly well recall definite facts that they had +observed regarding the breakfast table. The majority of people gave +testimony intermediate between these extremes. + +Individuals differ so much in this respect that they scarcely credit +each other's testimony. Some who had practically zero imagery held +that the "picture before the mind's eye" spoken of by the poets was a +myth or mere figure of speech; while those who were accustomed to +vivid images could not understand what the others could possibly mean +by "remembering facts about the breakfast table without having any +image of it", and were strongly tempted to accuse them of poor +introspection, if not worse. It is true that in attempting to study +images, we have to depend altogether on introspection, since no one +can objectively observe another person's memory image, and therefore +we are exposed to all the unreliability of the unchecked introspective +method. But at the same time, when you cross-question an individual +whose testimony regarding his imagery is very different from yours, +you find him so consistent in his testimony and so sure he is right, +that you are forced to conclude to a very real difference between him +and yourself. You are forced to conclude that the power of recalling +sensations varies from something like one hundred per cent, down to +practically zero. + +Individuals may also differ in the _kind_ of sensation that they can +vividly recall. Some who are poor at recalling visual sensations do +have vivid auditory images, and others who have little of either +visual or auditory imagery call up {370} kinesthetic sensations +without difficulty. When this was first discovered, a very pretty +theory of "imagery types" was built upon it. Any individual, so it was +held, belonged to one or another type: either he was a "visualist", +thinking of everything as it appears to the eyes, or he was an +"audile", thinking of everything according to its sound, or he was a +"motor type", dealing wholly in kinesthetic imagery, or he might, in +rare cases, belong to the olfactory or gustatory or tactile type. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 54.--Individual differences in mental imagery. +According to the type theory, every individual has a place in one or +another of the distinct groups, visual, auditory, tactile, +kinesthetic, or olfactory. According to the facts, the majority, of +individuals cluster in the middle space, and form a single large +group, though some few are extremely visual, or auditory, etc., in +their imagery. (Figure text: according to the type theory, according to +the facts)] + + +But the progress of investigation showed, first, that a "mixed type" +must also be admitted, to provide for individuals who easily called up +images of two or more different senses; and, later on, that the mixed +type was the most common. In fact, it is now known to be very unusual +for an individual to be confined to images of a single sense. Nearly +every one gets visual images more easily and frequently than those of +any other sense, but nearly every one has, from time to time, +auditory, kinesthetic, tactile and olfactory images. So that the +"mixed type" is the only real type, the extreme visualist or audile, +etc., being exceptional and not typical. + +{371} + +Limitations of Imagery + +Recalled sensations are commonly inferior to their originals, both in +the enjoyment they afford and in the use that can be made of them. +They are likely to be inferior in several respects. + +(1) An image has usually less color, or tone--less body, realism and +full sensory quality--than a sensation aroused by its appropriate +peripheral stimulus. While you may be able to call up a fairly good +image of your absent friend's face, the actual presence of your friend +would be more satisfactory, just as a sensory experience. You may be +able to run over a piece of music "in your head", and if your auditory +imagery is strong you may even run over an orchestral piece, and get +the tone quality of the various instruments; but, after all, such a +mental concert is an imperfect substitute for a real orchestra. You +enjoy a real whiff of the sea more than the best olfactory image you +can summon. There is something lacking in these recalled sensations, +and the trouble seems to be that they are not sensations enough; they +lack sensory body. + +(2) Images are apt to be sketchy and lacking in detail, and also +narrow and lacking in background. + +(3) Images are apt to be unsteady and fleeting, as compared with +actual sensations. Where the peripheral stimulus, continuing, keeps +the sensation going, the substitute stimulus that recalls a sensation +is not so effective in this respect, any more than in giving body and +detail. In all these respects, an image is less enjoyable and +satisfying than an actual sensation. + +(4) On the more practical side, images are inferior to the actual +presence of an object, in that we cannot utilize the image as a source +of new information. {372} We _cannot observe facts_ in the image of a +thing that we have not observed in the actual presence of the thing. + +At one of the universities, there is a beautiful library building, +with a row of fine pillars across the front, and the students pass +this building every day and enjoy looking at it. It has long been a +favorite experiment in the psychology classes at that university to +have the students call up an image of the library, and to have them +state how clear their image is, how complete and how vivid. Then they +are asked to count the pillars from their image, and to tell what kind +of capitals the pillars have, and whether the shafts are plain or +fluted. But at this point the students begin to object. "We have never +counted those pillars, and cannot be expected to know the number now." +In fact, few of them give the correct number, and those who have +reported clear and vivid images are little better off in this respect +than those whose images are dim and vague. + +The image, then, does not give you facts that you did not observe in +the presence of the object. The substitute stimulus, which now recalls +the image, only recalls responses which you made when the real object +was the stimulus. If you looked at the object simply to get its +general appearance, the general appearance is all you can recall. If +you noted the color of the object, you can probably recall the color. +If you noted such details as the number of pillars, you can recall +these details. But the substitute stimulus that now arouses the image +is by no means the equivalent of the original peripheral stimulus in +making possible a variety of new reactions. Its only linkage is with +reactions actually made by you in response to the real object. The +substitute stimulus, such as the name of a building, became linked +with responses actually made by you, not with responses that you +simply might have made, when the object was present. This important +fact is closely related to the {373} unreliability of testimony that +was mentioned before under the head of "unintentional memory". +[Footnote: See pp. 346-348.] Facts recalled are facts previously +observed. + +It is true, of course, that recalled facts can be compared and new +facts be observed by the comparison. We may recall how John looks, and +how James looks, and note the fact, not previously observed, that they +look alike. A great deal can be inferred in this way by a person who +is sitting in his room far from the objects thought about. But this +noting of the relationships of different objects is a very different +matter from observing what is there, in a single object or scene. What +is there can only be observed when you are there. + + +The Question of Non-Sensory Recall + +Many observed facts are not strictly facts of sensation, though +observed by means of the senses. Let us suppose, for an example, that +your attention is caught by the bright green new leaves at the tips of +the branches of an evergreen tree in summer, and that you notice also +the darker green of the older leaves further back along the branches, +and, exploring deeper, find leaves that are dead and brown, while +still further in they have all fallen off, leaving bare branches +reaching back to the trunk; so that you finally "see" how the tree is +constructed, as a hollow cone of foliage supported by an interior +framework of branches. All this has meant a lot of different reactions +on your part, and the final "seeing" of how the tree is constructed +would scarcely be called a sensation, since it has required mental +work beyond that of simply seeing the tree. It is a response +additional to the strictly sensory response of seeing the tree. + +Now the question is whether this additional response can be recalled, +without recalling at the same time the primary {374} response of +seeing the tree. Can we recall the fact observed about the tree +without at the same time seeing the tree "in the mind's eye"? Must we +necessarily have an image of the tree when we recall the way the tree +is constructed? + +Since getting the general sensory appearance of the tree, and +observing the way it is constructed, are two different responses, it +seems quite conceivable that either fact should be recalled without +the other; and no one doubts that the sensory appearance of the tree +can be recalled without the other observed fact coming up along with +it. But many authorities have held that the non-sensory fact could not +be recalled alone; in other words, they have held that every recalled +fact comes as a sensory image, or with a sensory image. Persons with +ready visual imagery are of course likely to get a visual image with +any fact they may recall. But persons whose visual imagery is hard to +arouse say that they recall facts without any visual image. I who +write these words, being such a person, testify that while I have been +writing and thinking about that tree I have not seen it before my +mind's eye. + +It is true, however, that I have had images during this time--auditory +images of words expressing the facts mentioned. Another individual +might have had kinesthetic images instead of either visual or +auditory. But can there be a recall of fact without _any_ sensory +image? + +On this question, which has been called the question of "imageless +thought", though it might better be called that of "imageless recall", +controversy has raged and is not yet at rest, so that a generally +accepted conclusion cannot be stated. But the best indications are to +the effect, first, that vague and fleeting images, especially of the +kinesthetic sort, are often present without being detected except by +very fine introspection, some image being pretty sure to come up every +few seconds when we are engaged in silent thought or {375} recall; +but, second, that images are not present every second of the time, and +that at the instant when a non-sensory fact is recalled it is apt to +be alone. + + +Hallucinations + +Since a vivid mental image may be "in all respects the same as an +actual sensation", according to the testimony of some people, the +question arises how, then, an image is distinguished from a sensation. +Well, the image does not usually fit into the objective situation +present to the senses. But if it does fit, or if the objective +situation is lost track of, then, as a matter of fact, the image may +be taken for a sensation. + +You see some beautiful roses in the florist's window, and you _smell_ +them; the odor fits into the objective situation very well, till you +notice that the shop door is shut and the window glass impervious to +odors, from which you conclude that the odor must have been your +image. + +You are lost in thought of an absent person, till, forgetting where +you are, you seem to see him entering the door; he "fits" well enough +for an instant, but then the present situation forces itself upon you +and the image takes its proper place. + +You are half asleep, almost lost to the world, and some scene comes +before you so vividly as to seem real till its oddity wakens you to +the reality of your bedroom. Or you are fully asleep, and then the +images that come are dreams and seem entirely real, since contact with +the objective situation has been broken. + +Images taken for real things are common in some forms of mental +disorder. Here the subject's hold on objective fact is weakened by his +absorption in his own desires and fears, and he hears reviling voices +and smells suspicious {376} odors or sees visions that are in line +with his desires and fears. + +Such false sensations are called "hallucinations". An hallucination is +an image taken for a sensation, a recalled fact taken for a present +objective fact. It is a sensory response, aroused by a substitute +stimulus, without the subject's noticing that it is thus aroused +instead of by its regular peripheral stimulus. + + +Synesthesia. + +Quite a large number of people are so constituted as to hear sounds as +if colored, a deep tone perhaps seeming dark blue, the sound of a +trumpet a vivid red, etc. Each vowel and even each consonant may have +its own special color, which combine to give a complex color scheme +for a word. Numbers also may be colored. This colored hearing is the +commonest form of "synesthesia", which consists in responding to a +stimulus acting on one sense, by sensations belonging to a different +sense. Whether the persons so constituted as to respond in this way +are constituted thus by nature or by experience is uncertain, though +the best guess is that the extra sensations are images that have +become firmly attached to their substitute stimuli during early +childhood. + + +Free Association + +Mental processes that depend on recall are called "associative +processes", since they make use of associations or linkages previously +formed. When some definite interest or purpose steers the associative +processes, we speak of "controlled association", contrasting this with +the "free association" that occurs in an idle mood, when one thought +simply calls up another with no object in view and no more than +fleeting desires to give direction to the sequence of thoughts. + +_Revery_ affords the best example of free association. I {377} see my +neighbor's dog out of my window, and am reminded of one time when I +took charge of that dog while my neighbor was away, and then of my +neighbor's coming back and taking the dog from the cellar where I had +shut him up; next of my neighbor's advice with respect to an +automobile collision in which I was concerned; next of the stranger +with whom I had collided, and of the stranger's business address on +the card which he gave me; next comes a query as to this stranger's +line of business and whether he was well-to-do; and from there my +thoughts switch naturally to the high cost of living. + +This is rather a drab, middle-aged type of revery, and youth might +show more life and color; but the linkages between one thought and the +next are typical of any revery. The linkages belong in the category of +"facts previously observed". I had previously observed the ownership +of this dog by my neighbor, and this observation linked the dog and +the neighbor and enabled the dog to recall the neighbor to my mind. +Most of the linkages in this revery are quite concrete, but some are +rather abstract, such as the connection between being well-to-do (or +not) and the high cost of living; but, concrete or abstract, they are +connections previously observed by the subject. Sometimes the linkage +keeps the thoughts within the sphere of the same original experience, +and sometimes switches them from one past experience to another, or +even away from any specific past experience to general considerations; +yet always the linkage has this character, that the item that now acts +as stimulus has been formerly combined in observation with the other +item that now follows as the response. One fact recalls another when +the two have been previously observed as belonging together. + +But suppose, as is commonly the case, that the fact now present in my +mind has been linked, in different past {378} experiences, with +several different facts. Then two questions demand our attention: +whether all these facts are recalled; and, if not, what gives the +advantage to the fact actually recalled over the others that are not +recalled. + +The answer to the first question is plain. The fact first present in +mind does not call up all the associated facts, but usually only one +of them, or at least only one at a time. My neighbor, in the example +given, though previously associated with a dozen other facts, now +calls up but two of these facts, and those two not simultaneously but +one after the other. We see a law here that is very similar to a law +stated under the head of attention. There, we said that of all the +objects before us that might be noticed only one was noticed at a +time; and here we say that of all the objects that might be recalled +to mind by association only one is recalled at a time. Both statements +can be combined into the one general "law of reaction" which was +mentioned before, that of all the responses linked to a given stimulus +(or complex of stimuli) only one is actually aroused at the same +instant, though several may be aroused in succession, provided the +stimulus continues. + +In revery, the stimulus usually does not continue. The first fact +thought of gives way to the fact that it recalls, and that to one that +it recalls in turn, and so on, without much dwelling on any fact. But +if we do dwell on any fact--as upon the thought of a certain +person--then this stimulus, continuing to act, calls up in succession +quite a number of associated facts. + +If, then, only one of the several facts associated with the stimulus +is recalled at once, our second question presents itself, as to what +are the factors of advantage that cause one rather than another of the +possible responses to occur. The fact first in mind might have called +up any one of several facts, having been linked with each of them in +past {379} experience; and we want to know why it recalls one of these +facts rather than the rest. + +The factors of advantage in recall are the factors that determine the +strength of linkage between two facts; and they are: + + the _frequency_ with which the linkage has occurred; + the _recency_ with which it has occurred; and + the _intensity_ with which it has occurred. + +If I have frequently observed the connection of two facts, the linkage +between them is strong; if I have recently observed their connection, +the linkage between them is strong till the "recency value" dies away; +and if my observation of the connection of the two facts was a vivid +experience, or intense reaction, then, also, the linkage between them +is strong. If these three factors of advantage work together in favor +of the same response, then that response is sure to occur; but if the +three factors pull different ways, we should have to figure out the +balance of advantage before we could predict which of the possible +responses would actually be made. Naturally enough, even the skilful +psychologist is often unable to strike the balance between the three +factors. He does know, however, and all of us know in a practical way, +that strong recency value offsets a lot of frequency; so that a mere +vague allusion to a very recent topic of conversation can be depended +on to recall the right facts to the hearer's mind, even though they +lie outside of his habitual line of interest. "James", by virtue of +frequency, means your brother or friend; but after the lecturer has +been talking about the psychologist James, repetition of this name +infallibly recalls the psychologist to mind. + +Besides frequency, recency and intensity, there is, indeed, another +factor to be taken into account; and that is the {380} present state +of the subject's mind. If he is unhappy, unpleasant associations have +the advantage; if happy, pleasant. If he is absorbed in a given +matter, facts related to that matter have the advantage. Frequency, +recency and intensity summarize the _history_ of associations, and +measure their strength as dependent on their history; but the present +state of mind is an additional directive factor, and when it has much +to do with recall, we speak of directed or controlled association. + +Before we pass to the topic of controlled association, however, there +is another form of free association, quite different from revery, to +be examined. There is an experiment, called the _free association +test_, in which the subject is given a series of words as stimuli, and +is asked to respond to each word by speaking some other word, the +first that is recalled by the stimulus. No special kind of word need +be given in response, but simply the _first word recalled_. Though +this is called free association, it is controlled to the extent that +the response must be a word, and the result is very different from +revery. Instead of the recall of concrete facts from past experience, +there is recall of words. If you give the subject the stimulus word, +"table", his response is "chair" or "dinner", etc., and often he does +not think of any particular table, but simply of the word. Words are +so often linked one with another that it is no wonder that one recalls +another automatically. What particular word shall be recalled depends +on the frequency, recency and intensity of past linkage. + +Though this form of test seems so simple as almost to be silly, it is +of use in several ways. When a large number of stimulus words are +used, and the responses classified, some persons are found to favor +linkages that have a personal significance--"egocentric responses", +these are called--while other persons run to connections that are +{381} impersonal and objective. Thus the test throws some light on the +individual's _habits_ of attention. The test has also a "detective" +use, based upon the great efficacy of the factor of _recency_; you may +be able by it to tell whether an individual has recently had a certain +matter in mind. If he happens to be an individual who has recently +committed some crime, properly selected stimulus words will lead him +to recall the scene of the crime, and thus to make responses that +betray him, unless he checks them and so arouses suspicion by his +hesitation. Another use of the test is for unearthing a person's +emotional "complexes", which of course possess a high _intensity_ +value. If the subject shows hesitation and embarrassment in responding +to words referring to money, the indication is that he is emotionally +disturbed over the state of his finances. One person who consulted a +doctor for nervousness made peculiar responses to stimulus words +relating to the family, and was discovered to be much disturbed over +his family's opposition to his projected marriage. The free +association test is useful rather as giving the experienced +psychologist hints to be followed up than as furnishing sure proof of +the contents of the subject's mind. + + +Controlled Association + +There is a controlled association test conducted like this one in free +association, except that the subject is required to respond to each +stimulus word by a word standing in a specified relation to it. To one +series of words he must respond by saying their opposites; to another, +by mentioning a part of each object named; to another series, +consisting of names of countries, he must respond by naming as quickly +as possible the capital of each country named; and there are many +tests of this sort, each dealing with some class of relationships +which, being often observed, are easily handled {382} by a person of +normal intelligence. The intelligent subject makes few errors in such +a test, and responds in very quick time. Indeed, the remarkable fact +is that he takes less time to respond in an easy controlled +association test than in the free association test; which shows that +the "control" acts not simply to limit the response, but also to +_facilitate_ it. + +The "control" here is often called by the name of "mental set". It is +a good example of a "reaction tendency". On being told you are to give +opposites, you somehow set or adjust your mental machinery for making +this type of response. The mental set thus thrown into action +facilitates responses of the required type, while inhibiting other +responses that would readily occur in the absence of any directive +tendency. If the word "good" came as a stimulus word in a free +association test, it might easily arouse the responses, "good day", +"good night", "good boy", "good better", and many besides, since all +of these combinations have been frequently used in the past; and the +balance of frequency, recency and intensity might favor any one of +these responses. But when the subject is set for opposites, the +balance of these factors has little force as against the mental set. +The mental set for opposites favors the revival of such combinations +as "new--old", "good--bad", and such others of this class as have been +noted and used in the subject's past experience. + +Mental set is a selective factor, a factor of advantage. It does not +supersede the previously formed associations, or work independently of +them, but selects from among them the one which fits the present task. +Does it get in its work after recall has done its part, or before? +Does it wait till recall has brought up a number of responses, and +then pick out the one that fills the bill? No, it often works much too +quickly for that, giving the right response instantly; and +introspection is often perfectly clear that none but the right {383} +response is recalled at all. The selective influence of the mental set +is exerted _before recall_; it facilitates the right recall and +inhibits recall of any but the right response. + +In controlled association, as in free association, only one of the +facts previously linked with the stimulus is recalled at a time; but +while in free association the factors of frequency, recency and +intensity of past linkage determine which of the many possible facts +shall be recalled, in controlled association the additional factor of +mental set is present and has a controlling influence in determining +which fact shall be recalled. Thus, in an opposites test, the stimulus +word "good" promptly calls up the pair "good--bad", because the mental +set for opposites gives this response a great advantage over "good +night" and other responses which may have a very strong linkage with +the stimulus word. + +The mental set is itself a response to a stimulus. It is an inner +response thrown into activity by some stimulus, such as the stimulus +of being asked to give the opposites of a series of words that are +presently to be shown or spoken. This inner response of getting ready +for the task can be introspectively observed by a person who is new to +this type of test. It may take the form of mentally running over +examples of opposites--or whatever kind of responses are to be called +for--or it may take the form of calling up some image or diagram or +gesture that symbolizes the task. A visual image of the nose on the +face may serve as a symbol of the part-whole relationship, a small +circle inside a larger one may symbolize the relation of an object to +a class of objects, and gesturing first to the right and then to the +left may symbolize the relationship of opposites. But as the subject +grows accustomed to a given task, these conscious symbols fade away, +and nothing remains except a general "feeling of readiness" or of +"knowing what you are {384} about". The mental set remains in force, +however, and is no less efficient for becoming almost unconscious. + + +Examples of Controlled Association + +Dwelling so long on the test for controlled association may have +created the impression that this is a rather artificial and unusual +type of mental performance; but in reality controlled association is a +very representative mental process, and enters very largely into all +forms of mental work. This is true in arithmetical work, for example. +A pair of numbers, such as 8 and 3, has been linked in past experience +with several responses; it means 83, it means 11, it means 5, and it +means 24. But if you are adding, it means 11, and no other response +occurs; if you are multiplying, it means 24, and only that response +occurs. The mental set for multiplying facilitates the responses of +the multiplication table and inhibits those of the addition table, +while the mental set for adding does the reverse. Rapid adding or +multiplying would be impossible without an efficient mental set. Thus +in arithmetic, as in the tests, the mental set is an inner response to +the _task_. + +In reading, there is a mental set which is an inner response to the +_context_, and which determines which of the several well-known +meanings of a word shall actually be called to mind when the word is +read. Presented alone, a word may call up any of its meanings, +according to frequency, etc.; but in context it usually brings to mind +just the one meaning that fits the context. The same is true of +conversation. + +The objective _situation_ arouses a mental set that controls both +thought and action. The situation of being in church, for example, +determines the meanings that are got from the words heard, and +controls the motor behavior to {385} fit the occasion. The subject, +observing the situation, adjusts himself to it, perhaps without any +conscious effort, and his adjustment facilitates appropriate mental +and motor reactions, while inhibiting others. + +A _problem_ arouses a mental set directed towards solution of the +problem. A difficult problem, however, differs from a context or +familiar task or situation in this important respect, that the +appropriate response has not been previously linked with the present +stimulus, so that, in spite of ever so good a mental set, the right +response cannot immediately be recalled. One must _search_ for the +right response. Still, the mental set is useful here, in directing the +search, and keeping it from degenerating into an aimless running +hither and thither. Problem solution is so different a process from +smooth-running controlled association that it deserves separate +treatment, which will be given it a few chapters further on, under the +caption of reasoning. + +{386} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. The rating of images belonging under different senses. Try to + call up the images prescribed below, and rate each image according + to the following scale: + + _3. . . . The image is practically the same as a sensation, as bright, + full, incisive, and, in short, possessed of genuine + sensory quality_. + + _2. . . . The image has a moderate degree of sensory quality_. + + _1. . . . The image has only faint traces of sensory quality_. + + _0. . . . No sensory image is called up, though there was a + recall of the fact mentioned_. + + Call up visual images of: a friend's face, a sun flower, a white + house among trees, your own signature written in ink. + + Call up auditory images of: the sound of your friend's voice, a + familiar song, an automobile horn, the mewing of a cat. + + Call up olfactory images of: the odor of coffee, of new-mown hay, of + tar, of cheese. + + Call up gustatory images of: sugar, salt, bitter, acid. + + Call up cutaneous images of: the feel of velvet, a lump of ice, a + pencil held against the tip of your nose, a pin pricking your + finger. + + Call up kinesthetic imagery of: lifting a heavy weight, reaching up + to a high shelf, opening your mouth wide, kicking a ball. + + Call up organic imagery of: feeling hungry, feeling thirsty, feeling + nausea, feeling buoyant. + + In case of which sense do you get the most lifelike imagery, and in + case of which sense the least. By finding the average rating given + to the images of each sense, you can arrange the senses in order, + from the one in which your imagery rates highest to the one in which + it rates lowest. It may be best to try more cases before reaching a + final decision on this matter. + +3. Verbal imagery. When you think of a word, do you have a visual, + auditory, or kinesthetic image of it--or how does it come? + +4. In reading, notice how much imagery of objects, persons, scenes, + sounds, etc., occurs spontaneously. + +5. Analysis of a revery. Take any object as your starting point, + and let your mind wander from that wherever it will for a minute. + {387} Then review and record the series of thoughts, and try to + discover the linkages between them. + +6. Free association experiment. Respond to each one of a list of + disconnected words by saying the first word suggested by it. Use + the following list: city, war, bird, potato, day, ocean, insect, + mountain, tree, roof. + +7. Controlled association, (a) Use the same list of stimulus words + as above, but respond to each by a word meaning the _opposite_ or + at least something contrasting, (b) Repeat, naming a _part_ of the + object designated by each of these same words, (c) Repeat again, + naming an _instance_ or variety of each of the objects named. Did + you find wrong responses coming up, or did the mental set exclude + them altogether? + +8. Write on a sheet of paper ten pairs of one-place numbers, each + pair in a little column with a line drawn below, as in addition or + multiplication examples. See how long it takes you to _add_, and + again how long it takes to _multiply_ all ten. Which task took the + longer, and why? Did you notice any interference, such as thinking + of a sum when you were "set" for products? + +9. Free association test for students of psychology. Respond to + each of the following stimulus words by the first word suggested by + it of a psychological character: + + conditioned + objective + gregarious + delayed + correlation + fear + negative + end-brush + mastery + rat + pyramidal + submission + stimulus + semicircular + feeling-tone + substitute + kinesthetic + primary + axon + advantage + tension + synapse + field + blend + autonomic + quotient + rod + retention + limit + fovea + nonsense + apraxia + saturated + higher + thalamus + red-green + paired + organic + complementary + economy + tendency + after + exploration + preparatory + basilar + recency + native + fluctuation + curve + endocrine + dot + perseveration + expressive + Binet + synesthesia + James-Lange + frontal + facilitation + flexion + overlapping + +{388} + +REFERENCES + +On imagery, synesthesia, etc., see Gallon's _Inquiries into Human +Faculty and Its Development_, 1883, pp. 57-112; and for more recent +studies of imagery see G. H. Betts on _The Distribution and Function +of Mental Imagery_, 1909, and Mabel R. Fernald on _The Diagnosis of +Mental Imagery_, 1912. + +On the diagnostic use of the association test, an extensive work is +that of C. G. Jung, _Studies in Word-Association_, translated by Eder, +1919. + + +{389} + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE LAWS OF ASSOCIATION + +AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE LEARNING PROCESS TO ITS ELEMENTS + + +This is a very serious occasion. What we now have before us is one of +the great outstanding problems of psychology, a problem that has come +down through the ages, with succeeding generations of psychological +thinkers contributing of their best to its solution; and our task is +to attack this problem afresh in the light of modern knowledge of the +facts of learning and memory. We wish to gather up the threads from +the three preceding chapters, which have detailed many facts regarding +learned reactions of all sorts, and see whether we cannot summarize +our accumulated knowledge in the form of a few great laws. We wish +also to relate our laws to what is known of the brain machinery. + + +The Law of Exercise + +Of one law of learning, we are perfectly sure. There is no doubt that +the exercise of a reaction strengthens it, makes it more precise and +more smooth-running, and gives it an advantage over alternative +reactions which have not been exercised. Evidence for these statements +began to appear as soon as we turned the corner into this part of our +subject, and has accumulated ever since. This law is sometimes called +the "law of habit", but might better be called the "law of improvement +of a reaction through exercise", or, more briefly, the "law of +exercise". + +{390} + +The law of exercise is very broad in its scope, holding good of life +generally and not alone of mental life. Exercise of a muscle develops +the muscle, exercise of a gland develops the gland; and, in the same +way, exercise of a mental reaction strengthens the machinery used in +making that reaction. + +Let us restate the law in terms of stimulus and response. _When a +given stimulus arouses a certain response, the linkage between that +stimulus and that response is improved by the exercise so obtained_, +and thereafter the stimulus arouses the response more surely, more +promptly, more strongly than before. + +Under the law of exercise belong several _sub-laws_ already familiar +to us. + +1. The law of _frequency_ refers to the cumulative effect of repeated +exercise. The practice curve gives a picture of this sub-law, showing +how improvement with repeated exercise of a performance is rapid at +first and tapers off into the physiological limit, beyond which level +more repetition cannot further improve the performance. The +superiority of "spaced study" over unspaced means that exercise is +more effective when rest periods intervene between the periods of +exercise; as this is notoriously true of muscular exercise, it is not +surprising to find it true of mental performances as well. + +2. The law of _recency_ refers to the gradual weakening of the +machinery for executing a reaction when no longer exercised; it is the +general biological law of "atrophy through disuse" applied to the +special case of learned reactions. As exercise improves the linkage +between stimulus and response, so disuse allows the linkage to +deteriorate. This law is pictured more completely and quantitatively +in the curve of forgetting. + +Really, there are two laws of recency, the one being a {391} law of +retention, the other a law of momentary warming up through exercise. +The law of retention, or of forgetting, is the same as atrophy through +disuse. The warming-up effect, well seen in the muscle which is +sluggish after a long rest but becomes lively and responsive after a +bit of exercise, [Footnote: See p. 73.] appears also in the fact that +a skilled act needs to be done a few times in quick succession before +it reaches its highest efficiency, and in the fact of "primary +memory", the lingering of a sensation or thought for a few moments +after the stimulus that aroused it has ceased. Primary memory is not +strictly memory, since it does not involve the recall of facts that +have dropped out of mind, but just a new emphasis on facts that have +not yet completely dropped out. Warming up is not a phenomenon of +learning, but it is a form of recency, and is responsible for the very +strong "recency value" that is sometimes a help in learning, +[Footnote: See p. 345.] and sometimes a hindrance in recall. +[Footnote: See p. 356.] + +3. The law of _intensity_ simply means that vigorous exercise +strengthens a reaction more than weak exercise. This is to be +expected, but the question is, in the case of mental performances, how +to secure vigorous exercise. Well, by active recitation as compared +with passive reception, by close attention, by high level observation. +In active recitation, the memorizer strongly exercises the performance +that he is trying to master, while in reading the lesson over and over +he is giving less intense exercise to the same performance. + + +The Law of Effect + +We come now to a law which has not so accepted a standing as the law +of exercise, and which may perhaps be another sub-law under that +general law. The "law of effect" may, however, be regarded simply as a +generalized statement of {392} the facts of learning by trial and +error. The cat, in learning the trick of escaping from a cage by +turning the door-button, makes and therefore exercises a variety of +reactions; and you might expect, then, in accordance with the law of +exercise, that all of these reactions would be more and more firmly +linked to the cage-situation, instead of the successful reaction +gradually getting the advantage and the unsuccessful being eliminated. +The law of effect, stated as objectively as possible, is simply that +the successful or unsuccessful outcome or _effect_ of a reaction +determines whether it shall become firmly linked with the stimulus, or +detached from the stimulus and thus eliminated. _The linkage of a +response to a stimulus is strengthened when the response is a success, +and weakened when the response is a failure_. + +Success here means reaching the goal of an awakened desire or +_reaction-tendency_, and failure means being stopped or hindered from +reaching the goal. Since success is satisfying and failure unpleasant, +the law of effect is often stated in another form: a response that +brings satisfaction is more and more firmly attached to the situation +and reaction-tendency, while a response that brings pain or +dissatisfaction is detached. + +The law of effect is a statement of fact, but the question is whether +it is an ultimate fact, or whether it can be explained as a special +case of the law of exercise. Some have suggested that it is but a +special case of the sub-law of frequency; they call attention to the +fact that the successful response must be made at every trial, since +the trial continues till success is attained, whereas no one +unsuccessful response need be made at every trial; therefore in the +long run the successful response must gain the frequency advantage. +But there is a very ready and serious objection to this argument; for +it may and does happen that an unsuccessful response is repeated +several times during a single {393} trial, while the successful +response is never made more than once in a single trial, since success +brings the trial to a close; and thus, as a matter of fact, frequency +often favors the unsuccessful response--which, nevertheless, loses out +in competition with the successful response. + +Can the law of effect be interpreted as an instance of the sub-law of +recency? The successful reaction always occurs at the end of a trial, +and is the most recent reaction at the beginning of the next trial. +This recency might have considerable importance if the next trial +began instantly (as in unspaced learning), but can have no importance +when so long as interval as a day is left between trials; for +evidently the recency of twenty-four hours plus ten seconds is not +effectively different from that of an even twenty-four hours. Recency, +then, does not explain the law of effect. + +Can it be explained as an instance of the sub-law of intensity? An +animal, or man, who sees success coming as he is making the reaction +that leads directly to success, throws himself unreservedly into this +reaction, in contrast with his somewhat hesitant and exploratory +behavior up to that time. The dammed-up energy of the +reaction-tendency finds a complete outlet into the successful +reaction, and therefore the successful reaction is more intensely +exercised than the unsuccessful. This seems like a pretty good +explanation, though perhaps not a complete explanation. + + +Limitations of the Law of Exercise + +The law of exercise, with all its sub-laws, is certainly fundamental +and universal; it is always in operation whenever anything is learned; +and yet, just by itself, it goes only halfway towards accounting for +learned reactions. For a reaction to be exercised, it must be _made_, +and the law of exercise presupposes that it is made, and does not +attempt to account for its being made in the first place. + +{394} + +The law of exercise does not cover the formation of new linkages, but +only the strengthening of linkages that are already working. It does +not explain the attachment of a response to some other than its +natural stimulus, nor the combination, of responses into a higher +unit, nor the association of two facts so that one later recalls the +other. We learn by doing, but how can we do anything new so as to +start to learn? We learn by observing combinations of facts, but how +in the first place do we combine the facts in our minds? + +How, for example, can we learn to respond to the sight of the person +by saying his name? Evidently, by exercising this linkage of stimulus +and response. But how did we ever make a start in responding thus, +since there is nothing about the person's looks to suggest his name? +The name came to us through the ear, and the face by way of the eye; +and if we repeated the name, that was a response to the auditory +stimulus and not to the visual. How has it come about, then, that we +later respond to the visual stimulus by saying the name? + +In short, the more seriously we take the law of exercise, the more we +feel the need of a supplementary law to provide for the first making +of a reaction that then, by virtue of exercise, is strengthened. + +This is the problem that occupied the older writers on psychology when +they dealt with "association"; and their solution of the problem was +formulated in the famous "laws of association". The laws of +association were attempts to explain how facts got associated, so that +later one could recall another. + +These laws have a long history. From Aristotle, the ancient Greek who +first wrote books on psychology, there came down to modern times four +laws of association. Facts become associated, according to Aristotle, +when they are {395} contiguous (or close together) in space, or when +they are contiguous in time, or when they resemble each other, or when +they contrast with each other. The psychologists of the earlier modern +period, in the eighteenth and first part of the nineteenth centuries, +labored with very good success to reduce these four laws to one +comprehensive law of association. Contiguity in space and in time were +combined into a law of association by _contiguity in experience_, +since evidently mere physical contiguity between two objects could +establish no association between them in any one's mind except as he +experienced them together. + + +Association by Similarity + +Continuing their simplification of the laws of association, these +older psychologists showed that resemblance and contrast belonged +together, since to be similar things must have something in common, +and to be contrasted also two things must have something in common. +You contrast north with south, a circle and a square, an automobile +and a wheelbarrow; but no one thinks of contrasting north with a +circle, south with an automobile, or a square and a wheelbarrow, +though these pairs are more incongruous than the others. Things that +are actually associated as contrasting with each other have something +in common; and therefore association by contrast could be included +under association by similarity. Thus the four laws had been reduced +to two, association by contiguity and association by similarity. + +The final step in this reduction was to show that association by +similarity was a special case of association by contiguity. To be +similar, two things must have something in common, and this common +part, being contiguous with the remainder of each of the two things, +establishes an indirect contiguity between the two things, a {396} +sort of contiguity bridge between them. One thing has the parts or +characteristics, A B X Y, and the similar thing has the parts or +characteristics, C D X Y; and thus X Y, when seen in the second thing, +call up A B, with which they are contiguous in the first thing. + +A stranger reminds me of my friend because something in the stranger's +face or manner has been met with before in my friend; it has been +contiguous with my friend, and recalls him by virtue of this +contiguity. The stranger, as a whole individual, has never been +contiguous with my friend, but some characteristic of the stranger has +been thus contiguous. In association by similarity, it is not the +whole present object that arouses recall of the similar object, but +some _part_ of the present object. This kind of association is +important in thinking, since it brings together facts from different +past experiences, and thus assembles data that may be applied to a new +problem. If every new object or situation could only be taken as a +whole, it could not remind me of anything previously met; and I should +be like an inexperienced child in the presence of each new problem; +but, taken part by part, the novel situation has been met with before, +and can be handled in the light of past experience. + +Exactly what there is in common between two similar faces or other +objects cannot always be clearly made out; but the common +characteristic is there, even if not consciously isolated, and acts as +an effective stimulus to recall. + + +Association by Contiguity + +This reduction of all the laws of association to one great law was no +mean achievement; and the law of association by contiguity in +experience holds good. If one thing recalls another to your mind, you +can be sure that the two {397} have been contiguous in your +experience, either as wholes or piecemeal. For two things to become +associated, they must be experienced together. + +Yes, the law holds good, when thus stated--but notice that the +statement is virtually negative. It says, in effect, that two things +do _not_ become associated _unless_ they are contiguous in experience. +If it were turned about to read that two things do become associated +if they are contiguous in experience, it would no longer be a true +law, for the exceptions would then be extremely numerous. + +The memory and testimony experiments have brought many exceptions to +light. Show a person twenty pictures in a row, and let him examine +each one in turn so closely that he can later recognize every one of +them; and still he will not have the adjacent pictures so associated +that each one can call up the next in order. To accomplish his last +task, he has to observe the order specifically; it is not enough that +he simply experiences pictures together. Or, again, read to a person +twenty pairs of words, asking him to notice the pairs so that later he +can respond by the second word of any pair when the first word is +given him; and read the list through three or four times, so that he +shall be able to make almost a perfect score in the expected test; +still he will have formed few associations between the contiguous +pairs, and will make a very low score if you ask him to recite the +pairs in order. Many similar experiments have yielded the same general +result--contiguity in experience and still no association. + +The law of association by contiguity is unsatisfactory from a modern +standpoint because it treats only of the stimulus, and says nothing +about the response. It states, quite truly, that stimuli must be +contiguous in order that an association between them may be formed, +but it neglects to state that the association, being something in us, +must {398} be formed by our reaction to the stimuli. It is especially +necessary to consider the response because, as we have just seen, the +response is not always made and the association, therefore, not always +formed. Only if the stimuli are contiguous, can the associating +response be aroused, but they do not infallibly arouse it even if they +are contiguous. + +The law of contiguity is incomplete, also, because it is not +applicable to the association of two motor acts into a coördinated +higher unit, or of the combination of two primary emotions into a +higher emotional unit. + +In a word, the time-honored law of association is no longer +satisfactory because it does not fit into a stimulus-response +psychology. It comes down from a time when the motor side of mental +performances was largely overlooked by psychology, and when the +individual was pictured as being passively "impressed" with the +combinations of facts that were presented to his senses. + + +The Law of Combination + +What we need, then, as an improvement on the old law of association by +contiguity, and as a supplement to the law of exercise, is some law +governing the response to two or more contiguous stimuli. Now we +already have such a law, which we put to some use in studying +attention, [Footnote: See pp. 268-264.] and called the law of +"combination", or of "unitary response to a plurality of stimuli". We +had better fetch that law out again and put it in good repair, and see +whether it is adequate for the job that we now have on hand. In a very +general, abstract form, the law of combination read that "two or more +stimuli may arouse a single joint response". Let us add a single word, +which had not risen above the horizon when we formulated the law +before, and say that {399} _two or more contiguous stimuli may arouse +a single joint response_. + +That seems very little to say; can we possibly go far with so simple a +statement? Well, let us see. In saying that two or more stimuli arouse +a single response, we imply that _there is already some rudimentary +linkage between each stimulus and their common response, and that this +linkage is used in arousing the response_. Now bring in our trusty law +of exercise, and we see that the use, or exercise, of such a linkage +may strengthen it to such an extent that, _later, a single one of the +stimuli may arouse the response which was originally aroused by the +whole collection of stimuli_. + +Does that promise any better? Probably it requires further discussion +and exemplification before its value can be appreciated. Let us, then, +first discuss it a bit, and then apply it to the explanation of the +chief varieties of learned reaction that have come to our attention. + +The law of combination attempts to show how it comes about that a +stimulus, originally unable to arouse a certain response, acquires the +power of arousing it; and the law states that this occurs only when +the originally ineffective stimulus is combined with others which can +and do arouse the response. The ineffective stimulus, being one of a +combination of stimuli which collectively arouse the response, +participates to some slight degree in arousing that response and may +thus become effectively linked with the response. + +Notice an assumption underlying the law of combination. Evidently a +stimulus could not take part in arousing a response unless there were +some pre-existing linkage between it and the response. This linkage +may however be extremely loose and feeble, and wholly incapable by +itself of arousing the response. The assumption of pre-existing loose +linkage between almost any stimulus and almost any response is +justified by the facts of playful behavior and trial and error {400} +behavior. In addition to the close reflex connections provided in the +native constitution, and in addition also to the close connections +formed in previous training, there are at any time, and especially in +childhood and youth, a vast number of loose connections. These are too +weak to operate singly, until they have coöperated in producing a +response, and thus been individually strengthened, after which they +may be able singly to produce the response. + +The law of combination, then, as applied to learning, includes four points: + + (a) A collection of stimuli may work together and arouse a single + response. + + (b) This is possible because of pre-existing loose linkage between + the separate stimuli and the response. + + (c) When any stimulus, working together with others, helps to arouse + a response, its linkage with that response is strengthened by + exercise. + + (d) The linkage may be sufficiently strengthened so that a single + stimulus can arouse the response without help from the other + stimuli that were originally necessary. + +Having now abundantly stated and reiterated the law of combination in +the abstract, let us turn to concrete instances of learned reactions, +and see how the law takes care of them. We have already classified a +large share of all the concrete instances under a few main heads, as +substitute stimulus, substitute response, combination (or association) +of stimuli, and combination of responses. We shall presently find it +possible to reduce these four classes to two, since the association of +two objects, by virtue of which one of them later recalls the other, +is a rather complicated case of substitute stimulus, while the +combination of movements into a higher unit is a complicated case of +substitute response. + + [Footnote: To distinguish between "substitute stimulus" and + "substitute response" is, in strict logic, like distinguishing + between "inside out" and "outside in." Whenever there is a + substitute stimulus there is also a substitute response, of course, + since this stimulus, in being substituted for another, gets that + other's response in place of its own original response; and in the + same way, you can always find substitute stimulus in any instance of + substitute response; for, in being substituted for another, a + response gets that other's stimulus in place of its own original + stimulus. For all that, the distinction between the two main cases + of learning is of some importance, since sometimes the changed + stimulus, and sometimes the changed response, is the interesting + fact.] + +{401} + +I. SUBSTITUTE STIMULUS EXPLAINED BY THE LAW OF COMBINATION + +Here the response, without being itself essentially changed, becomes +attached to a new stimulus. We distinguish two cases under the general +head of substitute stimulus. In the one case, the substitute stimulus +was originally extraneous, and unnecessary for arousing the response, +while in the other case it was originally necessary as part of a team +of stimuli that aroused the response. + + +A. Substitute Stimulus Originally Unnecessary for Arousing the +Response + +1. Conditioned reflex. + +This is the very simplest case belonging under the law of combination. +The dog that responded to the bell by a flow of saliva, after the bell +plus a tasting substance had acted together on him time after time, is +the typical instance; and another good instance is that of the little +child who was "taught" to shrink from a rabbit by the sounding of a +harsh noise along with the showing of the rabbit. [Footnote: See p. +303.] The explanation of all instances of conditioned reflex is the +same. We have an effective stimulus acting, i.e., a stimulus strongly +linked with the response; and we also have acting an ineffective +stimulus, which gets drawn into the same reaction. The effective +stimulus determines what response shall be made, and the other +stimulus finds an outlet {402} into that response, being, as it seems, +attracted towards the activated response, sucked into it. The weak +linkage from the ineffective stimulus to the response, being thus used +and strengthened, later enables this stimulus to arouse the response +single-handed. + +This sort of thing is best presented in a diagram. A full line in the +diagram denotes a linkage strong enough to work alone, while a dotted +line denotes a weak linkage. Letters stand for stimuli and responses. +In the diagram for conditioned reflex, A is the original effective +stimulus (the rasping noise in the instance of the child and the +rabbit), and B is the ineffective stimulus (the sight of the rabbit). +R is the shrinking response, linked strongly to the stimulus A and +only weakly to the stimulus B, which has several other linkages fully +as good as the linkage B-R. But A arouses the response R; and R, being +thus activated, draws on B and brings the linkage B-R into use. After +this has occurred a number of times, the linkage B-R has been so +strengthened by repeated exercise that it can operate alone, so that +the rabbit brings the shrinking response even in the absence of A, the +noise. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 55.--Attachment of the substitute stimulus in the +case of the conditioned reflex.] + + +At first, the child shrinks from the noise, but, the rabbit being +before his eyes, he incidentally shrinks from the rabbit as well. He +really shrinks in response to all the stimuli acting on him at that +moment. He shrinks from the whole situation. He makes a unitary +response to the whole collection of contiguous stimuli, and thus +exercises the linkage between each stimulus and their joint response. +The {403} linkage between rabbit and shrinking is later strong enough +to work alone. It is a clear case of the law of combination. + + +2. Learning the names of things. + +A child who can imitate simple words that he hears is shown a penny +and the word "penny" is spoken to him. To this combination of stimuli +he responds by saying the word. This is primarily a response to the +auditory stimulus, since the sight of the penny, though it might +probably have aroused some response, and even some vocal response from +the child, had no strong linkage with this particular vocal response. +But the auditory stimulus determined the response, and attracted the +visual stimulus into this particular channel of saying "penny". The +linkage from the sight of the penny to the saying of this word being +thus strengthened by exercise, the seen penny later gives the right +vocal response, without any auditory stimulus to assist. + + + [Illustration: Fig. 56.--Linkage of a name to an object. The diagram + is arranged to illustrate the formation of a linkage from the sight + of the object to saying its name. A very similar diagram would + illustrate the linkage from the name to the thought or image of the + object. The acquiring of mental images seems to be essentially the + same process as the acquiring of conditioned reflexes, and of names. + (Figure text: object seen, various possible responses, name heard, + name spoken)] + + +{404} + +B. Substitute Stimulus Originally an Essential Member Of A Team of +Stimuli That Aroused the Response + +1. Observed grouping or relationship. + +"Learning by observation" is a very important human accomplishment, +and we found many evidences of its importance in our study of the +process of memorizing. The facts observed, which assist memory so +greatly, are usually relations or groups. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 57.--The formation of an association between two +objects by observing their grouping or relationship. (Figure text: +response of observing the Group A B, thought of Group A B)] + + +Evidently the observation of a group of things is a response to a +collection of stimuli, and could not originally be aroused by any one +of the stimuli alone. The same is true of observing a relationship; +the observation is a response to two things taken together, and not, +originally, to either of the two things taken alone. In spite of this, +a single one of the things may later call to mind the relationship, or +the group; that is, it arouses the response originally made to the +pair or group of stimuli. The single stimulus has been substituted for +the team that originally aroused the response. Its linkage with the +response has been so strengthened by exercise as to operate +effectively without assistance. + +For example, in learning pairs of words in a "paired {405} associates +experiment", [Footnote: See p. 336.] the subject is apt to find some +relation between the words forming a pair, even though they are +supposed to be "unrelated words". When he has thus learned the pair, +either of the words in it will recall the observed relation and the +other word of the pair. Sometimes, after a long interval especially, +the relation is recalled without the other word. One subject fixed the +pair, "windy--occupy", by thinking of a sailor occupying a windy perch +up in the ropes. Some weeks later, on being given the word "windy", he +recalled the sailor on the perch, but could not get the word "occupy". +That is, he made the same response to "windy" that he had originally +made to "windy--occupy", but did not get the response completely +enough to give the second word. + +In the typical cases of _association by contiguity_ when one object +reminds us of another that was formerly experienced together with it, +the law of combination comes in as just described. The two objects +were observed to be grouped or related in some way, or some such +unitary response was made to the two objects taken together, and this +response became so linked to each of the objects that later a single +one of them arouses this unitary response and recalls the other +object. In the free association test, [Footnote: See p. 380.] the +stimulus word "dimple" calls up the previously made response of seeing +a dimple in a cheek, and so leads to the word "cheek". In a controlled +association test, where opposites are required, the stimulus word +"mythical" arouses the previously made observation of the antithesis +of mythical and historical, and so leads to the motor response of +saying the latter word. + + [Footnote: When, however, this indirect linkage between stimulus and + motor response is frequently exercised, short-circuiting takes place + (see p. 338), and the stimulus word arouses the motor response + directly. Short-circuiting follows the law of combination very + nicely. Let a stimulus S arouse an idea I and this in turn a motor + act M. S--I--M represents the linkages used. But undoubtedly there + is a weak pre-existing linkage directly across from S to M, and this + gets used to a slight degree, strictly according to the conditioned + reflex diagram, with I playing the part of the effective stimulus in + arousing M, and S the part of the originally ineffective stimulus. + By dint of being exercised in this way, the linkage S--M becomes + strong enough to arouse the motor response directly, and I is then + very likely to be left out altogether.] + + +{406} + +2. Response by analogy and association by similarity. + +When an object reminds me of a similar object, that is association by +similarity. But suppose I actually take the object to be the similar +object, and behave towards it accordingly; then my reaction is called +"response by analogy". Once, when far from home, I saw a man whom I +took to be an acquaintance from my home town, and stepped up to him, +extending my hand. He did not appear very enthusiastic, and informed +me that, in his opinion, I had made a mistake. This was response by +analogy, but if I had simply said to myself that that man looked like +my acquaintance, that would have been association by similarity. +Really, association by similarity is the more complex response, for it +involves response to the points of newness in the present object, as +well as to the points of resemblance to the familiar object, whereas +response by analogy consists simply in responding to the points of +resemblance. + +Response by analogy often appears in little children, as when they +call all men "papa"' or as when they call the squirrel a "kitty" when +first seen. If they call it a "funny kitty", that is practically +association by similarity, since the word "funny" is a response to the +points in which a squirrel is different from a cat, while the word +"kitty" is a response to the points of resemblance. + +But response by analogy is not always so childish or comic as the +above examples might seem to imply. When we respond to a picture by +recognizing the objects depicted, that is response by analogy, since +the pictured object is only {407} partially like the real object; a +bare outline drawing may be enough to arouse the response of "seeing" +the object. Other instances of response by analogy will come to light +when, in the next chapter, we come to the study of perception. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 58.--Response by analogy. The letters, A, B, X, +Y, represent the several stimuli that make up the original object, and +each of them becomes well linked with their common response (seeing +the object, and perhaps naming it). When the linkage between X and Y +and the response has become strong, a similar object, presenting X and +Y along with other new stimuli, C and D, appears, and arouses the old +response, by virtue of the now-effective linkage from X and Y to this +response.] + + +[Illustration: Fig. 59.--Association by similarity. Everything here as +in the previous diagram, except that C and D get a response in +addition to that aroused by X and Y, and so the new object is seen to +be new, while at the same time it recalls the old object to mind.] + + +The machinery of response by analogy is easily understood by aid of +the law of combination. A complex object, presenting a number of parts +and characteristics, arouses the response of seeing and perhaps naming +the object. This is a unitary response to a collection of stimuli, and +each of the parts or characteristics of the object participates in +arousing the response, and the linkage of each part with the response +is thus strengthened. Later, therefore, the whole identical object is +not required to arouse this same {408} response, but some of its parts +or characteristics will give the response, and they may do this even +when they are present in an object that has other and unfamiliar parts +and characteristics. + +The machinery of association by similarity is the same, with the +addition of a second response, called out by the new characteristics +of the present object. + + +II. SUBSTITUTE RESPONSE EXPLAINED BY THE LAW OF COMBINATION + +The substitute response machinery is more complicated than that of the +substitute stimulus, as it includes the latter and something more. +What that something more is will be clear if we ask ourselves why a +substitute response should ever be made. Evidently because there is +something wrong with the original response; if that were entirely +satisfactory, it would continue to be made, and there would be no room +for a substitute. The original response being unsatisfactory to the +individual, how is he to find a substitute? Only by finding some +stimulus that will arouse it. This is where trial and error come in, +consisting in a search for some extra stimulus that shall give a +satisfactory response. + +Suppose now that the extra stimulus has been found which arouses a +satisfactory substitute response. The original stimulus, or the +reaction-tendency aroused by it, still continuing, participates in +arousing the substitute response, playing the part of the originally +ineffective stimulus in the conditioned reflex. Thus the original +stimulus becomes strongly linked with the substitute response. + +The process of reaching a substitute response thus includes three +stages: (a) original response found unsatisfactory, (b) new stimulus +found which gives a satisfactory substitute response, (c) attachment +of the substitute response to the original stimulus. + +{409} + +There are two main cases under the general head of substitute +response. In one case, the substitute response is essentially an old +response, not acquired during the process of substitution, but simply +substituted, as indicated just above, for the original response to the +situation. This represents the common trial and error learning of +animals. The second case is that where the substitute response has to +be built up by combination of old responses into a higher unit. + + +C. Substitute Response, but not in Itself a New Response + +I. Trial and error. + +Our much-discussed instance of the _cat in the cage_ need not be +described again, but may simply be illustrated by a diagram. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 60.--How the cat learns the trick of escaping from +the cage by unlatching the door. S is the situation of being shut up +in a cage, and T is the tendency to get out. R1 is the primary +response aroused by this tendency, which response meets with failure, +not leading to the end-result of the tendency. Responses are then made +to various particular stimuli about the cage, and one of these +stimuli, the door-latch, X, gives the response R2 which leads to the +end-result. Now the response R2 was in part aroused by T, and its +pre-existing weak linkage with T is so strengthened by exercise that +T, or we may say S, comes to give the correct response without +hesitation.] + +{410} + +2. Learning to balance on a bicycle. + +When the beginner feels the bicycle tipping to the left, he naturally +responds by leaning to the right, and even by turning the wheel to the +right. Result unsatisfactory--strained position and further tipping to +the left. As the bicyclist is about to fall, he saves himself by a +response which he has previously learned in balancing on his feet; he +extends his foot to the left, which amounts to a response to the +ground on the left as a good base of support. Now let him sometime +respond to the ground on his left by turning his wheel that way, and, +to his surprise and gratification, he finds the tipping overcome, and +his balance well maintained. The response of turning to the left, +originally made to the ground on the left (but in part to the +tipping), becomes so linked with the tipping as to be the prompt +reaction whenever tipping is felt. The diagram of this process would +be the same as for the preceding instance. + + +D. Substitute Response, the Response Being a Higher Motor Unit + +1. The brake and clutch combination in driving an automobile. + +This may serve as an instance of _simultaneous coördination_, since +the two movements which are combined into a higher unit are executed +simultaneously. The beginner in driving an automobile often has +considerable trouble in learning to release the "clutch", which, +operated by the left foot, ungears the car from the engine, and so +permits the car to be stopped without stopping the engine. The foot +brake, operated by the right foot, is comparatively easy to master, +because the necessity for stopping the car is a perfectly clear and +definite stimulus. Now, when the beginner gets a brake-stimulus, he +responds promptly with his right foot, but neglects to employ his left +foot on the clutch, because he has no effective clutch-stimulus; there +is nothing {411} in the situation that reminds him of the clutch. +Result, engine stalled, ridicule for the driver. Next time, perhaps, +he _thinks_ "clutch" when he gets the brake-stimulus, and this +thought, being itself a clutch-stimulus, arouses the clutch-response +simultaneously with the brake-response. After doing this a number of +times, the driver no longer needs the thought of the clutch as a +stimulus, for the left foot movement on the clutch has become +effectively linked with the brake-stimulus, so that any occasion that +arouses the brake-response simultaneously arouses the clutch response. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 61.--Combining clutch-response with +brake-response. At first, the brake-stimulus has only a weak linkage +with the clutch-response, and an extra stimulus has to be found to +secure the clutch-response. But whenever the clutch-response is made +while the brake-stimulus is acting, the weak linkage between these two +is exercised, till finally the brake-stimulus is sufficient to give +the clutch-response, along with the brake-response.] + + +The combination of two responses is effected by linking both to the +same stimulus; thus the two become united into a coördinated higher +motor unit. + + +2. The word-habit in typewriting furnishes an example of _successive +coördination_, the uniting of a sequence of movements into a higher +unit. [Footnote: See p. 324.] The beginner has to spell out {412} the +word he is writing, and make a separate response to each letter; but +when he has well mastered the letter-habits, and, still unsatisfied, +is trying for more speed, it happens that he thinks ahead while +writing the first letter of a word, and _prepares_ for the second +letter. In effect, he commences reacting to the second letter while +still writing the first. This goes further, till he anticipates the +series of letters forming a short word while still at the beginning of +the word. The letter movements are thus linked to the thought of the +word as a whole, and the word becomes an effective stimulus for +arousing the series of letter movements. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 62.--Learning a word-habit in typewriting. At +first, besides the stimulus of the word, "_and_" it is necessary also +to have the stimulus "_a_" in order to arouse the response of writing +a, the stimulus "_n_" in order to arouse the writing of n, and the +stimulus "_d_" in order to arouse the writing of d. Yet the stimulus +"_and_" is present all this time, and its weak linkages with the +writing movements are used and strengthened, so that finally it is +sufficient, by itself, to arouse the whole series of writing +movements.] + + +Many other instances of learning can be worked out in the same way, +and there seems to be no difficulty in {413} interpreting any of them +by the law of combination. Even "negative adaptation" can possibly be +interpreted as an instance of substitute response; some slight and +easy response may be substituted for the avoiding reaction or the +attentive reaction that an unimportant stimulus at first arouses, +these reactions being rather a nuisance when they are unnecessary. On +the whole, the law of combination seems to fill the bill very well. It +explains what the law of exercise left unexplained. It always brings +in the law of exercise as an ally, and, in explaining substitute +response, it brings in the law of effect, which however, as we saw +before, may be a sub-law under the law of exercise. These two, or +three laws, taken together, give an adequate analysis of the whole +process of learning. + + +The Law of Combination in Recall + +Unitary response to multiple stimuli is important in recall as well as +in learning. The clearest case of this is afforded by "controlled +association". [Footnote: See p. 381.] + +In an opposites test, the response to the stimulus word "long" is +aroused partly by this stimulus word, and partly by the "mental set" +for opposites. There are two lines of influence, converging upon the +response, "long--short" (of which only the word "short" may be +spoken): one line from the stimulus word "long", and the other from +the mental set for pairs of opposite words. The mental set for +opposites tends to arouse any pair of opposites; the word "long" tends +to arouse any previously observed group of words of which "long" is a +part. The mental set, an internal stimulus, and the stimulus word +coming from outside, converge or combine to arouse one particular +response. + +The mental set for adding has previously exercised {414} linkages with +the responses composing the addition table, while the mental set for +multiplication has linkages with the responses composing the +multiplication table. When the set for adding is active, a pair of +numbers, seen or heard, together with this internal stimulus of the +mental set, arouses the response that gives the sum; but when the +multiplying set is active, the same pair of numbers gives the product +as the response. All thinking towards any goal is a similar instance +of the law of combination. + + +The Laws of Learning in Terms of the Neurone + +We have good evidence that the brain is concerned in learning and +retention. Loss of some of the cortex through injury often brings loss +of learned reactions, and the kind of reactions lost differs with the +part of the cortex affected. Injury in the occipital lobe brings loss +of visual knowledge, and injury in the neighborhood of the auditory +sense-center brings loss of auditory knowledge. + +Injury to the retina or optic nerve, occurring early in life, results +in an under-development of the cortex in the occipital lobe. The nerve +cells remain small and their dendrites few and meager, because they +have not received their normal amount of exercise through stimulation +from the eye. + +Exercise, then, has the same general effect on neurones that it has on +muscles; it causes them to grow and it probably also improves their +internal condition so that they act more readily and more strongly. +The growth, in the cortex, of dendrites and of the end-brushes of +axons that interlace with the dendrites, must improve the synapses +between one neurone and another, and thus make better conduction paths +between one part of the cortex and another, and also between the +cortex and the lower sensory and motor centers. + +The law of exercise has thus a very definite meaning when {415} +translated into neural terms. It means that the synapses between +stimulus and response are so improved, when traversed by nerve +currents in the making of a reaction, that nerve currents can get +across them more easily the next time. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 63.--The law of exercise in terms of synapse. A +nerve current is supposed to pass along this pair of neurones in the +direction of the arrow. Every time it passes, it exercises the +end-brush and dendrites at the synapse (for the "passage of a nerve +current" really means activity on the part of the neurones through +which it passes), and the after-effect of this exercise is growth of +the exercised parts, and consequent improvement of the synapse as a +linkage between one neurone and the other. Repeated exercise may +probably bring a synapse from a very loose condition to a state of +close interweaving and excellent power of transmitting the nerve +current.] + + +The more a synapse is used, the better synapse it becomes, and the +better linkage it provides between some stimulus and some response. +The cortex is the place where linkages are made in the process of +learning, and it is there also that forgetting, or atrophy, takes +place through disuse. Exercise makes a synapse closer, disuse lets it +relapse into a loose and poorly conducting state. + +The law of combination, also, is readily translated into {416} neural +terms. The "pre-existing loose linkages" which it assumed to exist +undoubtedly do exist in the form of "association fibers" extending in +vast numbers from any one part of the cortex to many other parts. +These fibers are provided by native constitution, but probably +terminate rather loosely in the cortex until exercise has developed +them. They may be compared to telephone wires laid down in the cables +through the streets and extending into the houses, but still requiring +a little fine work to attach them properly to the telephone +instruments. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 64.--Diagram for the learning of the name of an +object, transformed into a neural diagram. The vocal movement of +saying the name is made in response to the auditory stimulus of +hearing the name, but when the neurone in the "speech center" is thus +made active, it takes up current also from the axon that reaches it +from the visual center, even though the synapse between this axon and +the speech neurone is far from close. This particular synapse between +the visual and the speech centers, being thus exercised, is left in an +improved condition. Each neurone in the diagram represents hundreds in +the brain, for brain activities are carried on by companies and +regiments of neurones. (Figure text: object seen, visual center name +heard, auditory center, speech center, name spoken)] + + +The diagrams illustrating different cases under the law of combination +can easily be perfected into neural diagrams, though, to be sure, any +diagram is ultra-simple as compared with the great number of neurones +that take part in even a simple reaction. + +The reader will be curious to know now much of this neural +interpretation of our psychological laws is observed fact, and how +much speculation. Well, we cannot as yet {417} observe the brain +mechanism in actual operation--not in any detail. We have good +evidence, as already outlined, for growth of the neurones and their +branches through exercise. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 65.--Control, in multiplying. The visual stimulus +of two numbers in a little column, has preformed linkages both with +the adding response and with that of multiplying. But the mental set +for adding being inactive at the moment, and that for multiplying +active (because the subject means to multiply), the multiplying +response is facilitated.] + + +We have perfectly good evidence of the law of "unitary response to +multiple stimuli" from the physiological study of reflex action; and +we have perfectly good anatomical evidence of the convergence and +divergence of neural paths of connection, as required by the law of +combination. The association fibers extending from one part to another +of the cortex are an anatomical fact. [Footnote: See p. 56.] +Facilitation is a fact, and that means that a stimulus which could not +of itself arouse a response can coöperate with another stimulus that +has a direct connection with that response, and reinforce its effect. +In short, all the elements required for a neural law of combination +are known facts, and the only matter of doubt is whether we have built +these elements together aright in our interpretation. It is not pure +speculation, by any means. + +{418} + + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter, in the form of a list of laws and sub-laws. + +2. Review the instances of learning cited in Chapters XIII-XV, + and examine whether they are covered and sufficiently accounted for + by the general laws given in the present chapter. + +3. Draw diagrams, like those given in this chapter, for the simpler + cases, at least, that you have considered in question 2. + +4. Show that response by analogy is important in the development + of language. Consider metaphor, for example, and slang, and the + using of an old word in a new sense (as in the case of + 'rail-road'). + + +REFERENCES + +William James devoted much thought to the problem of the mechanism of +learning, habit, association, etc., and his conclusions are set forth +in several passages in his _Principles of Psychology_, 1890, Vol. I, +pp. 104-112, 554-594, and Vol. II, pp. 578-592. + +Another serious consideration of the matter is given by William +McDougall in his _Physiological Psychology_, 1905, Chapters VII and +VIII. + +See also Thorndike's _Educational Psychology, Briefer Course_, 1914, +Chapter VI. + +On the whole subject of association, see Howard C. Warren, _A History +of the Association Psychology_, 1921. + + +{419} + +CHAPTER XVII + +PERCEPTION + +MENTAL LIFE CONSISTS LARGELY IN THE DISCOVERY OF FACTS NEW TO THE +INDIVIDUAL, AND IN THE RE-DISCOVERY OF FACTS PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED + + +You will remember the case of John Doe, who was brought before us for +judgment on his behavior, as to how far it was native and how far +acquired. We have since that time been occupied in hearing evidence on +the case, and after mature consideration have reached a decision which +we may formulate as follows: that this man's behavior is primarily +instinctive or native, but that new attachments of stimulus and +response, and new combinations of responses, acquired in the process +of learning, have furnished him with such an assortment of habits and +skilled acts of all sorts that we can scarcely identify any longer the +native reactions out of which his whole behavior is built. That +decision being reached, we are still not ready to turn the prisoner +loose, but wish to keep him under observation for a while longer, in +order to see what use he makes of this vast stock of native and +acquired reactions. We wish to know how an individual, so equipped, +behaves from day to day, and meets the exigencies of life. Such, in +brief, is the task we have still before us. + +Accordingly, one fine morning we enter our prisoner's sleeping +quarters, and find him, for once, making no use of his acquired +reactions, as far as we can see, and utilizing but a small fraction of +his native reactions. He is, in short, asleep. We ring a bell, and he +stirs uneasily. We {420} ring again, and he opens his eyes sleepily +upon the bell, then spies us and sits bolt upright in bed. "Well, what +. . ." He throws into action a part of his rather colorful vocabulary. +He evidently sees our intrusion in an unfavorable light at first, but +soon relaxes a little and "supposes he must be late for breakfast". +Seeing our stenographer taking down his remarks, he is puzzled for a +moment, then breaks into a loud laugh, and cries out, "Oh! This is +some more psychology. Well, go as far as you like. It must have been +your bell I heard in my dream just now, when I thought I saw a lot of +cannibals beating the tom-tom". Having now obtained sufficient data +for quite a lengthy discussion, we retire to our staff room and +deliberate upon these manifestations. + +"The man perceives", we agree. "By the use of his eyes and ears he +discovered facts, and interpreted them in the light of his previous +experience. In knowing the facts, he also got adjusted to them and +governed his actions by them. But notice--a curious thing--how his +perception of the facts progressed by stages from the vague and +erroneous to the correct and precise. Before he was fully awake, he +mistook the bell for a tom-tom; then, more fully aroused, he knew the +bell. Ourselves he first saw as mere wanton intruders, then as +cheerful friends who wished him no ill; finally he saw us in our true +character as investigators of his behavior." + +Following our man through the day's work and recreation, we find a +large share of his mental activity to consist in the perception of +facts. We find that he makes use of the facts, adjusting himself to +them and also shaping them to suit himself. His actions are governed +by the facts perceived, at the same time that they are governed by his +own desires. Ascertaining how the facts stand, he takes a hand and +manipulates them. He is constantly coming to know {421} fresh facts, +and constantly doing something new with them. His life is a voyage of +discovery, and at the same time a career of invention. + +Discovery and invention!--high-sounding words, still they are +applicable to everyday life. The facts observed may not be absolutely +new, but at least they have always to be verified afresh, since action +needs always to take account of present reality. The invention may be +very limited in scope, but seldom does an hour pass that does not call +for doing something a little out of the ordinary, so as to escape from +a fresh trap or pluck fruit from a newly discovered bough. All of our +remaining chapters might, with a little forcing, be pigeonholed under +these two great heads. Discovery takes its start with the child's +instinctive exploratory activity, and invention with his manipulation, +and these two tendencies, perhaps at bottom one, remain closely +interlinked throughout. + + +Some Definitions + +_Perception_ is the culmination of the process of discovery. Discovery +usually requires exploration, a search for facts; and it requires +attention, which amounts to finding the facts or getting them +effectively presented; and perception then consists in knowing the +presented facts. + +When the facts are presented to the senses, we speak of "sense +perception". If they are presented to the eye, we speak of visual +perception; if to the ear, of auditory perception, etc. But when we +speak of a fact as being "presented" to the eye or ear, we do not +necessarily mean that it is directly and completely presented; it may +only be indicated. We may have before the eyes simply a _sign_ of some +fact, but perceive the fact which is the _meaning_ of the sign. We +look out of the window and "see it is wet to-day", though wetness is +something to be felt rather than seen; {422} having previously +observed how wet ground looks, we now respond promptly to the visual +appearance by knowing the indicated state of affairs. In the same way, +we say that we "hear the street car", though a street car, we must +admit, is not essentially a noise. What we hear, in strictness, is a +noise, but we respond to the noise by perceiving the presence of the +car. Responding to a stimulus presented to one sense by perceiving a +fact which could only be directly presented to another sense is +exemplified also by such common expressions as that the stone "looks +heavy", or that the bell "sounds cracked". or that the jar of fruit +"smells sour". Sense perception, then, is responding to a stimulus by +knowing some fact indicated by it either directly or indirectly. +Perception that is not sense perception occurs when the fact perceived +is not even indirectly presented to the senses at the moment. The fact +is then presented by recall; yet the fact in question is not recalled. +Recall not only gives you facts previously perceived, but may provide +the data, the stimulus, for fresh perception. Putting together two +recalled facts, you may perceive a further fact not previously known. +Remembering that you took your umbrella to the office this morning in +the rain, that it was fine when you left the office, and that you +certainly did not have the umbrella when you reached home, you +perceive that you must have left it at the office. Reading in the +paper of preparations for another polar expedition, and remembering +that both poles have already been discovered, you perceive that there +is something more in polar exploration than the mere race for the +pole. Perception of this sort amounts to "reasoning", and will be +fully considered in another chapter, while here we shall focus our +attention on sense perception. + +{423} + +The Difference Between Perception and Sensation + +If sense perception is a response to a sensory stimulus, so is +sensation, and the question arises whether there is any genuine +difference between these two. In the instance of "hearing the street +car", the difference is fairly obvious; hearing the noise is +sensation, while knowing the street car to be there is perception. + +Sensation is the first response aroused by a stimulus, or at least the +first response that is conscious. Perception is a second response, +following the sensation, and being properly a direct response to the +sensation, and only an indirect response to the physical stimulus. The +chain of events is: stimulus, response of the sense organ and sensory +nerve, first cortical response which is sensation, second cortical +response which is perception. + +Conscious sensation is the response of the part of the cortex that +first receives the nerve current from the sense organ stimulated, the +response of the "sensory area" for the particular sense stimulated. +When the eye is stimulated, the nerve current first reaches a small +portion of the occipital lobe, called the visual sensory area. Without +that area there is no visual sensation. When the ear is stimulated, +the conscious sensation is the response of a small portion of the +temporal lobe called the auditory sensory area, and without this area +there is no auditory sensation. But the presence of the visual sensory +area is not enough to give the visual perception of facts, nor is the +presence of the auditory sensory area enough to give auditory +perception. The cortical regions _adjacent_ to the sensory areas are +necessary for perception; if they are destroyed, the individual may +still see, but not know the objects seen; or may still hear, but not +recognize the words or tunes that he hears. If the cortical area +destroyed is in the parietal {424} lobe, adjacent to the sensory area +for the cutaneous and kinesthetic senses, he may still "feel" objects, +but without being able to distinguish an apple from a lump of coal, or +a folded newspaper from a tin pail. + +Sense perception, then, is a response of areas adjacent to the sensory +areas, and this response is aroused by nerve currents coming along +"association fibers" from the sensory areas which are first aroused +from the sense organs. + +The whole chain of events, from the time the stimulus reaches the +sense organ to the time the fact is perceived, occupies only a fifth +or even a tenth of a second in simple cases, and the interval between +the beginning of the sensation to the beginning of the perception is +not over a twentieth when the fact is easily perceived. Since the +sensation usually lasts for longer than this, it overlaps the +perception in time, and the two conscious responses are so _blended_ +that it is difficult or impossible for introspection to separate them. + +But when an unusual fact is presented, perception may lag, though +sensation occurs promptly. We may be baffled and confused for an +instant, and have sensation without any definite perception; or, more +often, we make a rapid series of _trial and error perceptions_. In one +instance, a noise was first heard as distant thunder, and then, +correctly, as somebody walking on the floor above. In another case, a +faint sound was first taken for a bird singing, then for a distant +locomotive whistle, and finally for what it was, the tinny noise of a +piece of metal carried in the hand and brushing against the overcoat +as the person walked; this series occupied not over five seconds. On +touching an object in the dark, you may feel it as one thing and +another till some response is aroused that fits the known situation +and so satisfies you. Such trial and error perception can be observed +very frequently if one is on the watch for {425} psychological +curiosities; and it justifies the distinction between sensation and +perception, since the sensation remains virtually unchanged while +perception changes. + +Another sort of shifting perception is seen in looking steadily at the +"ambiguous figures" which were considered in the chapter on attention, +the cube, staircase, and others; and the "dot figures" belong here as +well. [Footnote: See p. 252.] In these cases the stimulus arouses two +or more different perceptions, alternately, while the sensation +remains almost or quite unchanged. + + +Perception and Image + +The experiment with ambiguous figures also gives an answer to the +question whether perception consists in the addition of recalled +memory images to the sensations aroused by the present stimulus. If +that were so, you should, when you see the upper side of the flight of +stairs, see them as wooden stairs or stone stairs, as carpeted or +varnished, with shadows on them such as appear on a real flight of +stairs, with a railing, or with some other addition of a similar +nature; and, when the appearance changes to that of the under side of +a flight of stairs, the colors, shadows, etc., should change as well. +The usual report is that no such addition can be detected, and that +the subject sees no filling-in of the picture, but simply the bare +lines--only that they seem at one moment to be the bare outline of the +upper side, and at another moment an equally bare outline of the lower +side, of a flight of stairs. + +So again, when you "hear the street car", you do not ordinarily, to +judge from the reports of people who have been asked, get any visual +or kinesthetic image of the car, but you simply know the car is there. +You will quite {426} possibly get some such image, if you _dwell_ on +the fact of the car's being there, just as some persons, in talking to +a friend over the telephone, have a visual image of the friend. There +is no reason why such images should not be aroused, but the question +is whether they are essential to perception of the fact, and whether +they occur before or after the fact is perceived. Often they do not +occur, and often, when they do occur, they follow the perception of +the fact, being aroused by that perception and not constituting it. + +Sometimes images are certainly aroused during the perception of a +fact, and, blending with the present rather vague sensation, add color +and filling to the picture. + +Here is an instance of this which I once observed in myself, in spite +of the infrequency of my visual images. Approaching a house through a +wide field one winter night, and seeing a lamp shining out of a window +towards me, I seemed to see the yellowish light touching the high +spots in the grass around. I was surprised that the lamp should carry +so far, and the next instant saw that the light spots on the ground +were small patches of snow, lighted only from the clouded sky; and at +this the yellow tinge of the spots vanished. I must have read the +yellow color into them to fit the lamplight. The yellow was an image +blending with the actual sensation. Colors tacked on to a seen object +in this way are sometimes called "memory colors". + +When this instance is considered carefully, however, it does not by +any means indicate that the image produced the perception. I responded +to the pair of stimuli--lamp shining towards me and light spots around +me--by perceiving the spots as lighted by the lamp; and the color +followed suit. I next saw the spots as snow, and the color vanished. +It was a case of trial and error perception, with color images +conforming to the perception. + +Perception does not essentially consist in the recall of {427} images, +but is a different sort of response--what sort, we have still to +consider. + + +Perception and Motor Reaction + +Possibly, we may surmise, perception is a motor response, completely +executed or perhaps merely incipient, or at least a readiness for a +certain motor response. This guess is not quite so wild as our +customary sharp distinction between knowing and doing might lead us to +think. When we say that reacting to a thing in a motor way is quite +different from merely seeing the thing, we forget how likely the child +is to do something with any object as soon as he sees what it is. We +forget also how common it is for a person, in silently reading a +word--which is perceiving the word--to whisper it or at least move his +lips. To be sure, persons who read a great deal usually get over this +habit, as the child more and more inhibits his motor response to many +seen objects. But may it not be that the motor response is simply +reduced to a minimum? Or, still better, may it not be that perceiving +an object amounts to _getting ready_ to do something with it? May not +seeing a word always be a getting ready to say it, even if no actual +movement of the vocal organs occurs? May not seeing an orange consist +in getting ready to take it, peel it, and eat it? May not perceiving +our friend amount to the same thing as getting ready to behave in a +friendly manner, and perceiving our enemy amount to the same thing as +getting on our guard against him? According to this view, perception +would be a response that adjusted the perceiver to the fact perceived, +and made him ready to do something appropriate. + +In spite of the attractiveness of this theory of perception, it is +probably not the real essence of the matter. Just as perception may +change while sensation remains the same, so there may be a hesitation +between two motor responses {428} to an object, without any change in +the way it is perceived; and just as a block may occur between +sensation and perception, so also may one occur between perception of +a fact and the motor response. In other words, perception of a fact +may not spell complete readiness to act upon it. The best example of +this is afforded again by cases of localized brain injuries. + +It happens, in motor aphasia, that the subject hears and understands a +spoken word--fully perceives it--and yet cannot pronounce it himself. +And at that, there need be no paralysis of the speech organs. The +brain injury has affected the motor speech-coördinating machinery, and +deprived the individual of the power to get ready for speaking a word, +even though he perceives it. + +Analogous disabilities occur in respect to other movements. It may +happen, through injury somewhere near the motor area, though not +precisely in that area, that one who clearly perceives a seen object +is still quite incapable of handling it. He knows the object, and he +knows in an abstract way what to do with it, but how to go about it he +cannot remember. This type of disturbance is called "motor apraxia", +and, like motor aphasia, it proves that there is a preparation that +follows perception and still precedes actual movement. Paralysis of +the motor area is different; then, the subject both perceives the +object, and gets all ready to act upon it; only, the movement does not +occur. + +The truth seems to be that a series of four responses occurs in the +brain, in the process of making a skilled movement dealing with a +perceived object. First, sensation; second, perception of the object; +third, coördinating preparation for the act; and fourth, execution of +the act by the motor area arousing the lower motor centers and through +them the muscles. The first response is like receiving signals {429} +or code messages; the second deciphers the messages and knows the +state of affairs; the third plans action; and the fourth sends out +orders to the agents that perform the action. + +The distinction between perception and preparation for action is +sometimes rather difficult to draw. The twelve o'clock whistle means +time to drop your tools, and it is hard to draw a line between knowing +the fact and beginning the act. On the other hand, when my watch tells +me the noon hour is almost over, some little time may be required +before I get into motion. Where there is no block or inhibition, the +chain of responses runs off with such speed as to seem a single +response. But a block may occur at any one of several places. It may +check the actual movement, as in the "delayed reaction", [Footnote: +See p. 76.] and in cases where we itch to do something yet check +ourselves. Here the preparation occurs, but the execution is checked. +Sometimes the block occurs between perception and preparation, when we +know a fact but find nothing to do about it or hesitate between two +ways of acting. Sometimes, also, the block occurs between sensation +and perception; a sudden loud noise will sometimes throw a person into +a momentary state of confusion during which he is unable to recognize +the noise. + +Blocking of response at different stages can be illustrated very well +in the case of anger. The irritating stimulus gives a prompt fighting +reaction, unless checked at some stage. When the check prevents me +from actually striking the offending person, but leaves me clenching +my fist and gnashing my teeth, the chain of responses has evidently +gone as far as readiness for action, and been blocked between that +stage and the stage of execution. Probably the inhibitory influence +here is anticipation of bad consequences. The block may occur one +stage further back, when I say to myself that {430} I mustn't let +myself get "all riled up" since it will spoil my morning's work; here, +instead of substituting the clenched fist for actual fighting, I +substitute a bored or contemptuous attitude for the pugnacious +attitude. All this time I still am conscious of the offense done me. +But suppose something leads me to try to look at the other person's +behavior from his own point of view--then I perceive it in a different +light, and it may no longer appear a personal offense to myself. I +here get a substitute perception. + +The process of blocking and substituting is the same process that we +have seen in trial and error.[Footnote: See p. 408.] The response +proving unsatisfactory, or promising to be unsatisfactory, is checked +and a substitute response found. Other elements in the situation get a +chance to exert their influence on the reaction. If perception of a +fact were absolutely the same as preparing a motor act, we could not +look over the situation, perceiving one fact after another, and +letting our adjustment for action depend on the total situation +instead of on the separate facts successively observed; nor could we +perceive one fact while preparing the motor response to another fact, +as is actually done in telegraphy, typewriting, reading aloud, and +many other sorts of skilled action. In reading aloud, the eyes on the +page keep well ahead of the voice; while one word is being pronounced, +the next word is being prepared for pronouncing, and words still +further ahead are in process of being perceived. + +We conclude, accordingly, that perception of an object is not +absolutely the same thing as motor response to the object, nor even as +motor readiness to respond, although the transition from perception to +motor readiness may be so quick that the whole reaction seems a unit. +In reality, perception of the object precedes the motor adjustment, +and is one factor in determining that adjustment. + +{431} + +What Sort of Response, Then, Is Perception? + +We can say this, that perception is knowing the fact, as distinguished +from readiness to act. We can say that perception is an adjustment to +facts as they are, while motor adjustment is a preparation for +changing the facts. Perception does not alter the facts, but takes +them as they are; movement alters the facts or produces new facts. We +can say that perception comes in between sensation and motor +preparation. But none of these statements is quite enough to satisfy +us, if we wish to know something of the machinery of perception. What +is the stimulus in perception, and what is the nature of the response? + +It takes a collection of stimuli to arouse a perception. This +collection is at the same time a selection from among the whole mass +of sensory stimuli acting at any moment on the individual. Perception +is thus a fine example both of the "law of selection" and of the "law +of combination". [Footnote: See pp. 256, 263.] Perception is at once a +_combining_ response and an _isolating_ response. + +We perceive a face--that means that we take the face as a unit, or +make a unitary response to the multiple stimuli coming from the face. +At the same time, in perceiving the face, we isolate it from its +background, or disregard the numerous other stimuli that are +simultaneously acting upon us. If we proceed to examine the face in +detail, we may isolate the nose and perceive that as a whole. We might +isolate still further and perceive a freckle on the nose, taking that +as a whole, or even observing separately its location, diameter, depth +of pigmentation, etc. Even if we went so far as to observe a single +speck of dust on the skin, in which case isolation would about reach +its maximum, combination would still stay in the game, for we should +either note {432} the location of the speck--which would involve +relating it to some part of the face--or we should contrast it with +the color of the skin, or in some similar way take the single stimulus +in relation with other present stimuli. Perception is always a unitary +response to an isolated assemblage of stimuli. + +Consider these two opposite extremes: taking in the general effect of +the view from a mountain top, and perceiving the prick of a pin. In +the first case, combination is very much in evidence, but where is the +isolation? There is isolation, since internal bodily sensations, and +very likely auditory and olfactory sensations as well, are present but +do not enter into the view. In the case of the pin prick, isolation is +evident, but where does combination come in? It would not come into +the mere reflex of pulling the hand away, but perceiving the pin means +something more than reflex action. It means locating the sensation, or +noticing its quality or duration or something of that sort, and so +contrasting it with other sensations or relating it to them in some +way. To perceive one stimulus as related to another is to respond to +both together. + +But in describing perception as a unitary response to an isolated +assemblage of stimuli, we have not differentiated it from a motor +response, for that, too, is often aroused by a few (or many) stimuli +acting together. What more can we say? In neural terms, we can only +repeat what was said before, that perception is the next response +after sensation, being a direct response to a certain combination of +sensations, and being in its turn the stimulus, or part of the +stimulus, that arouses a motor adjustment, as it may also be the +stimulus to recall of previously observed facts. In more psychological +terms, we can say that sense perception is closely bound up with +sensation, so that we seem to see the fact, or hear it, etc.; we +perceive it as present to the {433} senses, rather than as thought of +or as anticipated. Motor readiness is anticipatory, perception +definitely objective. Motor readiness is an adjustment for something +yet to be, while perception is an adjustment to something already +present. + + +Practised Perception + +A fact perceived for the first time must needs be attended to, in +order that it may be perceived. That is, the first and original +perception of a fact is a highly conscious response. But the +perception of a fact, like any other form of response, becomes easy +with practice; the linkage of stimulus and response becomes stronger +and stronger, till finally the stimulus arouses the perceptive +response almost automatically. The familiar fact is perceived without +receiving close attention, or even without receiving any attention. +While your attention is absorbed in reading or thinking, you may +respond to the sight of the flower in a vase on your table by knowing +it to be there, you may respond to the noise of the passing street car +by knowing what that is, and you may respond to the contact of your +foot with the leg of the chair by dimly knowing what that object is. A +great deal of this inattentive perception of familiar facts is always +going on. Aside from sensation and from some of the reflexes, the +perception of familiar facts is the most practised and the easiest of +all responses. + +The laws and sub-laws of learning apply perfectly to practised +perception. The more frequently, the more recently, and the more +intensely a given fact has been perceived, the more readily is it +perceived again. The more a given fact is in line with the mental set +of the moment, the more readily is it perceived. Sometimes it is so +readily perceived that we think we see it when it isn't there. If you +are hunting for a lost knife, anything remotely resembling {434} a +knife will catch your eye and for an instant be perceived as the +missing object. + +The principle of _substitute stimulus_ applies remarkably well to +practised perception. The first time you perceive an object, you +observe it attentively, and expose your perceptive apparatus to the +whole collection of stimuli that the object sends your way. The next +time you need not observe it so attentively, for you make the same +perceptive response to a _part_ of the original collection of stimuli. +The response originally aroused by the whole collection of stimuli is +later aroused by a fraction of this collection. The stimulus may be +_reduced_ considerably, and still arouse the perception of the same +fact. A child is making the acquaintance of the dog. The dog barks, +and the child watches the performance. He not only sees the dog, and +hears the noise, but he _sees_ the dog _bark_, and _hears_ the dog +_bark_. This original perception is a unitary response to the +combination of sight and sound. Thereafter he does not require both +stimuli at once, but, when he hears this noise, he perceives the dog +barking, and when he sees the dog he sees an object that can bark. In +the same way, a thousand objects which furnish stimuli to more than +one of the senses are perceived as units, and, later, need only act on +a single sense to be known. + +The stimulus, instead of being reduced, may be _modified_, and still +arouse the same perception as before. A face appears in the baby's +field of view, but away across the room so that it is a very small +object, visually. The face approaches and gradually becomes a larger +visual object, and the light and shadow upon it change from moment to +moment, but it remains nearly enough the same to arouse essentially +the same perception in the child. He comes to know the face at various +distances and angles and under various lights. + +{435} + +Again, the child holds a block in his hands, and looks at it square +on, so that it is really a rectangle in his field of view. He turns it +slightly, and now it is no longer visually a rectangle, but an oblique +parallelogram. But the change is not enough to abolish the first +perception; he sees it as the same object as before. By dint of many +such experiences, we see a book cover or a door as a rectangle, no +matter at what angle we may view it, and we know a circle for a circle +even though at most angles it is really an ellipse in the field of +view. A large share of practised perceptions belong under the head of +"response by analogy",[Footnote: See p. 406.] since they consist in +making the same response to the present stimulus that has previously +been made to a similar but not identical stimulus. If every modified +stimulus gave a new and different perception, it would be a slow job +getting acquainted with the world. A thing is never twice the same, as +a collection of stimuli, and yet, within wide limits, it is always +perceived as the same thing. + + +Corrected Perception + +Response by analogy, however, often leads us astray, in making us +perceive a new object as essentially the same as something already +familiar. First impressions of a new object or acquaintance often need +revision, because they do not work well. They do not work well because +they are rough and ready, taking the object in the lump, with scant +attention to details which may prove to be important. It is easy to +follow the law of combination and respond to a whole collection of +stimuli, but to break up the collection and isolate out of it a +smaller collection to respond to--that is something we will not do +unless forced to it. Isolation and discrimination are uphill work. +When they occur, it is {436} because the rough and ready response has +proved unsatisfactory, + +_Substitute response_ is the big factor in corrected perception, as +substitute stimulus is in practised perception. When our first +perception of an object gets us into difficulties, then we are forced +to attend more closely and find something in the object that can serve +as the stimulus to a better response. This is the process by which we +isolate, analyze, discriminate. + +Our old friend, the white rat, learned to enter a door only if it bore +a yellow sign. [Footnote: See p. 304.] It was uphill work for him, +hundreds of trials being required before the discriminating response +was established; but he learned it finally. At the outset, a door was +a door to the rat, and responded to as such, without regard to the +sign. Whenever he entered a door without the sign, he got a shock, and +scurried back; and before venturing again he looked all around, +seeking, we may say, a stimulus to guide him; incidentally, he looked +at the yellow disk, and this stimulus, though inconspicuous and feeble +to a rat, finally got linked up with the entering response. The +response of first finding and then following the sign had been +substituted for the original response of simply entering. + +In the same way the newly hatched chick, which at first pecks at all +small objects, caterpillars included, learns to discriminate against +caterpillars. In a practical sense, the chick, like the rat, learns to +distinguish between stimuli that at first aroused the same response. +It is in the same way that the human being is driven to discriminate +and attend to details. He is brought to a halt by the poor results of +his first rough and ready perception, scans the situation, isolates +some detail and, finding response to this detail to bring satisfactory +results, substitutes response to this {437} detail for his first +undiscriminating response to the whole object. + +The child at first treats gloves as alike, whether rights or lefts, +but thus gets into trouble, and is driven to look at them more sharply +till he perceives the special characteristics of rights and lefts. He +could not describe the difference, to be sure, but he sees it well +enough for his purposes. If you ask an older person to describe this +difference, and rally him on his inability to do so, he is thus driven +to lay them side by side and study out the difference still more +precisely. + +The average non-mechanical person, on acquiring an automobile, takes +it as a gift of the gods, a big total thing, simply to sit in and go. +He soon learns certain parts that he must deal with, but most of the +works remain a mystery to him. Then something goes wrong, and he gets +out to look. "What do you suppose this thing is here? I never noticed +it before". Tire trouble teaches him about wheels, engine trouble +leads him to know the engine, ignition trouble may lead him to notice +certain wires and binding-posts that were too inconspicuous at first +to attract his attention. A car becomes to him a thing with a hundred +well-known parts, instead of just one big totality. + +Blocked response, closer examination, new stimulus isolated that gives +satisfactory response--such is, typically, the process of analytic +perception. + + +Sensory Data Serving as Signs of Various Sorts of Fact + +Among facts perceived, we may list things and events, and their +qualities and relations. Under "things" we here include persons and +animals and everything that would ordinarily be called an "object". +Under "events", we include movement, change and happenings of all +sorts. Under {438} "qualities" we may include everything that can be +discovered in a thing or event taken by itself, and under "relations" +anything that can be discovered by comparing or contrasting two things +or events. The "groups" that we have several times spoken of as being +observed would here be included under "things"; but the strict logic +of the whole classification is not a matter of importance, as the only +object in view is to call attention to the great variety of facts that +are perceived. + +Now the question arises, by what signs or indications these various +facts are perceived. Often, as we have seen, the fact is by no means +fully presented to the senses, and often it is far from easy for the +perceiver to tell on what signs the perception depends. He knows the +fact, but how he knows it he cannot tell. A large part of the very +extensive experimental investigation of perception has been concerned +with this problem of ferreting out the signs on which the various +perceptions are based, the precise stimuli to which the perceptions +respond. + +For example, we can examine objects by feeling of them with a stick +held in the hand, and thus perceive their roughness or smoothness; but +how do we sense these facts? It seems to us as if we felt them with +the end of the stick, but that is absurd, since there are no sense +organs in the stick. It must be that we perceive the roughness by +means of sensations arising in the hand and arm, but to identify these +sensations is a much harder task than to discover the objective fact +of roughness. + +Again, we distinguish the tones of two musical instruments by aid of +their overtones, but elaborate experiments were required to prove +this, since ordinarily we do not distinguish the overtones, and could +simply say that the instruments sounded differently, and let it go at +that. + +Once more, consider our ability to perceive time intervals; {439} and +to distinguish an interval of a second from one of a second and a +quarter. How in the world can any one perceive time? Time is no force +that could conceivably act as a stimulus to a sense organ. It must be +some change or process that is the stimulus and that serves as the +indication of duration. Most likely, it is some muscular or internal +bodily change, but none of the more precise suggestions that have been +offered square with all the facts. It cannot be the movements of +breathing that give us our perception of time, for we can hold our +breath and still distinguish one short interval from another. It +cannot be the heart beat, for we can beat time in a rhythm that cuts +across the rate of the heart beat. When a singer is accompanying +himself on the piano, keeping good time in spite of the fact that the +notes are uneven in length, and meanwhile using his feet on the +pedals, what has he got left to beat time with? No one has located the +stimulus to which accurate time perception responds, though, in a +general way, we are pretty sure that change of one sort or another is +the datum. With longer intervals, from a minute to several hours, the +sign of duration is probably the amount happening in the interval, or +else such progressive bodily changes as hunger and fatigue. + + +The Perception of Space + +Stimuli for the perception of location are provided by all the senses. +We perceive a taste as in the mouth, thirst as in the throat, hunger +pangs as in the stomach. To a familiar odor we may respond by knowing +the odorous substance to be close at hand. To stimulation of the +semi-circular canals we respond by knowing the direction in which we +are being turned. + +We respond to sounds by knowing the direction from which they come, +and the distance from which they come; {440} but it must be confessed +that we are liable to gross errors here. To perceive the distance of +the sounding body we have to be familiar with the sound at various +distances, and our perception of distance is based on this knowledge. +As to the direction of sound, experiment has proved that we do little +more than distinguish between right and left; we are all at sea in +attempting to distinguish front from back or up from down. Apparently +the only datum we have to go by is the different stimulation given the +two ears according as the sound comes from the right or left. + +The remaining senses, the cutaneous, the kinesthetic and the visual, +afford much fuller data for the perception of spatial facts. Movements +of the limbs are perceived quite accurately as to direction and +extent. + +A cutaneous stimulus is located with fair exactness, though much less +exactly on such regions as the back than on the hands or lips. If you +were asked how you distinguished one point from another on the back of +the hand, you could only answer that they felt different; and if you +were further asked whether a pencil point applied to the two points of +the skin did not feel the same, you would have to acknowledge that it +did feel the same, except that it was felt in a different place. In +other words, you would not be able to identify the exact data on which +your perception of cutaneous position is based. Science has done no +better, but has simply given the name of "local sign" to the +unanalyzed sensory datum that gives a knowledge of the point +stimulated. + +In handling an object, as also in walking and many other movements, +the cutaneous and kinesthetic senses are stimulated together, and +between them furnish data for the perception of many spatial facts, +such as the shape of an object examined by the hand. The spherical +shape is certainly better perceived by this combination of tactile and +kinesthetic {441} sensations than by vision, and the same is probably +true of many similar spatial facts. That is, when we see a round ball, +the visual stimulus is a substitute for the tactile and cutaneous +stimuli that originally had most to do with arousing this perception. + +In part by this route of the substitute stimulus, the sense of vision +comes to arouse almost all sorts of spatial perceptions. Of itself, +the retina has "local sign" since we can tell where in the field of +view a seen object is, i.e., in what direction it is from us. This +visual perception of location is so much more exact than the cutaneous +or kinesthetic that it cannot possibly be derived from them; and the +same is true of the visual perception of difference in length, which +is one of the most accurate forms of perception. The retina must of +itself afford very complete stimuli for the perception of location and +size, as far as these are confined to the two dimensions, up-down and +right-left. But, when you stop to think, it seems impossible that the +retina should afford any data for perceiving distance in the +front-back dimension. + +The retina is a screen, and the stimulus that it gets from the world +outside is like a picture cast upon a screen. The picture has the +right-left and up-down dimensions, but no front-back dimension. How, +then, does it come about, as it certainly does, that we perceive by +aid of the eye the distance of objects from us, and the solidity and +relief of objects? This problem in visual perception has received much +attention and been carried to a satisfactory solution. + +Consider, first, what stimuli indicative of distance and relief could +affect a single motionless eye. The picture on the retina could then +be duplicated by a painter on canvas, and the signs of distance +available would be the same in the two cases. The painter uses +foreshortening, making a man in the picture small in proportion to his +distance away; {442} and in the same way, when any familiar object +casts a small picture on the retina, we perceive the object, not as +diminished in size, but as far away. The painter colors his near hills +green, his distant ones blue, and washes out all detail in the +latter--"aërial perspective", he calls this. His distant hill peeks +from behind his nearer one, being partially covered by it. His shadows +fall in a way to indicate the relief of the landscape. These signs of +distance also affect the single resting eye and are responded to by +appropriate spatial perceptions. + +Now let the single eye move, with the head, from side to side: an +index of the distance of objects is thus obtained, additional to all +the painter has at his disposal, for the distant objects in the field +of view now seem to move with the eye, while the nearer objects slide +in the opposite direction. How much this sign is ordinarily made use +of in perceiving distance is not known; it is believed not to be used +very much, and yet it is the most delicate of all the signs of +distance. The reason why it may not be much used by two-eyed people is +that another index almost as delicate and handier to use is afforded +by binocular vision. + +When both eyes are open, we have a sign of distance that the painter +does not use, though it is used in stereoscope slides. The right and +left eyes get somewhat different views of the same solid object, the +right eye seeing a little further around the object to the right, and +the left eye to the left. The disparity between the two retinal +images, due to the different angles at which they view the object, is +greatest when the object is close at hand, and diminishes to +practically zero when it is a few hundred feet away. This disparity +between the two retinal images is responded to by perception of the +distance and relief of the object. + +It will be recalled [Footnote: See pp. 253-254.] that when two utterly +inconsistent {443} views are presented to the two eyes, as a red field +to one and a green field to the other, the visual apparatus balks and +refuses to see more than one at a time--the binocular rivalry +phenomenon. But when the disparate views are such as are presented to +the two eyes by the same solid object, the visual apparatus (following +the law of combination) responds to the double stimulation by getting +a single view of an object in three dimensions. + + +Esthetic Perception + +Beauty, humor, pathos and sublimity can be perceived by the senses, +though we might debate a long time over the question whether these +characteristics are really objective, or merely our own feelings +aroused by the objects, and then projected into them. However that may +be, there is no doubt that the ability to make these responses is +something that can be trained, and that some people are blind and deaf +to beauty and humor that other people clearly perceive. Many a one +fails to see the point of a joke, or is unable to find any humor in +the situation, which are clearly perceived by another. Many a one sees +only a sign of rain in a great bank of clouds, only a weary climb in +the looming mountain. + + "A primrose by the river's brim + A yellow primrose was to him. + And it was nothing more." + +It would not be quite fair to describe such a one as lacking in +feeling; he probably has, on sufficient stimulus, the same feelings as +another man, and it would be more exact to say that he is lacking in +perception of certain qualities and relations. He probably tends, by +nature and training, to practical rather than esthetic perception. To +see any {444} beauty in a new style of music or painting, or to sense +the humor in a new form of humorous writing, you need to be initiated, +to be trained in observing the precise qualities and relations that +are depended on for the esthetic effect. A complex situation presents +almost an unlimited range of facts that may be perceived; no one +perceives them all, and which he shall perceive depends on his nature +and training, as well as on his attitude or mental set at the moment +when the situation is presented. + +Psychology has not by any means been idle in this field of esthetics; +it has developed experimental methods for determining the preferences +of individuals and of social groups. But it must be confessed that the +results offer little that can be succinctly summarized. + +One curious result is that even the very simplest objects can produce +an esthetic effect. You would scarcely suppose, for example, that a +mere rectangle could produce any esthetic effect, or that it would +make any difference what exact proportions the rectangle possessed; +and yet it is found that some rectangles are preferred to others, and +that the popular choice falls upon what the art theorists have long +known as the "golden section", a rectangle with a width about +sixty-two per cent, of its length. Also, however much you may like +symmetry, you would scarcely suppose that it could make much +difference where, on a horizontal line, a little cross line should be +erected; and yet nearly every one, on being tested, will agree that +the middle is the best point. These are merely a couple of sample +results from the numerous studies in this field. + + +Social Perception + +By the senses we perceive the motives and intentions of other people, +their sincerity, goodness, intelligence, and {445} many other traits. +We see them angry or bored, amused, full of energy. To be sure, none +of these human characteristics is directly and fully sensed, but that +is the case also with many characteristics of inanimate objects which, +nevertheless, we perceive by aid of the senses. We perceive anger or +sincerity in much the same way that we perceive moisture or smoothness +by the eye. To experience the anger of another person is a complex +experience, but a single element from this experience may come to +serve as the sign of the whole condition. A good share of the child's +undirected education consists in learning to perceive the intentions +and characteristics of other people by aid of little signs. He learns +to read the signs of the weather in the family circle, and he learns +in some measure to be a judge of men. + +I once saw an instructive little incident, in which an older boy +suddenly grabbed the cap from a little boy's head, and held it out to +the driver of a passing automobile, as if giving it to him. The man +saw the joke, and drove on laughing, but the little boy took it +seriously and was quite worried for fear the man would carry off his +cap. An older child would have "seen into" the situation readily; he +could not have been teased in that way. Many social situations which +are "all Greek" to a little child are understood readily by an older +person. + +It would be very valuable if psychology could succeed in analyzing out +the signs by which such a trait as intelligence or "will power" is +perceived, so as to reduce such perception to a science; but it is +very doubtful if this can be done. Some persons who probably have +themselves a keen perception of such traits have put forward systems, +based upon the shape of the face, etc. They probably think they +perceive human traits according to their systems, but the systems fail +in other hands, and are undoubtedly {446} fallacious. No good judge of +character really goes by the shape of the face; he goes by little +behavior signs which he has not analyzed out, and therefore cannot +explain to another person. + +You can tell very little regarding a person's intelligence from his +photograph. This has now been pretty well established. Photographs of +persons of various degrees of intelligence are placed before those who +are reputed to be good judges, and their estimates compared with the +test ratings, and there is no correspondence. You might just as well +look at the back of the photograph as at the front. + +Even with the person before you, you are likely to commit great +errors. This sort of incident has happened. A young woman is brought +before the court for delinquency, and the psychologist who has tested +her testifies that she is of low intelligence. But the young woman is +good-looking and graceful in her speech and manners, and so impresses +the judge that he dismisses as "absurd" the notion of her being +feeble-minded. He sets her free, on which she promptly gets into +trouble again. Apparently the only way to perceive intelligence is to +see a person in action, preferably under standard conditions, where +his performance can be measured; that is to say, in an intelligence +test. + + +Errors of Perception + +The grocer needs to be assured of the accuracy of his scales, and the +chemist of the high accuracy of his chemical balance; the surveyor +needs to know about the errors that may creep into the process of +measuring the length of a line or angle. All of them, using +instruments to assist in accurate perception of facts, are concerned +about the accuracy of their instruments. Now, we all use the senses in +perceiving facts, and "errors of sense" therefore concern us {447} +all. Some of the errors committed in sense perception can be laid at +the door of the senses, and some rather belong in the sphere of +perception proper. + +If you come out of a cold room into a warm room, the latter seems +warmer than it is; and if you come out of a dark room into a light +room, the latter seems brighter than it is. These errors, due to +adaptation of the temperature sense and of the retina, are properly +classed as errors of sense. + +If you are taking a child's temperature with a "minute thermometer", +it is best to use your watch to tell you when the minute is up, for +the minute, when you are simply waiting for it to pass, seems very +long. But if you are "working against time", a minute seems short. The +professor is shocked when the closing bell rings, and thinks that +certainly the hour cannot be up; but some of the students have been +consulting their watches for quite a long while, being sure the hour +must be nearly over. These are scarcely errors of sense, but they are +errors of perception. + +Where we tend to err in one certain direction from the truth, as in +the examples just cited, psychology speaks of a "constant error", and +evidently the knowledge of such constant errors is of importance +wherever the facts are of importance. In a court of law, a witness +often has to testify regarding the length of time occupied by some +event, and a knowledge of the constant errors in time perception would +therefore be of considerable legal importance. They would need to be +worked out in considerable detail, since they differ according to the +desires and attitude of the witness at the time of the event. + +Besides constant errors, there are accidental or variable errors, due +to slight momentary causes. Both constant and variable errors can be +illustrated by a series of shots at a target. The variable error is +illustrated by the scatter of {448} the hits, and the constant error +by the excess of hits above the bull's-eye, or below, or to the right +or left. The constant error can be corrected, once you know what it +is; if results show that you tend to shoot too high, you can +deliberately aim lower. But the variability of any performance cannot +be eliminated except by long practice, and not altogether even then. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 66.--Constant error and scatter in hitting at a +target. The little circle was the target, but the center of the actual +distribution of the attempts lies at the cross, which was drawn in +afterwards. The constant error could be stated by saying that the +center of distribution was so far from the target, and in such and +such a direction. The scattering of the attempts can be measured +also.] + + +Experimental psychology has taken great pains in measuring the +accuracy of different sorts of perception. How small a difference in +length can be perceived by the eye, how small a difference of weight +by the hand--these are sample problems in this line. + +For example, to measure the fineness with which weights can be +perceived when "hefted" in the hand, you take two objects that are +alike in size and appearance but differing slightly in weight, and +endeavor to decide which is the heavier just by lifting them. You try +repeatedly and keep track of the number of errors, using this number +as a measure of the accuracy of perception. Now, if one weight were +twice as heavy as the other (one, for example, weighing 100 grams +{449} and the other 200), you would never make an error except through +carelessness; but if one were 100 and the other 120 grams, you would +make an occasional error, and the number of errors would increase as +the difference was decreased; finally, comparing 100 and 101 grams, +you would get almost as many wrong as right, so that your perception +of that small difference would be extremely unreliable. + + + ERRORS IN PERCEIVING SMALL DIFFERENCES + OF WEIGHT (From Warner Brown) + + Difference 20 16 12 8 4 8 2 1 grams + + Errors 1 2 5 18 28 81 89 44 per hundred trials + + The weights were in the neighborhood of 100 grams; each weight was + compared with the 100-gram weight, and each such pair was lifted and + judged 1400 times. Notice that the per cent of errors gradually + increases as the difference becomes smaller. + + +The smaller the difference between two stimuli, the more numerous the +errors in perceiving it, or, the less perceptible it is, and there is +no sharp line between a difference that can be perceived and one that +is too small to be perceived. That is the first great result from the +study of the perception of small differences. + +The second great result is called _Weber's law_, which can be stated +as follows: In the same sort of perception, equal relative (not +absolute) differences are equally perceptible. For example, from the +preceding table we see that 28 per cent. of errors are made in +comparing weights of 100 and 104 grams; then, according to Weber's +law, 28 per cent, of errors would also be made in comparing 200 grams +with 208, or 500 with 520, or 1000 with 1040 grams, or any pair of +weights that stood to each other in the ratio of 100 to 104. Weber's +law is only approximately true for the perception of weights, since +actually fewer errors are committed in comparing 500 and 520 than in +comparing 100 and 104 grams; but the discrepancy is not extremely +great here, and in {450} some other kinds of perception, as especially +in comparing the brightness of lights or the length of seen lines, the +law holds good over a wide range of stimuli and only breaks down near +the upper and lower extremes. We are familiar, in ordinary life, with +the general truth of Weber's law, since we know that an inch would +make a much more perceptible addition to the length of a man's nose +than to his height, and we know that turning on a second light when +only one is already lit gives a much more noticeable increase in the +light than if we add one more light when twenty are already burning. + +A third great result of this line of study is that different sorts of +perception are very unequal in their fineness and reliability. +Perception of brightness is about the keenest, as under favorable +conditions a difference of one part in one hundred can here be +perceived with very few errors. Visual perception of length of line is +good for about one part in fifty, perception of lifted weight for +about one part in ten, perception of loudness of sound for about one +part in three. But the perception of small differences in the pitch of +musical tones is keener still, only that, not following Weber's law in +the least, it cannot be expressed in the same way. A person with a +good ear for pitch can distinguish with very few errors between two +tones that differ by only one vibration per second, and can perceive +this same absolute difference equally well, whether the total +vibration rate is 200, 400, or 800 vibrations per second. + + +Illusions + +An error of perception is often called an "illusion", though this term +is commonly reserved for errors that are large and curious. When one +who is being awakened by a bell perceives it as a tom-tom, that is an +illusion. An {451} illusion consists in responding to a sensory +stimulus by perceiving something that is not really there. The +stimulus is there, but not the fact which it is taken to indicate. +Illusion is false perception. + +The study of illusions is of value, not only as showing how far a +given kind of perception can be trusted, but also as throwing light on +the process of perception. When a process goes wrong, it sometimes +reveals its inner mechanism more clearly than when everything is +running smoothly. Errors of any kind are meat to the psychologist. + +Illusions may be classified under several headings according to the +factors that are operative in causing the deception. + +1. Illusions due to peculiarities of the sense organs. + +Here the stimulus is distorted by the sense organ and so may easily be +taken as the sign of an unreal fact. + +Separate the points of a pair of compasses by about three-quarters of +an inch, and draw them across the mouth, one point above it and the +other below; you will get the illusion of the points separating as +they approach the middle of the mouth (where the sensory nerve supply +is greatest), and coming together again as they are drawn to the cheek +at the other side. + +Under this same general head belong also after-images and contrast +colors, and also double vision whenever for any reason the two eyes +are not accurately converged upon an object. The fact that a vertical +line appears longer than an equal horizontal is supposed to depend +upon some peculiarity of the retina. Aside from the use of this class +of illusions in the detailed study of the different senses, the chief +thing to learn from them is they so seldom are full-fledged illusions, +because they are ignored or allowed for, and not taken as the signs of +facts. An after-image would constitute a genuine illusion if it were +taken for some real {452} thing out there; but as a matter of fact, +though after-images occur very frequently--slight ones practically +every time the eyes are turned--they are ignored to such an extent +that the student of psychology, when he reads about them, often thinks +them to be something unusual and lying outside of his own experience. +The same is true of double images. This all goes to show how strong is +the tendency to disregard mere sensation in the interest of getting +objective facts. + +2. Illusions due to preoccupation or mental set. + +When an insane person hears the creaking of a rocking-chair as the +voice of some one calling him bad names, it is because he is +preoccupied with suspicion. We might almost call this an +hallucination,[Footnote: See p. 375.] since he is projecting his own +auditory images and taking them for real sensations; it is, at any +rate, an extreme instance of illusion. In a milder form, similar +illusions are often momentarily present in a perfectly normal person, +as when he is searching for a lost object and thinks he sees it +whenever anything remotely similar to the desired object meets his +eyes; or as when the mother, with the baby upstairs very much on her +mind, imagines she hears him crying when the cat yowls or the +next-door neighbors start their phonograph. The ghost-seeing and +burglar-hearing illusions belong here as well. The mental set +facilitates responses that are congruous with itself. + +3. Illusions of the response-by-analogy type. + +This is probably the commonest source of everyday illusions, and the +same principle, as we have seen, is operative in a host of correct +perceptions. Perceiving the obliquely presented rectangle as a +rectangle is an example of correct perception of this type. Perceiving +the buzzing of a fly as an aeroplane is the same sort of response only +that it happens to be incorrect. If the present stimulus has something +in {453} common with the stimulus which has in the past aroused a +certain perception, we may make the same response now as we did +before--especially, of course, if the present mantel set favors this +response. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 67.--The Ladd-Franklin illusion of monocular +perspective. Close one eye, and hold the book so that the other eye is +at the common center from which the lines radiate; this center is +about 5 inches from the figure. Hold the book horizontally, and just a +little below the eye.] + + +A good instance of this type is the "proofreader's illusion", so +called, perhaps, because the professional proofreader is less subjcet +to it than any one else. The one most subject to it is the author of a +book, for whom it is almost impossible to find every misspelled word +and other typographical error in reading the proof. Almost every book +comes out with a few such errors, in spite of having been scanned +repeatedly by several people. A couple of misprints have purposely +been left in the last few lines for the reader's benefit. If the word +as printed has enough resemblance to the right word, it arouses the +same percept and enables the reader to get the sense and pass on +satisfied. {454} Before we began to pore over books and pictures, the +lines that we saw usually were the outlines of solid objects, and now +it requires only a bare diagram of lines to arouse in us the +perception of a solid object seen in perspective. An outline drawing, +like those of the cube and staircase used to illustrate ambiguous +perspective, is more readily seen as a solid object than as a flat +figure. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 68.--Aristotle's illusion.] + + +Another illusion of this general type dates away back to Aristotle. +Cross two fingers, perhaps best the second and third, and touch a +marble with the crossed part of both fingers, and it seems to be two +marbles; or, you can use the side of your pencil as the stimulus. In +the customary position of the fingers, the stimuli thus received would +mean two objects. + +A much more modern illusion of the same general type is afforded by +the moving pictures. The pictures do not actually show an object in +motion; they simply show the object in a series of motionless +positions, caught by instantaneous photography. The projector shows +the series of snap-shots in rapid succession, and conceals them by a +shutter while they are shifted, so as to avoid the blur that would +occur if the picture were itself moved before the eyes. But the series +of snap-shots has so much in common with the visual stimulus got from +an actually present moving object that we make the same perceptive +response. {455} The same illusion in a rudimentary form can be +produced by holding the forefinger upright three or four inches in +front of the nose, and looking at it while winking first the one eye +and then the other. Looked at with the right eye alone it appears to +be more to one side and looked at with the left eye alone it appears +to be more to the other side; and when the one eye is closed and the +other simultaneously opened, the finger seems actually to move from +one position to the other. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 69.--The pan illusion. The two pan-shaped outlines +are practically identical, but it is hard to compare the corresponding +sides--hard to isolate from the total figure just the elements that +you need to compare.] + + +4. Illusions due to imperfect isolation of the fact to be perceived. + +Here belong, probably, most of the illusions produced in the +psychological laboratory by odd combinations of lines, etc. A figure +is so drawn as to make it difficult to isolate the fact to be +observed, and when the observer attempts to perceive it, he falls into +error. He thinks he is perceiving one fact, when he is perceiving +another. The best example is the Müller-Lyer figure, in which two +equal lines are embellished with extra lines at their ends; you are +supposed to perceive the lengths of the two main lines, but you are +very apt to take the whole figure in the rough and perceive the +distances between its chief parts. You do not succeed in isolating the +precise fact you wish to observe. + +{456} + +The Müller-Lyer Illusion + +The most familiar form of this striking illusion is made with arrow +heads, thus + + +[Illustration: Inward and outward arrowheads on two equal length lines.] + + +In attempting to compare the two horizontal lines one is confused so +as to regard the line with outward-extending obliques longer than that +with inward-extending obliques, though, measured from point to point, +they are equal. The same illusion occurs in a variety of similar +figures, such as + + +[Illustration: Inward and outward arrowheads.] + + +where the main lines are not drawn, but the distances from point to +point are to be compared; or such as + + +[Illustration: Inward and outward solid arrowheads.] + + +where the two distances between points are again to be compared. +Angles, however, are not necessary to give the illusion, as can be +seen in this figure + + +[Illustration: Half circles with similar spacing.] + + +or in this + + +[Illustration: Full circles with similar spacing.] + + +In the last the lengths to be compared extend (_a_) from the +right-hand rim of circle 1 to the left-hand rim of circle 2, and (_b_) +from this last to the right-hand rim of circle 3. The same illusion +can be got with squares, or even with capital letters as + +[Illustration: Upper case E with similar spacing and the center letter +reversed.] + + +or + + +[Illustration: Upper case R with similar spacing and the center letter +reversed.] + + +or + + +[Illustration: Upper case L E D with similar spacing and the center +letter reversed.] + + +where the distances between the main vertical lines are to be +compared. + +Here is an another form of the same illusion + + +[Illustration: Two sets of three parallel horizontal lines. In the first +set the center line is longest. In the second set the center line is +shortest, but the same length as the first center line.] + + +the middle lines being affected by those above and below. + +{457} + +Though these illusions seem like curiosities, and far from every-day +experience, they really do enter in some degree into almost every +figure that is not perfectly square and simple. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 70.--The Poggendorf illusion. Are the two obliques +parts of the same straight line?] + + +Any oblique line, any complication of any sort, is pretty sure to +alter the apparent proportions and directions of the figure. A broad +effect, a long effect, a skewed effect, may easily be produced by +extra lines suitably introduced into a dress, into the front of a +building, or into a design of any sort; so that the designer needs to +have a practical knowledge of this type of illusion. + +Extra lines have an influence also upon esthetic perception. The +esthetic effect of a given form may be quite altered by the +introduction of apparently insignificant extra lines. + +{458} + + +[Illustration: Fig. 71.--The barber-pole illusion. The rectangle +represents a round column, around which runs a spiral, starting at +_a_. Which of the lines, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, comes closest to being a +continuation of _a?_] + + +Esthetic perception is very much subject to the law of combination, +and to the resulting difficulty of isolation. + +One of the most interesting illusions, not being visual, can {459} +only be described and not demonstrated here. + + + [Illustration: Fig. 72.--By aid of this simple figure, the + Poggendorf and barber-pole illusions can be seen to be instances of + the Müller-Lyer illusion, Try to bisect the horizontal line in this + figure. The oblique line at the right tends to displace the + right-hand end of the horizontal to the right, while the oblique at + the left tends to displace the left-hand end of the horizontal also + to the right. Similar displacements account for the Poggendorf and + barber-pole illusions.] + + + [Illustration: Fig. 73.--The Zoellner illusion. The long lines are + really parallel. The illusion is increased by holding the figure so + that these main lines shall be neither vertical nor horizontal. It + is more difficult to "deceive the eye" in regard to the direction of + vertical and horizontal lines, than in regard to the direction of + oblique lines. This illusion must be related in some way to the + Müller-Lyer and Poggendorf illusions, since the elements employed in + constructing the three figures are so much the same. + + If you treat this figure according to the directions given for Fig. + 67, and sight along the obliques, you get an illusion of + perspective.] + + +It is called the "size-weight illusion", and may be said to be based +on the old catch, "Which is heavier, a pound of lead or a pound of +feathers?" Of course, we shrewdly answer, a pound's {460} a pound. But +lift them and notice how they feel! The pound of lead feels very much +heavier. To reduce this illusion to a laboratory experiment, you take +two round wooden pill-boxes, one several times as large as the other, +and load them so that they both weigh the same; then ask some one to +lift them and tell which is the heavier. He will have no doubt at all +that the smaller box is the heavier; it may seem two or three times as +heavy. Young children, however, get the opposite illusion, +assimilating the weight to the visual appearance; but older persons +switch over to the contrast effect, and perceive in opposition to the +visual appearance. What seems to happen in the older person is a motor +adjustment for the apparent weights, as indicated by their visual +appearance, with the result that the weight of larger size is lifted +more strongly than the weight of smaller size; so that the big one +comes up easily and seems light, the little one slowly and seems +heavy. + + +{461} + +EXERCISES + + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. Show that the law of combination accounts both for many + correct perceptions, and for many illusions. + +3. Through which of the senses are spatial facts best perceived? + +4. "At first, the baby very likely perceives a ball simply as something + for him to handle and throw; but, through the medium of blocked + response, he comes to perceive it more objectively, i.e., as an + object related to other objects, and not simply related to + himself." Explain and illustrate this statement. + +5. Give an example from the field of auditory perceptions where + "isolation" is very much in evidence. + +6. Can you see any law analogous to Weber's law in the field of + financial profit and loss? Does a dollar gained or lost _seem_ the + same amount, without regard to the total amount possessed? + +7. Trial and error perception. Go about the room with closed eyes, + and identify objects by touching them with the hands. Notice + whether your first impression gives place to corrected impressions. + +8. Perception of form by "active" and "passive" touch. With + the eyes closed, try to distinguish objects of different shapes (a) + by letting them simply rest upon the skin, and (b) by handling + them. What senses coöperate in furnishing data for "active touch"? + +9. Binocular parallax, or the differing views of the same solid object + obtained by the two eyes. Hold a small, three-dimensional object a + foot in front of the face, and notice carefully the view of it + obtained by each eye separately. A pencil, pointing towards the + face, gives very different views. What becomes of the two monocular + views when both eyes are open at once? + +10. Binocular compared with monocular perception of "depth" + or distance away. Take a pencil in each hand, and bring the points + together a foot in front of the face, while only one eye is open. + When the points seem to be nearly touching, open the other eye, + and see whether the two points still seem to be close together. + Repeat. + + +REFERENCES + +Discussions of perception that are in some respects fuller than the +present chapter can be found in C. H. Judd's _Psychology, General +Introduction_, 2nd edition, 1917, pp. 162-194; in Titchener's +_Textbook of Psychology_, 1909, pp. 303-373; and in Warren's _Human +Psychology_, 1919, pp. 232-269. + + +{462} + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +REASONING + +THE PROCESS OF MENTAL, AS DISTINGUISHED FROM MOTOR EXPLORATION + +We are still on the general topic of "discovery". Indeed, we are still +on the topic of perception; we come now to that form of perception +which is different from sense perception. The reasoner is an explorer, +and the culmination of his explorations is the perception of some fact +previously unknown to him. + +Reasoning might be described as mental exploration, and distinguished +from purely motor exploration of the trial and error variety. Suppose +you need the hammer, and go to the place where it is kept, only to +find it gone. Now if you simply proceed to look here and there, +ransacking the house without any plan, that would be motor +exploration. But if, finding this trial and error procedure to be +laborious and almost hopeless, you sit down and think, "Where can that +hammer be? Probably where I used it last!" you may recall using it +for a certain purpose, in a certain place, go there and find it. You +have substituted mental exploration of the situation for purely motor +exploration, and saved time and effort. Such instances show the use of +reasoning, and the part it plays in behavior. + +The _process_ of reasoning is also illustrated very well in these +simple cases. It is an exploratory process, a searching for facts. In +a way, it is a trial and error process. If you don't ransack the +house, at least you ransack your memory, in search for facts that will +assist you. You recall this fact {463} and that, you turn this way and +that, mentally, till some fact is recalled that serves your need. No +more in reasoning than in motor exploration can you hope to go +straight to the desired goal. + + +Animal and Human Exploration + +Is man the only reasoning animal? The experimental work on animal +learning, reviewed in one of our earlier chapters, was begun with this +question in mind. Previous evidence on this point had been limited to +anecdotes, such as that of the dog that was found opening a gate by +lifting the latch with his nose, and was supposed to have seen men +open the gate in this way, and to have _reasoned_ that if a man could +do that, why not a dog? The objection to this sort of evidence is that +the dog's manner of acquiring the trick was not observed. Perhaps he +reasoned it out, and perhaps he got it by accident--you cannot tell +without watching the process of learning. You must experiment, by +taking a dog that does not know the trick, and perhaps first "showing +him" how to open the gate by lifting the latch; but it was found that +dogs and cats, and even monkeys, could not learn the trick in this +way. If, however, you placed a dog in a cage, the door of which could +be opened by lifting a latch, and motivated the dog strongly by having +him hungry and placing food just outside, then the dog went to work by +trial and error, and lifted the latch in the course of his varied +reactions; and if he were placed back in the cage time after time, his +unsuccessful reactions were gradually eliminated and the successful +reaction was firmly attached to the situation of being in that cage, +so that he would finally lift the latch without any hesitation. + +The behavior of the animal does not look like reasoning. For one +thing, it is too impulsive and motor. The typical {464} attitudes of +the reasoner, whether "lost in thought" or "studying over things", do +not appear in the dog, or even in the monkey, though traces of them +may perhaps be seen in the chimpanzee and other manlike apes. Further, +the animal's learning curve fails to show sudden improvements such as +in human learning curves follow "seeing into" the problem. In short, +there is nothing to indicate that the animal recalls facts previously +observed or sees their bearing on the problem in hand. He works by +motor exploration, instead of mental. He does not search for +"considerations" that may furnish a clue. + +The behavior of human beings, placed figuratively in a cage, sometimes +differs very little from that of an animal. Certainly it shows plenty +of trial and error and random motor exploration; and often the puzzle +is so blind that nothing but motor exploration will bring the +solution. What the human behavior does show that is mostly absent from +the animal is (1) attentive studying over the problem, scrutinizing it +on various sides, in the effort to find a clue; (2) thinking, +typically with closed eyes or abstracted gaze, in the effort to recall +something that may bear on the problem; and (3) sudden "insights" when +the present problem is seen in the light of past experience. + +Though reason differs from animal trial and error in these respects, +it still is a tentative, try-and-try-again process. The right clue is +not necessarily hit upon at the first try; usually the reasoner finds +one clue after another, and follows each one up by recall, only to get +nowhere, till finally he notices a sign that recalls a pertinent +meaning. His exploration of the situation, though carried on by aid of +recalled experience instead of by locomotion, still resembles finding +the way out of a maze with many blind alleys. In short, reasoning may +be called a trial and error process in the sphere of mental reactions. + +{465} + +The reader familiar with geometry, which is distinctly a reasoning +science, can readily verify this description. It is true that the +demonstrations are set down in the book in a thoroughly orderly +manner, proceeding straight from the given assumption to the final +conclusion; but such a demonstration is only a dried specimen and does +not by any means picture the living mental process of reasoning out a +proposition. Solving an "original" is far from a straight-forward +process. You begin with a situation (what is "given") involving a +problem (what is to be proved), and, studying over this lay-out you +notice a certain fact which looks like a clue; this recalls some +previous proposition which gives the significance of the clue, but +often turns out to have no bearing on the problem, so that you shift +to another clue; and so on, by what is certainly a trial and error +process, till some fact noted in the situation plus some knowledge +recalled by this fact, taken together, reveal the truth of the +proposition. + + +Reasoning Culminates in Inference + +When you have described reasoning as a process of mental exploration, +you have told only half the story. The successful reasoner not only +seeks, but finds. He not only ransacks his memory for data bearing on +his problem, but he finally "sees" the solution clearly. The whole +exploratory process culminates in a perceptive reaction. What he +"sees" is not presented to his senses at the moment, but he "sees that +something _must_ be so". This kind of perception may be called +_inference_. + +To bring out distinctly the perceptive reaction in reasoning, let us +cite a few very simple cases. Two freshmen in college, getting +acquainted, ask about each other's fathers and find that both are +alumni of this same college. "What class was your father in?" "In the +class of 1900. And {466} yours?" "Why, he was in 1900, too. Our +fathers were in the same class; they must know each other!" Here two +facts, one contributed by one person and the other by another person, +enable both to perceive a third fact which neither of them knew +before. Inference, typically, is a response to two facts, and the +response consists in perceiving a third fact that is bound up in the +other two. + +You do not infer what you can perceive directly by the senses. If Mary +and Kate are standing side by side, you can _see_ which is the taller. +But if they are not side by side, but Mary's height is given as so +much and Kate's as an inch more, then from these two facts you know, +by inference, that Kate is taller than Mary. + +"Have we set the table for the right number of people?" "Well, we can +see when the party comes to the table." "Oh! but we can tell now by +counting. How many are there to be seated? One, two, three--fifteen in +all. Now count the places at table--only fourteen. You will have to +make room for one more." This reducing of the problem to numbers and +then seeing how the numbers compare is one very simple and useful kind +of inference. + +Indirect comparison may be accomplished by other similar devices. I +can reach around this tree trunk, but not around that, and thus I +perceive that the second tree is thicker than the first, even though +it may not look so. If two things are each found to be equal to a +third thing, then I see they must be equal to each other; if one is +larger than my yardstick and the other smaller, then I see they must +be unequal. + +Of the two facts which, taken together, yield an inferred fact, one is +often a general rule or principle, and the inference then consists in +seeing how the general rule applies to a special case. A dealer offers +you a fine-looking diamond ring for five dollars, but you recall the +rule that "all genuine diamonds are expensive", and perceive that this +{467} diamond must be an imitation. This also is an instance of +indirect comparison, the yardstick being the sum of five dollars; this +ring measures five dollars, but any genuine diamond measures more than +five dollars, and therefore a discrepancy is visible between this +diamond and a genuine diamond. You can't see the discrepancy by the +eye, but you see it by way of indirect comparison, just as you +discover the difference between the heights of Mary and Kate by aid of +the yardstick. + +If all French writers are clear, then Binet, a French writer, must be +clear. Here "French writers" furnish your yardstick. Perhaps it would +suit this case a little better if, instead of speaking of indirect +comparison by aid of a mental yardstick, we spoke in terms of +"relations". When you have before your mind the relation of A to M, +and also the relation of B to M, you may be able to see, or infer, a +relation between A and B. M is the common point of reference to which +A and B are related. Binet stands in a certain relation to "French +writers", who furnish the point of reference; that is, he is one of +them. Clear writing stands in a certain relation to French writers, +being one of their qualities; from which combination of relations we +perceive clear writing as a quality of Binet. + +Just as an illusion is a false sense perception, so a false inference +is called a "fallacy". One great cause of fallacies consists in the +confused way in which facts are sometimes presented, resulting in +failure to see the relationships clearly. If you read that + + "Smith is taller than Brown; and + Jones is shorter than Smith; and therefore + Jones is shorter than Brown," + +the mix-up of "taller" and "shorter" makes it difficult to get the +relationships clearly before you, and you are likely {468} to make a +mistake. Or again, if Mary and Jane both resemble Winifred, can you +infer that they resemble each other? You are likely to think so at +first, till you notice that resemblance is not a precise enough +relation to serve for purposes of indirect comparison. Mary may +resemble Winifred in one respect, and Jane may resemble her in another +respect, and there may be no resemblance between Mary and Jane. + +Or, again, + + "All French writers are clear; but + James was not a French writer; and therefore + James was not a clear writer," + +may cause some confusion from failure to notice that the relation +between French writers and clear writing is not reversible so that we +could turn about and assert that all clear writers were French. + +The reasoner needs a clear head and a steady mental eye; he needs to +look squarely and steadily at his two given statements in order to +perceive their exact relationship. Diagrams and symbols often assist +in keeping the essential facts clear of extraneous matter, and so +facilitate the right response. + +To sum up: the process of reasoning culminates in two facts being +present as stimuli, and the response, called "inference", consists in +perceiving a third fact that is implicated in the two stimulus-facts. +It is a good case of the law of combination, and at the same time it +is a case where "isolation" is needed, otherwise the response will be +partly aroused by irrelevant stimuli, and thus be liable to error. + + +Varieties of Reasoning + +Reasoning as a whole is a process of mental exploration culminating in +inference. Now, without regard to possible {469} variations of the +perceptive response of inference, there are at least different +varieties of the exploratory process leading up to inference. The +situation that arouses reasoning differs from one case to another, the +motive for engaging in this rather laborious mental process differs, +and the order of events in the process differs. There are several main +types of reasoning, considered as a process of mental exploration. + + +1. Reasoning out the solution of a practical problem. + +A "problem" is a situation for which we have no ready and successful +response. We cannot successfully respond by instinct or by previously +acquired habit. We must _find out_ what to do. We explore the +situation, partly by the senses and actual movement, partly by the use +of our wits. We observe facts in the situation that recall previous +experiences or previously learned rules and principles, and apply +these to the present case. Many of these clues we reject at once as of +no use; others we may try out and find useless; some we may think +through and thus find useless; but finally, if our exploration is +successful, we observe a real clue, recall a pertinent guiding +principle, and see the way out of our problem. + +Two boys went into the woods for a day's outing. They climbed about +all the morning, and ate their lunch in a little clearing by the side +of a brook. Then they started for home, striking straight through the +woods, as they thought, in the direction of home. After quite a long +tramp, when they thought they should be about out of the woods, they +saw clear space ahead, and, pushing forward eagerly, found themselves +in the same little clearing where they had eaten their lunch! +Reasoning process No. 1 now occurred: one of the boys _recalled_ that +when traversing the woods without any compass or landmark, the +traveller is very likely to go in a circle; inference, "That is what +we have done and {470} we probably shall do the same thing again if we +go ahead. We may as well sit down and think it over." + +Mental exploration ensued. "How about following the brook?" "That +won't do, for it flows down into a big swamp that we couldn't get +through". "How about telling directions by the sun?" "But it has so +clouded over that you can't tell east from west, or north from south." +"Yes, those old clouds! How fast they are going! They seem to go +straight enough." "Well, say! How about following the clouds? If we +keep on going straight, in any direction, for a couple of hours, we +shall surely get out of the woods somewhere." This seems worth trying +and actually brings the boys out to a road where they can inquire the +way home. + +What we find in this case is typical of problem solution. First, a +desire is aroused, and it facilitates the observation and recall of +facts relevant to itself. One pertinent fact is observed, another +pertinent fact, or rule, is recalled; and in these two taken together +the key to the problem is found. + + +2. Rationalization or self-justification. + +While in the preceding case reasoning showed what to do, here it is +called upon to justify what has been done, or what is going to be done +anyway. The question is, what reason to assign for the act; we feel +the need of meeting criticism, either from other people or from +ourselves. The real motive for the act may be unknown to ourselves, as +it often is unless we have made a careful study of motives; or, if +known, it may not be such as we care to confess. We require a +_reasonable_ motive, some acceptable general principle that explains +our action. + +A child is unaccountably polite and helpful to his mother some day, +and when asked about it replies that he simply wants to help--while +his real motive may have been to score against his brother or sister, +who is to some extent his rival. + +{471} + +If I have work requiring attention but want to go to the game, I +should certainly be lacking in reasoning ability if I could not find +something in the situation that made my attendance at the game +imperative. I am stale, and the game will freshen me up and make me +work better afterward. Or, I am in serious danger of degenerating into +a mere "grind", and must fight against this evil tendency. Or, my +presence at the game is necessary in order to encourage the team. + +Thus, aspects of the situation that are in line with our desire bob to +the surface and suggest acceptable general principles that make the +intended action seem good and even necessary. Finding excuses for acts +already performed is a reasoning exercise of the same sort. Man is a +rationalizing animal as well as a rational animal, and his +self-justifications and excuses, ludicrous though they often are, are +still a tribute to his very laudable appreciation of rationality. + + +3. Explanation. + +This form of reasoning, like the preceding, takes its start with +something that raises the question, "Why?" Only, our interest in the +question is objective rather than subjective. It is not our own +actions that call for explanation, but some fact of nature or of human +behavior. Why--with apologies to the Southern Hemisphere!--is it so +cold in January? The fact arouses our curiosity. We search the +situation for clues, and recall past information, just as in the +attempt to solve a practical problem. "Is it because there is so much +snow in January?" "But what, then, makes it snow? This clue leads us +in a circle." "Perhaps, then, it is because the sun shines so little +of the time, and never gets high in the sky, even at noon." That is a +pretty good clue; it recalls the general principle that, without a +continued supply of heat, cold is inevitable. To explain a phenomenon +is to deduce it from {472} an accepted general principle; to +understand it is to see it as an instance of the general principle. +Such understanding is very satisfactory, since it rids you of +uncertainty and sometimes from fear, and gives you a sense of power +and mastery. + + +4. Application. + +The reasoning processes discussed up to this point have taken their +start with the particular, and have been concerned in a search for the +general principle that holds good of the given particular case. +Reasoning may also take its start at the other end, in a general +statement, and seek for particular cases belonging under this general +rule. But what can be the motive for this sort of reasoning? What is +there about a general proposition to stimulate exploration? + +Several motives may be in play. First, there may be a need for +application of the general principle. Somebody whose authority you +fully accept enunciates a general proposition, and you wish to apply +it to special cases, either for seeing what practical use you can make +of it, or simply to make its meaning more real and concrete to +yourself. Your exploration here takes a different form from that thus +far described. Instead of searching a concrete situation for clues, +and your memory for general principles, you search your memory for +particular cases where the general law should apply. If all animals +are cold-blooded, excepting only birds and mammals, then fish and +frogs and lizards are cold-blooded, spiders, insects, lobsters and +worms; having drawn these inferences, your understanding of the +general proposition becomes more complete. + + +5. Doubt. + +A general proposition may stimulate reasoning because you doubt it, +and wish to find cases where it breaks down. Perhaps somebody makes +the general statement whose authority you do not accept; perhaps he +says it in an assertive way that makes you want to take him down {473} +a peg. Perhaps you are in the heat of an argument with him, so that +every assertion he may make is a challenge. You search your memory for +instances belonging under the doubted general statement, in the hope +of finding one where the general statement leads to a result that is +contrary to fact. "You say that all politicians are grafters. Theodore +Roosevelt was a politician, therefore, according to you, he must have +been a grafter. But he was not a grafter, and you will have to take +back that sweeping assertion." + + +6. Verification. + +This same general type of reasoning, which takes its start with a +general proposition, and explores particular instances in order to see +whether the proposition, when applied to them, gives a result in +accordance with the facts, has much more serious uses; for this is the +method by which a _hypothesis_ is tested in science. A hypothesis is a +general proposition put forward as a guess, subject to verification. +If it is thoroughly verified, it will be accepted as a true statement, +a "law of nature", but at the outset it is only a guess that may turn +out to be either true or false. How shall its truth or falsity be +demonstrated? By deducing its consequences, and testing these out in +the realm of observed fact. + +An example from the history of science is afforded by Harvey's +discovery of the circulation of the blood, which was at first only a +hypothesis, and a much-doubted one at that. If the blood is driven by +the heart through the arteries, and returns to the heart by way of the +veins, then the flow of blood in any particular artery must be away +from the heart, and in any particular vein towards the heart. This +deduction was readily verified. Further, there should be little tubes +leading from the smallest arteries over into the smallest veins, and +this discovery also was later verified, when the invention of the +microscope made observation of the capillaries possible. Other +deductions also were verified, {474} and in short all deductions from +the hypothesis were verified, and the circulation of the blood became +an accepted law. + +Most hypotheses are not so fortunate as this one; most of them die by +the wayside, since it is much easier to make a guess that shall fit +the few facts we already know than to make one that will apply +perfectly to many other facts at present unknown. A hypothesis is a +great stimulus to the discovery of fresh facts. Science does not like +to have unverified hypotheses lying around loose, where they may trip +up the unwary. It is incumbent on any one who puts forward a +hypothesis to apply it to as many special cases as possible, in order +to see whether it works or not; and if the propounder of the +hypothesis is so much in love with it that he fails to give it a +thorough test, his scientific colleagues are sure to come to the +rescue, for they, on the whole, would be rather pleased to see the +other fellow's hypothesis come to grief. In this way, the rivalry +motive plays a useful part in the progress and stabilizing of science. + + +Deductive and Inductive Reasoning + +When you are sure at the outset of your general proposition, and need +only to see its application to special cases, your reasoning is said +to be "deductive". Such reasoning is specially used in mathematics. +But in natural science you are said to employ "inductive reasoning". +The process has already been described. You start with particular +facts demanding explanation or generalization, and try to find some +accepted law that explains them. Failing in that, you are driven to +guess at a general law, i.e., to formulate a hypothesis that will fit +the known facts. Then, having found such a conjectural general law, +you proceed to deduce its consequences; you see that, _if_ the +hypothesis is true, such and such facts must be true. Next you go out +and see whether these facts are true, and if they are, your hypothesis +{475} is verified to that extent, though it may be upset later. If the +deduced facts are not true, the hypothesis is false, and you have to +begin all over again. + +The would-be natural scientist may fail at any one of several points. +First, he may see no question that calls for investigation. Everything +seems a matter-of-course, and he concludes that science is complete, +with nothing left for him to discover. Second, seeing something that +still requires explanation, he may lack fertility in guessing, or may +be a poor guesser and set off on a wild-goose chase. Helmholtz, an +extremely fertile inventor of high-grade hypotheses, describes how he +went about it. He would load up in the morning with all the knowledge +he could assemble on the given question, and go out in the afternoon +for a leisurely ramble; when, without any strenuous effort on his +part, the various facts would get together in new combinations and +suggest explanations that neither he nor any one else had ever thought +of before. Third, our would-be scientific investigator may lack the +clear, steady vision to see the consequences of his hypothesis; and, +fourth, he may lack the enterprise to go out and look for the facts +that his hypothesis tells him should be found. + + +Psychology and Logic + +Psychology is not the only science that studies reasoning; that is the +subject-matter of logic as well, and logic was in the field long +before psychology. Psychology studies the _process_ of reasoning, +while logic checks up the result and shows whether it is valid or not. +Logic cares nothing about the exploratory process that culminates in +inference, but limits itself to inference alone. + +Inference, in logical terminology, consists in drawing a conclusion +from two given premises. The two premises are the "two facts" which, +acting together, arouse the {476} perceptive response called +inference, and the "third fact" thus perceived is the conclusion. +[Footnote: The "two facts" or premises need not be true; either or +both may be assumed or hypothetical, and still they may lead to a +valid conclusion, i.e., a conclusion implicated in the assumed +premises.] Logic cares nothing as to how the premises were found, nor +as to the motive that led to the search for them, nor as to the time +and effort required, nor the difficulty encountered; these matters all +pertain to psychology. + +Logic sets forth the premises and conclusion in the form of the +"syllogism", as in the old stand-by: + + Major premise: All men are mortal + Minor premise: Socrates is a man + Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal + +The syllogism includes three "terms", which in the above instance are +"Socrates", "mortal", and "man" or "men". Logic employs the letters, +S, P, and M to symbolize these three terms in general. S is the +"subject" (or, we might say, the "object" or the "situation") about +which something is inferred. P is the "predicate", or what is inferred +about S; and M is the "middle term" which corresponds to our +"yardstick" or "point of reference", as we used those words at the +beginning of the chapter. S is compared with P through the medium of +M; or, S and P are both known to be related to M, and therefore (when +the relations are of the right sort) they are related to each other. +It is part of the business of logic to examine what relations are, and +what are not, suitable for yielding a valid inference. + +In symbols, then, the syllogism becomes: + + Major premise: M is P + Minor premise: S is M + Conclusion: Therefore, S is P + +{477} + +Without confounding logic and psychology in the least, we may take +this symbolic syllogism as a sort of map, on which to trace out the +different exploratory processes that we have already described under +the head of "varieties of reasoning". To do so may make these +different processes stand out more distinctly. + +In problem-solution, we start with S, a situation unsolved, i.e., +without any P. P, when found, will be the solution. We explore the +situation, and find in it M; i.e., we observe that S is M. Now M +recalls our previously acquired knowledge that M is P. Having then +before us the two premises, we perceive that S is P, and are saved. + +In rationalization or explanation, we know, to start with, that S is +P, and wish to know _why_ this is so. As before, we explore S, find M, +recall that M is P, and see that S, therefore, is P. Our final +conclusion is, really, that S is P because it is M; that January is +cold because it gets little sunlight. + +In application, doubt or verification, we start with the major +premise, M is P, and explore our memories for an S which, being M, +should therefore be P according to our hypothesis. If we find an S +which is _not_ P, then our final conclusion is that the major premise +is false. + +Reference to our "map" indicates that there might be several other +varieties of reasoning, and there are, indeed, though they are +scarcely as important as those already mentioned. Reasoning sometimes +starts with the observation of P, which means something that might +prove useful on some future occasion. Your attention is caught by +these prominent words in an advertisement, "$100 a week!" That might +come in handy on some future occasion, and you look further to see how +all that money can be attached to S, yourself on some future occasion. +You soon learn that you have only to secure subscriptions for a +certain magazine, {478} and that income may be yours. P is the money, +and M is the occupation that gives the money, while S is yourself +supposedly entering on this occupation and earning the money. This +type of reasoning is really quite common. If we see a person making a +great success of anything, we try to discover how he does it, +reasoning that if we do the same, we shall also be successful; or, if +we see some one come to grief, we try to see how it happened, so as to +avoid his mistake and so the bad consequences of that mistake. We plan +to perform M so as to secure P, or to avoid M in the hope of avoiding +P. + +Sometimes, not so rarely, we have both premises handed out to us and +have only to draw the conclusion. More often, we hear a person drawing +a conclusion from only one expressed premise, and try to make out what +the missing premise can be. Sometimes this is easy, as when one says, +"I like him because he is always cheerful", from which you see that +the person speaking must like cheerful persons. But if you hear it +said that such a one "cannot be a real thinker, he is so positive in +his opinions" or that another "is unfeeling and unsympathetic from +lack of a touch of cruelty in his nature", you may have to explore +about considerably before finding acceptable major premises from which +such conclusions can be deduced. + +Finally, in asking what are the _qualifications of a good reasoner_ we +can help ourselves once more by reference to the syllogistic map. To +reason successfully on a given topic, you need good major premises, +good minor premises, and valid conclusions therefrom. + +(a) A good stock of major premises is necessary, a good stock of rules +and principles acquired in previous experience. Without some knowledge +of a subject, you have only vague generalities to draw upon, and your +reasoning process will be slow and probably lead only to indefinite +conclusions. {479} Experience, knowledge, memory are important in +reasoning, though they do not by any means guarantee success. + +(b) The "detective instinct" for finding the right clues, and +rejecting false leads, amounts to the same as sagacity in picking out +the useful minor premises. In problem solution, you have to find both +of your premises, and often the minor premise is the first to be found +and in turn recalls the appropriate major premise. Finding the minor +premise is a matter of observation, and if you fail to observe the +significant fact about the problem, the really useful major premise +may lie dormant, known and retained but not recalled, while false +clues suggest inapplicable major premises and give birth to plenty of +reasoning but all to no purpose. Some persons with abundant knowledge +are ineffective reasoners from lack of a sense for probability. The +efficient reasoner must be a good guesser. + +(c) The reasoner needs a clear and steady mental eye, in order to see +the conclusion that is implicated in the premises. Without this, he +falls into confusion and fallacy, or fails, with the premises both +before him, to get the conclusion. The "clear and steady mental eye", +in less figurative language, means the ability to check hasty +responses to either premise alone, or to extraneous features of the +situation, so as to insure that "unitary response" to the combination +of premises which constitutes the perceptive act of inference. + + +{480} + + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. In what respects does the animal's solution of a problem fall + short of reasoning? + +3. Give a concrete instance of reasoning belonging under each of + the types mentioned in the text. + +4. How is it that superstitions such as that of Friday being an + unlucky day persist? What would be the scientific way of testing + such a belief? + +5. What causes tend to arouse belief, and what to arouse doubt? + +6. Introspective study of the process of thinking. Attempt to + solve some of the following problems, and write down what you can + observe of the process. + + (a) What is it that has four fingers and a thumb, but no flesh + or bone? + + (b) Why does the full moon rise about sunset? + + (c) If a book and a postage stamp together cost $1.02, and + the book costs $1.00 more than the stamp, how much does the + stamp cost? + + (d) A riddle: "Sisters and brothers have I none, yet this + man's father is my father's son." + + (e) Prove that a ball thrown horizontally over level ground will + strike the ground at the same time, no matter how hard it is + thrown. + + (f) If no prunes are atherogenous, but some bivalves are + atherogenous, can you conclude that some prunes are not + bivalves? + + (g) Deduce, as impersonally as possible, the opinion of you + held by some other person. + + +REFERENCES + +William James, _Principles of Psychology_, 1890, Vol. II, pp. 325-371. +John Dewey, _How We Think_, 1910. + + +{481} + + +CHAPTER XIX + +IMAGINATION + +MENTAL AS DISTINGUISHED FROM MOTOR MANIPULATION + + +From discovery we now turn to invention, from exploration to manipulation. + +The human enterprise of exploration, which we have examined under the +headings of perception and reasoning, as well as earlier under +attention, runs the gamut from simple exploratory movements of the +sense organs in looking and listening, to the elaborate scientific +procedure followed in testing hypotheses and discovering the laws of +nature. Inventive or manipulative activity runs a similar gamut from +the child's play with his toys to the creation of a work of art, the +designing of a work of engineering, the invention of a new machine, or +the organization of a new government. The distinction between the two +lines of activity is that exploration seeks what is there, and +manipulation changes it to something else. Exploration seeks the facts +as they exist, while invention modifies or rearranges the facts. The +two enterprises go hand in hand, however, since facts must be known to +be manipulated, while on the other hand manipulation of an object +brings to light facts about it that could never be discovered by +simple examination. Invention is based on science and also contributes +to the advance of science. + +Manipulation and exploration certainly go hand in hand in the little +child's behavior. The baby picks up his new toy, turns it about and +examines it on all sides, shakes it and is pleased if it makes a +noise, drops it and is pleased {482} with its bang on the floor. This +is manipulation, certainly; but it is also a way of exploring the +properties of the toy. + + +Beginnings of Imagination in the Child + +Beginning with grasping, turning, pushing, pulling, shaking and +dropping of objects, the child's manipulation develops in several +directions. One line of development leads to _manual skill_. The child +learns to manage his toys better. + +A second line of development is in the direction of +_constructiveness_. Taking things apart and putting them together, +building blocks, assembling dolls and toy animals into "families" or +"parties" setting table or arranging toy chairs in a room, are +examples of this style of manipulation, which calls less for manual +dexterity than for seeing ways in which objects can be rearranged. + +_Make-believe_ is a third direction followed in the development of +manipulation. The little boy puts together a row of blocks and pushes +it along the floor, asserting that it is a train of cars. The little +girl lays her doll carefully in its bed, saying "My baby's sick; that +big dog did bite him". This might be spoken of as "manipulating things +according to the meanings attached to them", the blocks being treated +as cars, and the doll as a sick baby. + +Perhaps a little later than make-believe to make its appearance in the +child is _story-telling_ the fourth type of manipulation. Where in +make-believe he has an actual object to manipulate according to the +meaning attached to it, in story-telling he simply talks about persons +and things and makes them perform in his story. He comes breathless +into the house with a harrowing tale of being pursued by a +hippopotamus in the woods; or he gives a fantastic account of the +doings of his acquaintances. For this he is sometimes accused of being +a "little liar"--as indeed he {483} probably is when circumstances +demand--and sometimes, more charitably, he is described as being still +unable to distinguish observation from imagination; but really what he +has not yet grasped is the _social_ difference between his +make-believe, which no one objects to, and his story-telling, which +may lead people astray. + +Both make-believe and story-telling are a great convenience to the +child, since he is able by their means to manipulate big and important +objects that he could not manage in sober reality. He thus finds an +outlet for tendencies that are blocked in sober reality--blocked by +the limitations of his environment, blocked by the opposition of other +people, blocked by his own weakness and lack of knowledge and skill. +Unable to go hunting in the woods, he can play hunt in the yard; +unable to go to war with the real soldiers, he can shoulder his toy +gun and campaign all about the neighborhood. The little girl of four +years, hearing her older brothers and sisters talk of their school, +has her own "home work" in "joggity", and her own graduation +exercises. + + +Preliminary Definition of Imagination + +In such ways as we have been describing, the little child shows +"imagination", or mental manipulation. In story-telling the objects +manipulated are simply _thought of_; in make-believe, though there is +actual motor manipulation of present objects, the attached _meanings_ +are the important matter; and in construction there is apt to be a +_plan_ in mind in advance of the motor manipulation, as when you look +at the furniture in a room and consider possible rearrangements. + +The materials manipulated in imagination are usually facts previously +perceived, and to be available for mental {484} manipulation they must +now be recalled; but they are not merely recalled--they are rearranged +and give a new result that may never have been perceived. A typical +product of imagination is composed of parts perceived at different +times and later recalled and combined, as a centaur is composed of man +and horse, or a mermaid of woman and fish. Imagination is like +reasoning in being a mental reaction; but it differs from reasoning in +being manipulation rather than exploration; reasoning consists in +seeing relationships that exist between facts, and imagination in +putting facts into new relationships. These are but rough distinctions +and definitions; we shall try to do a little better after we have +examined a variety of imaginative performances. + +"Imagination" and "invention" mean very much the same mental process, +though "imagination" looks rather to the mental process itself, and +"invention" more to the outcome of the process, which is a product +having some degree of novelty and originality. + +Imagination, like association and like attention, is sometimes free, +and sometimes controlled. Controlled imagination is directed towards +the accomplishment of some desired result, while free imagination +wanders this way and that, with no fixed aim. Controlled imagination +is seen in planning and designing; free imagination occurs in moments +of relaxation, and may be called "play of the imagination". The free +variety, as the simpler, will be considered first. + + +Our study will have more point if we first remind ourselves what are +the psychological _problems to be attacked_ in studying any mental +activity. What is the _stimulus_ and what the _response?_ These are +the fundamental questions. But the study of response breaks up into +three subordinate questions, regarding the _tendency_ that is +awakened, regarding the {485} _end-result_ obtained, and regarding the +often complex _process_ or series of responses, that leads to the +end-result. + +The response in imagination we have already defined, in a general way, +as mental manipulation, and the end-result as the placing of facts +into new combinations or relationships. The stimulus consists of the +facts, either perceived at the moment or recalled from past +perception, that are now freshly related or combined. The more precise +question regarding the stimulus is, then, as to what sort of facts +make us respond in an inventive or imaginative way; and the more +precise question regarding the end-result is as to what kind of +combinations or new relationships are given to the facts--both pretty +difficult questions. In regard to process, the great question is as to +how any one can possibly escape from the beaten track of instinct and +habit, and do anything new; and in regard to tendency the question is +as to what motives are awakened in inventive activity and what +satisfaction there is in the end-result. This last question, as to +_why_ we imagine, is about the easiest to answer. + + +Play + +Free imagination was spoken of a moment ago as a kind of play; and we +might turn this about and say that play, usually if not always, +contains an element of imagination or invention. Sometimes the child +makes up new games, very simple ones of course, to fit the materials +he has to play with; but even when he is playing a regular game, he +has constantly to adapt himself to new conditions as the +game-situation changes. We may take the child's play as the first and +simplest case of free invention and ask our questions regarding it. +What are the child's play-stimuli (toys), how does he manipulate them, +what end-results does he reach, and what satisfaction does he derive +from {486} playing? We can ask these questions, but it is not so sure +that we can answer them. + +_What is a toy?_ Anything to play with. But what characteristics of an +object make it a real toy, which shall actually arouse the play +response? First, it must be such that the child can move it; and +almost anything that he can move serves, one time or another, for a +plaything. But the surest stimulus is a _new_ toy, the element of +novelty and variety being important in arousing manipulation as it is +in arousing exploration. However, to define a toy simply as something +moveable, and also new if possible, fails to satisfy the spirit of +inquiry, and about the only way to progress further is to make a long +list of toys, and classify them from the psychological point of view. +Thus we get the following classes of play-stimuli: + +Little models of articles used by adults, such as tools, furniture, +dishes; and we might include here dolls and toy animals. The child's +response to this class of toys is imitative. Some psychologists have +been so much impressed with the imitative play of children and animals +(as illustrated by puppies playing fight), that they have conceived of +all play as a sort of rehearsal for the serious business of life; but +this conception does not apply very well to some of the other sorts of +toy. + +Noise-makers: rattle, drum, bell, horn, whistle, fire-cracker. + +Things that increase your speed of locomotion, or that move you in +unusual ways, as bicycle, skate, sled, rocking-horse, swing, seesaw, +merry-go-round. Here belong also such sports as hopping, skipping, +jumping, dancing, skipping rope, vaulting, leapfrog, whirling, +somersault. The dizzy sensation resulting from stimulation of the +semicircular canals is evidently pleasant to young children, and some +of their sports seem aimed at securing a good measure of it. + +{487} + +Things that increase your radius of action; balls to throw or bat, bow +and arrow, sling, mirror used to throw sunlight into a distant +person's eyes; and we might include the bicycle here as well as in the +preceding class. + +Things that resist the force of gravity, floating, soaring, balancing, +ascending, instead of falling; or that can be made to behave in this +way. Here we have a host of toys and sports: balloons, soap bubbles, +kites, rockets, boats, balls that bounce, tops that balance while they +spin, hoops that balance while they roll, arrows shot high into the +sky; climbing, walking on the fence, swimming, swinging, seesaw again. + +Things that move in surprising ways or that are automatic: toy +windmills, mechanical toys. + +Things that can be opened and shut or readjusted in some similar way: +a book to turn the leaves of, a door to swing or to hook and unhook, a +bag or box to pack or unpack, water taps to turn on or off (specially +on). + +Plastic materials, damp sand, mud, snow; and other materials that can +be worked in some way, as paper to tear or fold, stones or blocks to +pile, load or build, water to splash or pour; and we might add here +fire, which nearly every one, child or adult, likes to manage. + +Finally, playmates should really be included in a list of playthings, +since the presence of a playmate is often the strongest stimulus to +arouse play. + +_Such being the stimulus, what is the play response?_ It consists in +manipulating or managing the plaything so as to produce some +interesting result. The hoop is made to roll, the kite to fly, the +arrow to hit something at a distance, the blocks are built into a +tower or knocked down with a crash, the mud is made into a "pie", the +horn is sounded. Many games are variations on pursuit and capture (or +escape): tag, hide-and-seek, prisoner's base, blind {488} man's buff, +football, and we might include chess and checkers here. Wrestling, +boxing, snowballing are variations on attack and defense. A great many +are variations on action at a distance, of which instances have +already been cited from children's toys; in adult games we find here +golf, croquet, bowling, quoits, billiards, shooting. Many games +emphasize motor skill, as skipping ropes, knife, cat's cradle, usually +however with competition in skill between the different players. This +element of manual skill enters of course into nearly all games. Mental +acuteness appears in the guessing games, as well as in chess and many +games of cards. Many games combine several of the elements mentioned, +as in baseball we have action at a distance, pursuit and escape, motor +skill and activity, and a chance for "head work". + + +The Play Motives + +Now, what is the sense of games and toys, what satisfactions do they +provide? What instincts or interests are thrown into activity? There +is no one single "play instinct" that furnishes all the satisfaction, +but conceivably every natural and acquired source of satisfaction is +tapped in one play or another. In the games that imitate fighting, +some of the joy of fighting is experienced, even though no real anger +develops. In the games that imitate pursuit and escape, some of the +joy of hunting and some of the joy of escape are awakened. In the +"kissing games" that used to be common in young people's parties when +dancing was frowned upon, and in dancing itself, some gratification of +the sex instinct is undoubtedly present; but dancing also gives a +chance for muscular activity which is obviously one source of +satisfaction in the more active games. In fact, joy in motor activity +must be counted as one of the most general sources of +play-satisfaction. Another {489} general element is the love of social +activity, which we see in dancing as well as in nearly all games and +sports. Another, akin to the mere joy in motor activity, is the love +of manipulation, with which we began this whole discussion. + +The "escape motive" deserves a little more notice. Though you would +say at first thought that no one could seek fear, and that this +instinct could not possibly be utilized in play, yet a great many +amusements are based on fear. The "chutes", "scenic railways", "roller +coasters", etc., of the amusement parks would have no attraction if +they had no thrill; and the thrill means fear. You get some of the +thrill of danger, though you know that the danger is not very real. +Probably the thrill itself would not be worth much, but being quickly +followed by _escape_, it is highly satisfactory. The joy of escape +more than pays for the momentary unpleasantness of fear. The fear +instinct is utilized also in coasting on the snow, climbing, swimming, +or any adventurous sport; in all of which there is danger, but the +skilful player escapes by his own efforts. If he lost control he would +get a tumble; and that is why the sport is exciting and worth while. +He has his fear in check, to be sure, but it is awakened enough to +make the escape from danger interesting. Nothing could be much further +from the truth than to consider fear as a purely negative thing, +having no positive contribution to make to human satisfaction. Though +we try to arrange the serious affairs of life so as to avoid danger as +much as possible, in play we seek such dangers as we can escape by +skilful work. The fascination of gambling and of taking various risks +probably comes from the satisfaction of the fear and escape motive. + +But of all the "instincts", it is the self-assertive or masterful +tendency that comes in oftenest in play. Competition, one form of +self-assertion, is utilized in a tremendous number of games and +sports. Either the players compete {490} as individuals, or they +"choose sides" and compete as teams. No one can deny that the joy of +winning is the high light in the satisfaction of play. Yet it is not +the whole thing, for the game may have been worth while, even if you +lose. Provided you can say, "Though I did not win, I played a good +game", you have the satisfaction of having done well, which is the +mastery satisfaction in its non-competitive form. + +When the baby gets a horn, he is not contented to have somebody else +blow it for him, but wants to blow it himself; and very pleased he is +with himself when he can make it speak. "See what _I_ can do!" is the +child's way of expressing his feelings after each fresh advance in the +mastery of his playthings. Great is the joy of the boy when he, +himself, can make his top spin or his kite fly; and great is the +girl's joy when she gets the knack of skipping a rope. Great is any +one's joy when, after his first floundering, he comes to ride a +bicycle, and the sense of power is enhanced in this case by covering +distance easily, and so being master of a larger environment. As boys, +I remember, we used to take great delight in the "apple thrower", +which was simply a flexible stick, sharpened at one end to hold a +green apple. With one's arm thus lengthened, the apple could be thrown +to extraordinary distances, and to see our apple go sailing over a +tall tree or striking the ground in the distance, gave a very +satisfying sense of power. All of those toys that enable you to act at +a distance, or to move rapidly, minister to the mastery impulse. +Imitative play does the same, in that it enables the child to perform, +in make-believe, the important deeds of adults. Children like to play +at being grown-up, whether by wearing long dresses or by smoking, and +it makes them feel important to do what the grown-ups do; you can +observe how important they feel by the way they strut and swagger. + +{491} + +All in all, there are several different ways of gratifying the +self-assertive or mastery impulse in play: always there is the toy or +game-situation to master and manage; often self-importance is +gratified by doing something big, either really or in make-believe; +and usually there is a competitor to beat. + + +Empathy + +There is still another possible way in which play may gratify the +mastery impulse. Why do we like to see a kite flying? Of course, if it +is _our_ kite and we are flying it, the mastery impulse is directly +aroused and gratified; but we also like to watch a kite flown by some +one else, and similarly we like to watch a hawk, a balloon or +aëroplane, a rocket. We like also to watch things that balance or +float or in other ways seem to be superior to the force of gravity. +Why should such things fascinate us? Perhaps because of _empathy_, the +"feeling oneself into" the object contemplated. As "sympathy" means +"feeling with", "empathy" means "feeling into", and the idea is that +the observer projects himself into the object observed, and gets some +of the satisfaction from watching an object that he would get from +_being_ that object. Would it not be grand to be a kite, would it not +be masterful? Here we stand, slaves of the force of gravity, sometimes +toying with it for a moment when we take a dive or a coast, at other +times having to struggle against it for our very lives, and all the +time bound and limited by it--while the kite soars aloft in apparent +defiance of all such laws and limitations. Of course it fascinates us, +since watching it gives us, by empathy, some of the sense of power and +freedom that seems appropriate to the behavior of a kite. Perhaps the +fascination of fire is empathy of a similar sort; for fire is power. + +Having thus found the mastery impulse here, there, and {492} almost +everywhere in the realm of play, we are tempted to assume a masterful +attitude ourselves and say, "Look you! We have discovered the one and +only play motive, which is none other than the instinct of +self-assertion". Thus we should be forgetting the importance in play +of danger and the escape motive, the importance of manipulation for +its own sake, and the importance of the mere joy in muscular and +mental activity. Also, we should be overlooking the occasional +presence of laughter, the occasional presence of sex attraction, and +the almost universal presence of the gregarious and other social +motives. Play gratifies many instincts, not merely a single one. + +Further, it is very doubtful whether the whole satisfaction of play +activity can be traced to the instincts, anyway, for play may bring in +the native "likes and dislikes", which we saw [Footnote: See p. 180.] +to be irreducible to instinctive tendencies; and it may bring in +acquired likes and interests developed out of these native likes. Play +gives rise to situations that are interesting and attractive to the +players, though the attraction cannot be traced to any of the +instincts. The rhythm of dancing, marching, and of children's +sing-song games can scarcely be traced to any of the instincts. + +The sociability of games goes beyond mere gregariousness, since it +calls for acting together and not simply for being together; and at +the same time it goes beyond competition and self-assertion, as is +seen in the satisfaction the players derive from good team work. It is +true that the individual player does not lay aside his self-assertion +in becoming a loyal member of a team; rather, he identifies himself +with the team, and finds in competition with the opposing team an +outlet for his mastery impulse. But at the same time it is obvious +that self-assertion would be still more fully gratified by man-to-man +contests; and therefore the {493} usual preference of a group of +people for "choosing sides" shows the workings of some other motive +than self-assertion. The fact seems to be that coördinated group +activity is an independent source of satisfaction. + +If the self-assertive impulse of an individual player is too strongly +aroused, he spoils the game, just as an angry player spoils a friendly +wrestling match or snowball fight, and just as a thoroughly frightened +passenger spoils a trip down the rapids, which was meant to be simply +thrilling. The instincts are active in play, but they must not be too +active, for human play is an activity carried on well above the +instinctive level, and dependent on motives that cannot wholly be +analyzed in terms of the instincts. + + +Day Dreams + +Daydreaming is a sort of play, more distinctly imaginative than most +other play. Simply letting the mind run, as in the instances cited +under free association, where A makes you think of B and B of C, and +so on--this is not exactly daydreaming, since there is no "dream", no +castle in the air nor other construction, but simply a passing from +one recalled fact to another. In imaginative daydreaming, facts are +not simply recalled but are rearranged or built together into a story +or "castle" or scheme. A daydream typically looks toward the future, +as a plan for possible doing; only, it is not a serious plan for the +future--which would be controlled imagination--nor necessarily a plan +which could work in real life, but merely play of imagination. If we +ask the same questions here as we did regarding child's play, we find +again that it is easier to define the end-result and the source of +satisfaction in daydreaming than it is to define the stimulus or the +exact nature of the imaginative process. + +{494} + +Daydreams have some motive force behind them, as can be judged from +the absorption of the dreamer in his dream, and also from an +examination of the end-results of this kind of imagination. Daydreams +usually have a _hero_ and that hero is usually the dreamer's self. +Sometimes one is the conquering hero, and sometimes the suffering +hero, but in both cases the recognized or unrecognized merit of +oneself is the big fact in the story, so that the mastery motive is +evidently finding satisfaction here as well as in other forms of play. +Probably the conquering hero dream is the commoner and healthier +variety. A classical example is that of the milkmaid who was carrying +on her head a pail of milk she had been given. "I'll sell this milk +for so much, and with the money buy a hen. The hen will lay so many +eggs, worth so much, for which I will buy me a dress and cap. Then the +young men will wish to dance with me, but I shall spurn them all with +a toss of the head." Her dream at this point became so absorbing as to +get hold of the motor system and call out the actual toss of the +head--but we are not after the moral just now; we care simply for the +dream as a very true sample of many, many daydreams. Such dreams are a +means of getting for the moment the satisfaction of some desire, +without the trouble of real execution; and the desire gratified is +very often some variety of self-assertion. Sometimes the hero is not +the dreamer's self, but some one closely identified with himself. The +mother is prone to make her son the hero of daydreams and so to +gratify her pride in him. + +The "suffering hero" daydream seems at first thought inexplicable, for +why should any one picture himself as having a bad time, as +misunderstood by his best friends, ill-treated by his family, jilted +by his best girl, unsuccessful in his pet schemes? Why should any one +make believe to be worse off than he is; what satisfaction can that +{495} be to him? Certainly, one would say, the mastery motive could +not be active here. And yet--do we not hear children _boasting_ of +their misfortunes? "Pooh! That's only a little scratch; I've got a +real deep cut." My cut being more important than your scratch makes +me, for the moment, more important than you, and gives me a chance to +boast over you. Older people are known sometimes to magnify their own +ailments, with the apparent aim of enhancing their own importance. +Perhaps the same sort of motive underlies the suffering hero daydream. + +I am smarting, let us suppose, from a slight administered by my +friend; my wounded self-assertion demands satisfaction. It was a very +little slight, and I should make myself ridiculous if I showed my +resentment. But in imagination I magnify the injury done me, and go on +to picture a dreadful state of affairs, in which my friend has treated +me very badly indeed, and perhaps deserted me. Then I should not be +ridiculous, but so deeply wronged as to be an important person, one to +be talked about; and thus my demand for importance and recognition is +gratified by my daydream. + +Usually the suffering hero pictures himself as in the right, and +animated by the noblest intentions, though misunderstood, and thus +further enhances his self-esteem; but sometimes he takes the other +tack and pictures himself as wicked--but as very, very wicked, a +veritable desperado. It may be his self-esteem has been wounded by +blame for some little meanness or disobedience, and he restores it by +imagining himself a great, big, important sinner instead of a small +and ridiculous one. In adolescence, the individual's growing demand +for independence is often balked by the continued domination of his +elders, and he rebelliously plans quite a career of crime for himself. +He'll show them! They won't be so pig-headedly complacent when they +know they have driven him to the bad. You can tell by the looks of +{496} a person whose feelings are hurt that he is imagining something; +usually he is imagining himself either a martyr or a desperado, or +some other kind of suffering hero, often working up into a conquering +hero in the end, when, his self-esteem restored, he is ready to be +friends again. The suffering hero daydream is a "substitute reaction", +taking the place of a fight or some other active self-assertion. The +conquering hero daydream is often motivated in the same way; for +example, our friend the milkmaid would not have been so ready to scorn +the young men with a toss of the head if she had not been feeling her +own actual inferiority and lack of fine clothes. The daydream makes +good, in one way or another, for actual inability to get what we +desire. The desire which is gratified in the play of imagination +belongs very often indeed under the general head of self-assertion; +but when one is in love it is apt to belong under that head. Love +dreams of the agreeable sort need no further motivation; but the +unpleasant, jealous type of love dream is at the same time a suffering +hero dream, and certainly involves wounded self-assertion along with +the sexual impulse. Probably the self-asserting daydream is the +commonest variety, take mankind as a whole, with the love dream next +in order of frequency. But there are many other sorts. There is the +humor daydream, illustrated by the young person who suddenly breaks +into a laugh and when you ask why replies that she was thinking how +funny it would be if, etc., etc. She is very fond of a good laugh, and +not having anything laughable actually at hand proceeds to imagine +something. So, a music lover may mentally rehearse a piece when he has +no actual music to enjoy; and if he has some power of musical +invention, he may amuse himself, in idle moments, by making up music +in his head; just as one who has some ability in decorative design may +fill his idle moments by concocting new designs on paper. {497} When +vacation time approaches, it is hard for any one, student or +professor, to keep the thoughts from dwelling on the good times ahead, +and getting some advance satisfaction. Thus all kinds of desires are +gratified in imagination. + + + +Worry + +Do we have fear daydreams, as we have amusements utilizing the fear +and escape motive? Yes, sometimes we imagine ourselves in danger and +plan out an escape. One individual often amuses himself by imagining +he is arrested and accused of some crime, and figuring out how he +could establish an alibi or otherwise prove his innocence. But fear +daydreams also include _worry_, which seems at first to be an +altogether unpleasant state of mind, forced upon us and not indulged +in as most daydreams are. Yet, as the worry is often entirely +needless, it cannot be said to be forced upon a person, but must have +some motive. There must be some satisfaction in it, in spite of all +appearance. + +Some abnormal cases of worry suggest the theory that the fear is but a +cloak for unacknowledged desire. Take this extreme case. A young man, +"tied to the apron-strings" of a too affectionate and too domineering +mother, has a strong desire to break loose and be an independent unit +in the world; but at the same time, being much attached to his mother, +he is horrified by this desire. She goes on a railroad journey without +him--just an ordinary journey with no special danger--but all the time +she is away he is in an agony of suspense lest the train may be +wrecked. Such an abnormal degree of worry calls for explanation. +Well--did not the worry perhaps conceal a wish, a wish that the train +_might_ be wrecked? So he would be set free without any painful effort +on his part; and he {498} was a young man who shrank from all effort. +The psychopathologist who studied the case concluded that this was +really the explanation of the worry. + +If, however, we take such extreme cases as typical and cynically apply +this conception to all worries, we shall make many mistakes. A student +worries unnecessarily about an examination; therefore, he desires to +fail. A mother worries because her child is late in getting home; +therefore, she wants to be rid of that child. Thus, by being too +psychopathological, we reach many absurd conclusions in everyday life; +for it is the child that is loved that is worried over, and it is the +examination that the student specially wishes to pass that he fears he +has flunked. + +Worry is a sort of substitute reaction, taking the place of real +action when no real action is possible. The student has done all he +can do; he has prepared for the examination, and he has taken the +examination; now there is nothing to do except wait; so that the +rational course would be to dismiss the matter from his mind; if he +cannot accomplish that, but must do something, then the only thing he +can do is to speculate and worry. So also the mother, in her +uncertainty regarding her child, is impelled to action, and if she +knew of any real thing to do she would do it and not worry; but there +is nothing to do, except in imagination. Worry is fundamentally due to +the necessity of doing something with any matter that occupies our +mind; it is an imaginative substitute for real action. + +But worry may be something of an indoor sport as well. Consider +this--if the mother really believed her child had fallen into the +pond, she would rush to pull him out; but while she is worrying for +fear he may have fallen in, she remains at home. Really she expects to +see him come home any minute, but by conjuring up imaginary dangers +she is getting ready to make his home-coming a great relief instead +{499} of a mere humdrum matter. She is "shooting the chutes", getting +the thrill of danger with escape fully expected. + +The normal time for a daydream is the time when there is no real act +to be performed. A strong man uses it as the amusement of an idle +moment and promptly forgets it. But one who is lacking in force, +especially the personal force needed in dealing with other people, may +take refuge in daydreams as a substitute for real doing. Instead of +hustling for the money he needs he may, like Micawber, charm himself +with imagining the good opportunities that may turn up. Instead of +going and making love to the lady of his choice, he shyly keeps away +from her and merely dreams of winning her. He substitutes imaginary +situations for the real facts of his life, and gratifies his mastery +motive by imaginary exploits. He invents imaginary ailments to excuse +his lack of real deeds. He conjures up imaginary dangers to worry +over. All this is abuse of imagination. + + +Dreams + +Let us turn now from daydreams to dreams of the night. These also are +play of imagination, even freer from control and criticism than the +daydream. In sleep the cortical brain functions sink to a low level, +and perhaps cease altogether in the deepest sleep. Most of the dreams +that are coherent enough to be recalled probably occur just after we +have gone to sleep or just before we wake up, or at other times when +sleep is light. At such times the simpler and more practised +functions, such as recall of images, can go on, though criticism, good +judgment, reasoning, and all that sort of delicate and complex +activity, do not occur. Daytime standards of probability, decorum, +beauty, wit, and excellence of any sort are in abeyance; consistency +is thrown to the winds, the scenes being shifted in the middle of a +{500} speech, and a character who starts in as one person merging +presently into somebody else. Dreams follow the definition of +imagination or invention, in that materials recalled from different +contexts are put together into combinations and rearrangements never +before experienced. The combinations are often bizarre and +incongruous. + +Perhaps the most striking characteristic of dreams is their seeming +reality while they last. They seem real in spite of their incongruity, +because of the absence of critical ability during sleep. In waking +life, when the sight of one object reminds me of another and calls up +an image of that other, I know that the image is an image, and I know +I have thought of two different things. In sleep the same recall by +association occurs, but the image is forthwith accepted as real; and +thus things from different sources get together in the same dream +scene, and a character who reminds us of another person forthwith +becomes that other person. We are not mentally active enough in sleep +to hold our images apart. Associative recall, with blending of the +recalled material, and with entire absence of criticism, describes the +process of dreaming. + +What is the _stimulus_, to which the dream responds? Sometimes there +is an actual sensory stimulus, like the alarm clock or a stomach ache; +and in this case the dream comes under the definition of an illusion; +it is a false perception, more grotesquely false than most illusions +of the day. A boy wakes up one June morning from a dream of the Day of +Judgement, with the last trump pealing forth and blinding radiance all +about--only to find, when fully awake, that the sun is shining in his +face and the brickyard whistle blowing the hour of four-thirty a.m. +This was a false perception. More often, a dream resembles a daydream +in being a _train of thoughts and images_ without much relation to +present sensory stimuli; and then the dream {501} would come under the +definition of hallucination instead of illusion. + +Sometimes a sensory stimulus breaks in upon a dream that is in +progress, and is interpreted in the light of this dream. In one +experiment, the dreamer, who was an authoress, was in the midst of a +dream in which she was discussing vacation plans with a party of +friends, when the experimenter disturbed her by declaiming a poem; in +her dream this took the form of a messenger from her publisher, +reciting something about a contract which seemed a little disturbing +but which she hoped (in the dream) would not interfere with her +vacation. Maury, an early student of this topic, was awakened from a +feverish dream of the French Revolution by something falling on his +neck; this, under the circumstances, he took to be the guillotine. + +Now, _why_ is a dream? What satisfaction does it bring to the dreamer? +Or shall we say that it is merely a mechanical play of association, +with no motivation behind it? Dreams are interesting while they last, +sometimes fearful, sometimes angry, sometimes amorous, otherwise not +very emotional but distinctly interesting, so that many people hate to +have a dream broken up by awaking. It seems likely, then, that dreams +are like daydreams in affording gratification to desires. They are +"wish-fulfilling", to borrow a term from Freud's theory of dreams, +soon to be considered. + +A boy dreams repeatedly of finding whole barrels of assorted +jackknives, and is bitterly disappointed every time to awake and find +the knives gone; so that finally he questions the reality of the +dream, but pinching himself (in the dream) concludes he must be awake +this time. An adult frequently dreams of finding money, first a nickel +in the dust, and then a quarter close by, and then more and more, till +he wakes up and spoils it all. Such dreams are {502} obviously +wish-fulfilling, as are also the sex dreams of sexually abstinent +persons, or the feasting dreams of starving persons, or the polar +explorer's recurring dream of warm, green fields. An eminent +psychologist has given a good account of a dream which he had while +riding in an overcrowded compartment of a European train, with the +window closed and himself wedged in tightly far from the window. In +this uncomfortable situation he dropped asleep and dreamed that he had +the seat next to the window, had the window open and was looking out +at a beautiful landscape. In all these cases _the wish gratified in +the dream is one that has been left unsatisfied in the daytime_, and +this is according to the famous passage, slightly paraphrased, "What a +man hath, why doth he yet dream about?" The newly married couple do +not dream of each other. We seldom dream of our regular work, unless +for some reason we are disturbed over it. The tendencies that are +satisfied during the day do not demand satisfaction in dreams; but any +tendency that is aroused during the day without being able to reach +its conclusion is likely to come to the surface in a dream. + +Any sort of desire or need, left unsatisfied in the day, may motivate +a dream. Desire for food, warmth, sex gratification, air, money, etc., +have been exemplified in dreams already cited. Curiosity may be the +motive, as in the case of an individual, who, having just come to live +in Boston, was much interested in its topography, and who saw one day +a street car making off in what seemed to him a queer direction, so +that he wondered where it could be going and tried unsuccessfully to +read its sign. The next night he dreamed of seeing the car near at +hand and reading the sign, which, though really consisting of nonsense +names, satisfied his curiosity during the dream. + +The mastery motive, so prominent in daydreams, can be detected also in +many sleep dreams. There are dreams in {503} which we do big +things--tell excruciatingly funny jokes, which turn out when recalled +next day to be utterly flat; or improvise the most beautiful music, +which we never can recall with any precision, but which probably +amounted to nothing; or play the best sort of baseball. The gliding or +flying dream, which many people have had, reminds one of the numerous +toys and sports in which defiance of gravity is the motive; and +certainly it gives you a sense of power and freedom to be able, in a +dream, to glide gracefully up a flight of stairs, or step with ease +from the street upon the second-story balcony. One dream which at +first thought cannot be wish-fulfilling perhaps belongs under the +mastery motive: The dreamer sees people scurrying to cover, looks up +and sees a thunderstorm impending; immediately he is struck by +lightning and knocked down in the street; but he finds he can rise and +walk home, and seems to have suffered no harm except for a black +blotch around one eye. Now, any man who could take lightning that way +would be proud to wear the scar. So the dream was wish-fulfilling, and +the wish involved was, as often, the self-assertive impulse. + +This last dream is a good one, however, for pointing another moral. We +need not suppose that the dreamer was aiming at the denouement from +the beginning of the dream. Dreams have no plot in most instances; +they just drift along, as one thing suggests another. The sight of +people running to cover suggested a thunderstorm, and that suggested +that "I might get struck", as it would in the daytime. Now, the dream +mentality, being short on criticism, has no firm hold on "may be" and +"might be", but slides directly into the present indicative. The +thought of being struck is _being_ struck, in a dream. So we do not +need to suppose that the dreamer pictured himself as struck by +lightning in order to have the satisfaction of coming off {504} whole +and bragging of the exploit. In large measure the course of a dream is +determined by free association; but the mastery motive and other +easily awakened desires act as a sort of bias, facilitating certain +outcomes and inhibiting others. + +But there are unpleasant dreams, as well as pleasant. There are fear +dreams, as well as wish dreams. A child who is afraid of snakes and +constantly on the alert against them when out in the fields during the +day, dreams repeatedly of encountering a mass of snakes and is very +much frightened in his sleep. Another child dreams of wolves or +tigers. A person who has been guilty of an act from which bad +consequences are possible dreams that those consequences are realized. +The officer suffering from nervous war strain, or "shell shock", often +had nightmares in which he was attacked and worsted by the enemy. +Since Freud has never admitted that dreams could be fear-motived, +holding that here, as in worry, the fear is but a cloak for a positive +desire, some of his followers have endeavored to interpret these +shell-shock nightmares as meaning a desire to be killed and so escape +from the strain. To be consistent, they would have also to hold that +the child, who of all people is the most subject to terrifying dreams, +secretly desires death, though not avowing this wish even to himself. +This would be pushing consistency rather far, and it is better to +admit that there are real fear dreams, favored by indigestion or +nervous strain, but sometimes occurring simply by the recall of a +fear-stimulus in the same way that anything is recalled, i.e., through +association. + +A large share of dreams does not fit easily into any of the classes +already described. They seem too fantastic to have any personal +meaning. Yet they are interesting to the dreamer, and they would be +worth going to see if they could be reproduced and put on the stage. +Isn't that sufficient {505} excuse for them? May they not be simply a +free play of imagination that gives interesting results because of its +very freedom from any control or tendency, and because of the +vividness of dream imagery? + + +Freud's Theory of Dreams + +Just at this point we part company with Freud, whose ideas on dreams +as wish-fulfilments we have been following, in the main. Not that +Freud would OK our account of dreams up to this point. Far from it. It +would seem to him on too superficial a level altogether, dealing as it +does with conscious wishes and with straightforward fulfilments. It +has left out of account the "Unconscious" and its symbolisms. The +Freudian would shake his head at our interpretation of the lightning +dream, and say, "Oh, there is a good deal more in that dream. We +should have to analyze that dream, by letting the dreamer dwell on +each item of it and asking himself what of real personal significance +the stroke of lightning or the scar around the eye suggested to him. +He would never be able by his unaided efforts to find the unconscious +wishes fulfilled in the dream, but under the guidance of the +psychoanalyst, who is a specialist in all matters pertaining to the +Unconscious, he may be brought to realize that his dream is the +symbolic expression of wishes that are unconscious because they have +been suppressed". + +The Unconscious, according to Freud, consists of forbidden +wishes--wishes forbidden by the "Censor", which represents the moral +and social standards of the individual and his critical judgment +generally. When the Censor suppresses a wish, it does not peaceably +leave the system but sinks to an unconscious state in which it is +still active and liable to make itself felt in ways that get by the +Censor because they are disguised and symbolic. An abnormal worry +{506} is such a disguise, a queer idea that haunts the nervous person +is another, "hysterical" paralysis or blindness is another. + +In normal individuals the dream life is held by Freud to be the chief +outlet for the suppressed wishes; for then the Censor sleeps and "the +mice can play". Even so, they dare not show themselves in their true +shape and color, but disguise themselves in innocent-appearing +symbolism. That lightning may stand for something much more personal. +Let your mind play about that "being knocked down by lightning and +getting up again", and ask yourself what experience of childhood it +calls up.--Well, I remember the last time my father whipped me and I +came through defiant, without breaking down as I always had before on +similar occasions.--Yes, now we are on the track of something. The +lightning symbolizes your father and his authority over you, which as +a child you resented. You were specially resentful at your father's +hold on your mother, whom you regarded as yours, your father being a +rival with an unfair advantage. Your sex impulse was directed towards +your mother, when you were a mere baby, but you soon came to see (how, +Freud has never clearly explained) that this was forbidden, and that +your father stood in the way. You resented this, you hated your +father, while at the same time you may have loved him, too; so this +whole complex and troublesome business was suppressed to the +Unconscious, whence it bobs up every night in disguise. You may dream +of the death of some one, and on analysis that some one is found to +represent your father, whom as a child you secretly wished out of the +way; or that some one may stand for your younger brother, against whom +you, had a standing grudge because he had usurped your place as the +pet of the family. These childish wishes are the core of the +Unconscious and help to motivate all dreams, but more recently +suppressed {507} wishes may also be gratified in dream symbolism. A +man may "covet his neighbor's wife", but this is forbidden, unworthy, +and false to the neighbor who is also his friend. The wish is +disavowed, suppressed, not allowed in the waking consciousness; but it +gratifies itself symbolically in a dream; the neighbor's wife not +appearing at all in the dream, but the neighbor's automobile instead, +which the neighbor cannot run properly, while the dreamer manages it +beautifully. + +Freud has claimed the dream as his special booty, and insists that all +dreams are wish-fulfilments, even those that seem mere fantastic play +of imagination, since, as he sees it, no mental activity could occur +except to gratify some wish. Further, he holds, most if not all dreams +are fulfilments of suppressed wishes, and these are either sex or +spite wishes, the spite wishes growing out of the interference of +other people with our sex wishes. + +The objection to Freud's theory of dreams is, first, that he fails to +see how easy-running the association or recall mechanism is. It isn't +necessary to look for big, mysterious driving forces, when we know +that A makes you think of B, and B of C, with the greatest ease. The +dreamer isn't laboring, he is idly playing, and his images come +largely by free association, with personal desires giving some steer. + +Another objection is that Freud overdoes the Unconscious; suppressed +wishes are usually not so unconscious as he describes them; they are +unavowed, unnamed, unanalyzed, but conscious for all that. It is not +so much the unconscious wish that finds outlet in dreams and +daydreams, as the unsatisfied wish, which may be perfectly conscious. + +Another very serious objection to Freud is that he overdoes the sex +motive or "libido". He says there are two main tendencies, that of +self-preservation and that of reproduction, but that the former is +ordinarily not much subject to suppression, while the latter is very +much under the {508} social ban. Consequently the Unconscious consists +mostly of suppressed sex wishes. Evidently, however, Freud's analysis +of human motives is very incomplete. He does not clearly recognize the +self-assertive tendency, which, as a matter of fact, is subjected to +much suppression from early childhood all through life, and which +undoubtedly has as much to do with dreams, as it has with daydreams. +Freud has given an "impressionistic" picture, very stimulating and +provocative of further exploration, but by no means to be accepted as +a true and complete map of the region. + + +Autistic Thinking + +Dreaming, whether awake or asleep, is free imagination. It does not +have to check up with any standard. So long as it is interesting at +the moment and gratifies the dreamer in any way, it serves its +purpose. Sometimes the daydreamer exercises some control, breaking off +a spiteful or amorous dream because he thinks it had better not be +indulged; but in this he ceases to be simply a daydreamer. +Daydreaming, by itself, is an example of what is called "autistic +thinking", which means thinking that is sufficient unto itself, and +not subjected to any criticism. Autistic thinking gratifies some +desire and that is enough for it. It does not submit to criticism from +other persons nor from other tendencies of the individual, nor does it +seek to square itself with the real world. + +Autistic thinking, indulged in by every imaginative person in moments +of relaxation, is carried to an absurd extreme by some types of insane +individuals. One type withdraws so completely from reality as to be +inaccessible in the way of conversation, unresponsive to anything that +happens, entirely immersed in inner imaginings. Others, while living +in the world about them, transform it into a make-believe {509} world +by attaching meanings to things and persons as suits themselves. This +institution, in which the subject is confined, is his royal palace, +the doctors are his officials, the nurses his wives, "thousands of +them, the most beautiful women in creation". Or the delusion may take +the line of the "suffering hero", the subject imagining himself a +great man shut up in this place by the machinations of his enemies; +the doctors are spies and enemy agents, and the nurses also act +suspiciously; his food is poisoned, and he is kept in a weak and +helpless condition, all out of fear of him. It is impossible to argue +the patient out of his delusions by pointing out to him how clearly +they conflict with reality; he evades any such test by some +counter-argument, no matter how flimsy, and sticks to his dream or +make-believe. + +Autistic thinking is contrasted with realistic thinking, which seeks +to check up with real facts; it may be contrasted also with socialized +thinking, which submits to the criticism of other people; and it may +even be contrasted with self-criticized thinking, in which the +individual scrutinizes what he has imagined, to see whether it is on +the whole satisfactory to himself, or whether it simply gratified a +single or momentary impulse that should be balanced off by other +tendencies. + + +Invention and Criticism + +"Criticism"--the word has been used repeatedly, and it is time it gave +an account of itself. Criticism evidently demands balancing off one +desire by another. One tendency gets criticized by running afoul of +another tendency, one idea by conflicting with another idea. We +concoct a fine joke to play on our friend; but then the thought comes +to us that he may not take it kindly; we don't want to break with our +friend, and so we regretfully throw our promising invention on the +scrap heap. That is self-criticism, the {510} balancing off of one +impulse by another. Self-criticism is obnoxious to the natural man, +who prefers to follow out any tendency that has been aroused till it +reaches its goal; but he learns self-criticism in the hard school of +experience. For plenty of criticism is directed upon the individual +from without. + +Criticism is directed upon him by the facts of the real world, so soon +as he tries to act out what he has imagined. Often his invention will +not work, his plan does not succeed, and he is involved in chagrin and +even pain. He must perforce cast away his plan and think up a new one. +At this point the "weak brother" is tempted to give up trying, and +take refuge in autistic thinking, but the stronger individual accepts +the challenge of reality. He sees that an invention is not +satisfactory unless it will really work, and sets about learning what +will work and what not, so accumulating observations that later enable +him to criticize his own ideas, to some extent, before trying them out +on real things. + +Criticism is directed upon the individual from the side of other +people, who from the day he first begins to tell his childish +imaginings, are quite free with their objections. Humiliated by this +critical reception of his ideas, the individual may resolve to keep +them to himself for the future, and draw away, again, towards autistic +thinking; or, more forcefully, he may exert himself to find some idea +that will command the approval of other people. If he can take rebuffs +goodnaturedly, he soon finds that social criticism can be a great +help, that two heads are better than one in planning any invention +that needs to work. He accumulates knowledge of what will pass muster +when presented to other people, and thus again learns self-criticism. + +Self-criticism is helped by such rules as to "think twice", to "sleep +on it before deciding", to "drop the matter for a time and come back +to it and see whether it still looks {511} the same". When you are all +warmed up over an idea, its recency value gives it such an advantage +over opposing ideas that they have no chance, for the moment, of +making themselves felt in the line of criticism. + +I once heard the great psychologist, and great writer, William James, +make a remark that threw some light on his mode of writing. In the +evening, he said, after warming up to his subject, he would write on +and on till he had exhausted the lead he was following, and lay the +paper aside with the feeling, "Good! Good! That's good". The next +morning, he said, it might not seem good at all. This calls to mind +the old advice to writers about its being "better to compose with fury +and correct with phlegm than to compose with phlegm and correct with +fury". The phlegmatic critical attitude interferes considerably with +the enthusiastic inventive activity. Give invention free rein for the +time being, and come around with criticism later. + +Some over-cautious and too self-critical persons, though rather +fertile in ideas, never accomplish much in the way of invention +because they cannot let themselves go. Criticism is always at their +elbow, suggesting doubts and alternatives and preventing progress in +the creative activity, instead of biding its time and coming in to +inspect the completed result. For a similar reason, much of the best +inventive work--writing, for example, or painting--is done in +prolonged periods of intense activity, which allow time for invention +to get warmed to its task, when it takes the bit in its teeth and +dashes off at a furious speed, leaving criticism to trail along +behind. + +Invention in the service of art or of economic and social needs is +controlled imagination, realistic, socialized, subjected to criticism. +It cannot afford to be autistic, but must meet objective or social +standards. Mechanical inventions must work when translated into +matter-of-fact wood and iron, and {512} must also pass the social test +of being of some use. Social inventions of the order of institutions, +laws, political platforms and slogans, plans of campaign, must "work" +in the sense of bringing the desired response from the public. Social +imagination of the very important sort suggested by the proverbs, +"Seeing ourselves as others see us", or "Putting ourselves in the +other fellow's place"--for it is only by imagination that we can thus +get outside of our own experience and assume another point of +view--must check up with the real sentiments of other people. + + +The Enjoyment of Imaginative Art + +It requires imagination to enjoy art as well as to produce it. The +producer of the work of art puts the stimuli before you, but you must +make the response yourself, and it is an inventive response, not a +mere repetition of some response you have often made. The novelist +describes a character for you, and you must respond by putting +together the items in the description so as to conceive of a character +you have never met. The painter groups his figures before you, but you +must get the point of the picture for yourself. The musical composer +provides a series of chords, but you must get the "hang" of the +passage for yourself, and if he has introduced a novel effect, it may +not be easy to find any beauty in it, at least on the first hearing. + +Art, from the consumer's side, is play. It is play of the imagination, +with the materials conveniently presented by the artist. Now, as art +is intended to appeal to a consumer (or enjoyer), the question as to +sources of satisfaction in the enjoyment of art is fundamental in the +whole psychology of art, production as well as consumption. + +We have the same questions to ask regarding the enjoyment of a _novel_ +as regarding a daydream. Novel-reading is daydreaming with the +materials provided by the {513} author, and gratifies the same +motives. A novel to be really popular must have a genuine hero or +heroine--some one with whom the reader can identify himself. The +frequency of novels in which the hero or heroine is a person of high +rank, or wins rank or wealth in the course of the story, is a sign of +appeal to the mastery motive. The humble reader is tickled in his own +self-esteem by identifying himself for the time with the highborn or +noble or beautiful character in the story. The escape motive also is +relied upon to furnish the excitement of the story, which always +brings the hero into danger or difficulty and finally rescues him, +much to the reader's relief. Love stories appeal, of course, to the +sex impulse, humorous stories to laughter, and mystery stories to +curiosity. Cynical stories, showing the "pillars of society" in an +ignoble light, appeal to the self-assertive impulse of the reader, in +that he is led to apply their teaching to pretentious people whom he +knows about, and set them down a peg, to his own relative advancement. +But here again we have to insist, as under the head of sports and +daydreams, that interests of a more objective kind are also gratified +by a good work of fiction. A story that runs its logical course to a +tragic end is interesting as a good piece of workmanship, and as an +insight into the world. We cannot heartily identify ourselves with +Hamlet or Othello, yet we should be sorry to have those figures erased +from our memories; they mean something, they epitomize world-facts +that compel our attention. + + +The appeal of art is partly emotional. + +A very great work of art, the Apollo Belvedere or the Sistine Madonna, +when you suddenly come upon it in walking through a gallery, may move +you almost or quite to tears. Beautiful music, and not necessarily sad +music either, has the same effect. Why this particular emotion should +be aroused is certainly an enigma. "Crying because you are so happy" +is similar {514} but itself rather inexplicable. In many other cases, +the emotional appeal of art is easily analyzed. The pathetic appeals +straightforwardly to the grief impulse, the humorous to the laughter +impulse, the tragic to fear and escape. The sex motive is frequently +utilized in painting and sculpture as well as in literature. + + +Art makes also an intellectual appeal. + +It is satisfying partly because of this appeal, as is clear when we +remember that many great works of art require mental effort in order +to grasp and appreciate them. You must be wide-awake to follow a play +of Shakespeare; you must puzzle out the meaning of a group painting +before fully enjoying it; you must study some of the detail of a +Gothic cathedral before getting the full effect; music may be too +"classical" for many to grasp and follow. Unless, then, the artist has +made a great mistake, the mental activity which he demands from his +public must contribute to the satisfaction they derive from his works. +If his appeal were simply to their emotions, any intellectual labor +would be a disturbing element. The intellectual appeal is partly to +objective interests in the thing presented, partly to interest in the +workmanship, and partly to the mastery motive in the form of problem +solution. + +Perhaps we do not often think of a fine painting or piece of music as +a problem set us for solution, but it is that, and owes part of its +appeal to its being a problem. To "get the hang of" a work of art +requires some effort and attention; if the problem presented is too +difficult for us, the work of art is dry; if too easy, it is tame. + +The mastery motive is probably as important in the enjoyment of art as +it is in play and dreaming. It comes in once in the joy of mastering +the significance of the work of art, and again in self-identification +with the fine characters portrayed. + +{515} + +Empathy in art enjoyment. + +At first thought, some forms of art, as architecture, seem incapable +of making the just-mentioned double appeal to the mastery motive. +Architecture can certainly present problems for the beholder to solve, +but how can the beholder possibly identify himself with a tower or +arch? If, however, we remember the "empathy" that we spoke of under +the head of play, we see that the beholder may project himself into +the object, unintentionally of course, and thus perhaps get +satisfaction of his mastery impulse. + +Look at a pillar, for example. If the pillar is too massive for the +load supported, it gives you the unsatisfactory impression of doing +something absurdly small for your powers. If on the contrary the +pillar is too slender for the load that seems to rest upon it, you get +the feeling of strain and insecurity; but if it is rightly +proportioned, you get the feeling of a worthy task successfully +accomplished. The pillar, according to empathy, pleases you by +arousing and gratifying your mastery impulse; and many other +architectural effects can be interpreted in the same way. + +Empathy can perhaps explain the appeal of the _big_ in art and nature. +In spite of the warnings put forth against thinking of mere bigness as +great or fine, we must admit that size makes a very strong appeal to +something in human nature. The most perfect miniature model of a +cathedral, however interesting and attractive as it rests on the table +before you, fails to make anything like the impression that is made by +the giant building towering above you. Big trees, lofty cliffs, grand +canyons, tremendous waterfalls, huge banks of clouds, the illimitable +expanse of the sea, demonstrate cogently the strong appeal of the big. +Perhaps the big is not necessarily grand, but the grand or sublime +must be big or somehow suggest bigness. The question is, then, what it +is in us that responds to the appeal of the big. + +{516} + +Perhaps it is the submissive tendency that is aroused. This great +mountain, so far outclassing me that I am not tempted in the least to +compete with it, affords me the joy of willing submission. The escape +motive may come in along with submissiveness--at the first sight of +the mountain a thrill of fear passes over me, but I soon realize that +the mountain will not hurt me in spite of its awe-inspiring vastness; +so that my emotion is blended of the thrill of fear, the relief of +escape, and the humble joy of submission. That is one analysis of the +esthetic effect of bigness. + +Empathy suggests a very different analysis. According to this, +projecting myself into the mountain, identifying myself with it, I +experience the sensation of how it feels to be a mountain. It feels +big--I feel big. My mastery impulse is gratified. To decide between +these two opposing interpretations ought to be possible from the +behavior or introspection of a person in the presence of some big +object. If he feels insignificant and humble and bows reverently +before the object, we may conclude that the submissive tendency is in +action; but if the sight of the grand object makes him feel strong and +fine, if he throws out his chest and a gleam comes into his eye, then +everything looks like the mastery motive. Quite possibly, the effect +varies with the person and the occasion. + +We have to think of art as a great system or collection of inventions +that owes its existence to its appeal to human nature, and that has +found ways, as its history has progressed, of making its appeal more +and more varied. Art is a type in these respects of many social +enterprises, such as sport, amusement, and even such serious matters +as politics and industry. Each of these is a collection of inventions +that persists because it appeals to human impulses, and each one +appeals to a variety of different impulses. + + +{517} + +The Psychology of Inventive Production + +To the consumer, art is play, but to the producer it is work, in the +sense that it is directed towards definite ends and has to stand +criticism according as it does or does not reach those ends. What is +true of the producer of art works is true also of other inventors, and +we may as well consider all sorts of controlled imagination together. + +In spite of the element of control that is present in productive +invention, the really gifted inventor seems to make play of his work +to a large extent. Certainly the inventive genius does not always have +his eyes fixed on the financial goal, nor on the appeal which his +inventions are to make to the public. It is astonishing to read in the +lives of inventors what a lot of comparatively useless contrivances +they busied themselves with, apparently from the pure joy of +inventing. One prolific writer said that he "never worked in his life, +only played". The inventor likes to manipulate his materials, and this +playfulness has something to do with his originality, by helping to +keep him out of the rut. + +That "necessity is the mother of invention" is only half of the truth; +it points to the importance of a directive tendency, but fails to show +how the inventor manages to leave the beaten path and really invent. +Necessity, or some desire, puts a question, without which the inventor +would not be likely to find the answer; but he needs a kind of +flexibility or playfulness, just because his job is that of seeing +things in a new light. We must allow him to toy with his materials a +bit, and even to be a bit "temperamental", and not expect him to grind +out works of art or other inventions as columns of figures are added. + +When inventive geniuses have been requested to indicate their method, +they have been able to give only vague hints. How does the musical +composer, for example, free himself of {518} all the familiar pieces +and bring the notes into a fresh arrangement? All that he can tell +about it is usually that he had an "inspiration"; the new air simply +came to him. Now, of course the air did not really come to him from +outside; he made it, it was his reaction, but it was a quick, free +reaction, of which he could observe little introspectively. + +Perhaps the best-studied case of invention is that of the learner in +typewriting, who, after laboriously perfecting his "letter habits" or +responses to single letters by appropriate finger movements on the +keyboard, may suddenly find himself writing in a new way, the word no +longer being spelled out, but being written as a unit by a coördinated +series of finger movements. The amazing thing is that, without trying +for anything of the kind, he has been able to break away from his +habit of spelling out the word, and shift suddenly to a new manner of +writing. He testifies that he did not plan out this change, but was +surprised to find himself writing in the new way. He was feeling well +that day, hopeful and ambitious, he was striving for greater speed, +and, while he was completely absorbed in his writing, this new mode of +reaction originated. + +We see in this experimentally studied case some of the conditions that +favor invention. Good physical condition, freshness, mastery of the +subject, striving for some result, and "hopefulness". Now, what is +that last? Confidence, enterprise, willingness to "take a chance", +eagerness for action and readiness to break away from routine? Some of +this independent, manipulating spirit was probably there. + +A soldier, so wounded as to paralyze his legs but capable of recovery +by training, had advanced far enough to hobble about with a cane and +by holding to the walls. One morning, feeling pretty chipper, he took +a chance and left the wall, cutting straight across the room; and +getting through without a fall, was naturally much encouraged and +{519} maintained this advance. This might be called invention; it was +breaking away from what had become routine, and that is the essential +fact about the inventive reaction. This playful spirit of cutting +loose, manipulating, and rearranging things to suit yourself is +certainly a condition favorable to invention. It does not guarantee a +valuable invention, but it at least helps towards whatever invention +the individual's other qualifications make possible. + +Another condition favorable to invention is youth. Seldom does a very +old person get outside the limits of his previous habits. Few great +inventions, artistic or practical, have emanated from really old +persons, and comparatively few even from the middle-aged. On the other +hand, boys and girls under eighteen seldom produce anything of great +value, not having as yet acquired the necessary mastery of the +materials with which they have to deal. The period from twenty years +up to forty seems to be the most favorable for inventiveness. + + +Imagination Considered in General + +Finally, we must return to the question of definition or general +description that was left open near the beginning of the chapter. +There seem to be two steps in the inventive response, one preliminary, +the other strictly inventive. The preliminary step brings the stimuli +to bear, and invention is the response that follows. + +Typically, the preliminary stage consists in recall; and association +by similarity, bringing together materials from different past +experiences, is very important as a preliminary to invention. Facts +recalled from different contexts are thus brought together, and +invention consists in a response to such novel combinations of facts. +The two steps in invention are, first, getting a combination of +stimuli, and second, responding to the combination. + +{520} + +Sometimes it has been said that imagination consists in putting +together material from different sources, but this leaves the matter +in mid-air; recall can bring together facts from different sources and +so afford the stimulus for an imaginative response, but the response +goes beyond the mere togetherness of the stimuli. Thinking of a man +and also of a horse is not inventing a centaur; there is a big jump +from the juxtaposition of the data to the specific arrangement that +imagination gives them. The man plus the horse may give no response at +all, or may give many other responses besides that of a centaur; for +example, a picture of the man and the horse politely bowing to each +other. The particular manipulation, or imaginative response, that is +made varies widely; sometimes it consists in taking things apart +rather than putting them together, as when you imagine how a house +would look with the evergreen tree beside it cut down; always it +consists in putting the data into new relationships. + +Imagination thus presents a close parallel to reasoning, where, also, +there are two stages, the preliminary consisting in getting the +premises together and the final consisting in perceiving the +conclusion. The final response in imagination is in general like that +in reasoning; both are _perceptive reactions_; but imagination is +freer and more variable. Reasoning is governed by a very precise aim, +to see the actual meaning of the combined premises; that is, it is +exploratory; while imagination, though it is usually more or less +steered either by a definite aim or by some bias in the direction of +agreeable results, has after all much more latitude. It is seeking, +not a relationship that is there, but one that can be put there. + +{521} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. Make a list of hobbies and amusements that you specially enjoy, + and try to discover the sources of satisfaction in each. + +3. Recall two stories that you specially enjoyed, and try to + discover the sources of satisfaction in each. + +4. How far does the account of daydreams given in the text square + with your own daydreams, and how far does it seem inadequate? + +5. An experiment on the speed of revery or of daydreaming. + Beginning at a recorded time, by your watch, let your mind wander + freely for a few moments, stopping as soon as your stream of + thoughts runs dry. Note the time at the close. Now review your + daydream (or revery), and tally off the several scenes or + happenings that you thought of, so as to count up and see how many + distinct thoughts passed through your mind. How many seconds, on + the average, were occupied by each successive item? + +6. Why do dreams seem real at the time? + +7. Analysis of a dream. Take some dream that you recall well, and let + your thoughts play about it, and about the separate items of + it--about each object, person, speech, and happening in the + dream--with the object of seeing whether they remind you of + anything personally significant. Push the analysis back to your + childhood, by asking whether anything about the dream symbolizes + your childish experiences or wishes. To be sure, the psychoanalyst + would object that the individual cannot be trusted to make a + complete analysis of his own dream--just as the psychologist would + object to your accepting the recalled experiences and wishes as + necessarily standing in any causal relation to your dream--but, at + any rate, the exercise is interesting. + +8. Problems in invention. Solve some of these, and compare the + mental process with that of reasoning. + + (a) Devise a game to be played by children and adults together, + to everybody's satisfaction. + + (b) Imagine a weird animal, after the analogy of the centaur. + + (c) Imagine an interesting incident, bringing in an old man, + a little girl, and a waterfall. + + (d) Design the street plan for an ideal small town, built on + both sides of a small river. + +9. Show how empathy might make us prefer a symmetrical building to + one that is lop-sided. + + +{522} + + +REFERENCES + + +On the imagination and play of children, see Norsworthy and Whitley's +_Psychology of Childhood_, 1918, Chapters IX and XII. + +For Freud's views regarding dreams, see his _Interpretation of +Dreams_, translated by Brill, 1913. + +For a view which, though psychoanalytical, diverges somewhat from that +of Freud, see Maurice Nicoll, _Dream Psychology_, 1917; also C. W. +Kimmins, _Children's Dreams_, 1920. + +For studies of play, see Edward S. Robinson, "The Compensatory +Function of Make-Believe Play", in the _Psychological Review_ for +1920, Vol. 27, pp. 429-439; also M. J. Reaney, _The Psychology of the +Organized Group Game_, 1916. + +On invention, see Josiah Royce, "The Psychology of Invention", in the +_Psychological Review_ for 1898, Vol. 5, pp. 113-144; also F. W. +Taussig's _Inventors and Money-Makers_, 1915. + + +{523} + +CHAPTER XX + +WILL + +PLANNED ACTION, ACTION IN SPITE OF INTERNAL CONFLICT, +AND ACTION AGAINST EXTERNAL OBSTRUCTION + + +If the psychologist were required to begin his chapter on the will +with a clean-cut definition, he would be puzzled what to say. He might +refer to the old division of the mind into the "three great faculties" +of intellect, feeling, and will, but would be in duty bound to add at +once that this "tripartite division" is now regarded as rather +useless, if not misleading. It is misleading if it leads us to +associate will exclusively with motor action, for we also have +voluntary attention and voluntary control in reasoning and inventing, +and we have involuntary motor reactions. "Will" seems not to be any +special kind of response, but rather to refer to certain relationships +in which a response may stand to other responses--but this is +certainly too vague a definition to be of use. + +"Will" is not precisely a psychological term, anyway, but is a term of +common speech which need not refer to any psychological unit. In +common speech it has various and conflicting meanings. "Since you urge +me", one may say, "I _will_ do this, though much against my _will_." +Let the dictionary define such words. What psychology should do with +them is simply to take them as a mining prospector takes an +outcropping of ore: as an indication that it may pay to dig in the +neighborhood. + +{524} + +Voluntary and Involuntary Action + +About the first thing we strike when we start digging is the +distinction between voluntary and involuntary. A man has committed +homicide, and the question in court is whether he did it "with malice +aforethought", i.e., with full will and intention, whether he did it +in a sudden fit of anger, i.e., impulsively rather than quite +voluntarily, or whether it was an accident and so wholly unintentional +or involuntary. The court wishes to know, since a man who has +committed one sort of homicide is a very different character from one +who has committed another sort; different acts can be expected from +him in the future and different precautions need to be taken +accordingly. + +It is a fact, then, that an act may be performed either with or +without foreknowledge--a remarkable fact both ways! An intentional act +is remarkable from the side of physics or chemistry or botany--which +is to say that it is very exceptional in nature at large. On the other +hand, a completely involuntary act is rather exceptional in human +behavior and perhaps in animal behavior as well, for almost always +there is some striving towards an end, some impulse. The simplest +reflexes, to be sure, are completely involuntary. The pupillary +reaction to light is not done with malice aforethought, cannot be so +done. The lid reflex, or wink of the eye, occurs many times in the +course of an hour, without foreknowledge, or after-knowledge for that +matter, though the same movement can be made voluntarily. Sneezing and +coughing are not voluntary in the full sense, but they are distinctly +impulsive, they strive towards desired relief. To sneeze voluntarily +is to sneeze when you don't want to, and to sneeze involuntarily is to +sneeze when you want to--which seems queer, since we usually think of +a voluntary act as one done to further our wishes. The solution of +this puzzle is, {525} of course, that a voluntary sneeze is desired +not because of a direct impulse but to gain some ulterior end, such as +to prove we can do it, or for histrionic purposes--in short, for some +purpose beyond the immediate satisfaction of an impulse. + +Thus we may classify acts as wholly involuntary or mechanical, as +impulsive, and as distinctly voluntary or purposive. Or, we may +arrange acts in a scale from those that have no conscious end, through +those aimed directly at an immediate end, up to those done to +accomplish an ulterior end which is imagined beforehand. The last +class of fully voluntary acts belongs under the general head of +manipulation, just as imagination does. We _imagine some change_ to be +produced in the existing situation and then proceed to put our +imagination into effect; and this is a typical voluntary act. + +We seldom, however, picture a _complete_ act in imagination before +executing it. Even so simple an act as closing the fist cannot be +completely pictured beforehand; for if you try to imagine how the +closed fist is going to feel and then close it, you will find that you +left out of your image many details of the actual kinesthetic +sensations. What we imagine and intend is _some_ change in the +situation, and we then proceed to execute that change and other +changes incidentally. + +Besides the simple reflexes, there is another sort of involuntary and +mechanical action. Through practice and repetition, an act may become +so habitual as to be done automatically, that is, without being +imagined beforehand, and even without conscious impulse. The practised +typist responds in this way to the words he is copying. We should +notice, however, that this does not mean that the total behavior and +state of mind of the typist is mechanical and devoid of impulse. The +typist may write the letters {526} mechanically, and if expert may +write even words in this way, but all the time he is consciously +aiming to copy the passage. His attention and impulse have deserted +the fully mastered details and attach themselves to the larger units. +In the same way, in signing your name you have no conscious intention +or impulse to write each successive letter; but you fully intend to +sign your name. + + +Development of Voluntary Control + +The child's actions are at first impulsive but not voluntary in the +full sense, since obviously he cannot imagine and intend an act till +he has had experience of that act, and he must usually have +experienced doing the act himself before he can effectively imagine +it. At least, this is true of the simpler movements; compound +movements, made up of familiar elements, may be first observed in +other persons and then voluntarily imitated. The child's process of +acquiring voluntary control over a movement is illustrated by the +story of how the baby learned to put his hand in his mouth. He first +made this movement in the course of "aimless" throwing of his arms +about, liked the sensation of the hand in the mouth, tried apparently +to get it there again, and in the course of a few days was able to put +it there at will. The child's "aimless" movements at the start were +probably impulsive, but they were not directed towards any +preconceived end. Then, having observed a desirable result of one +movement, he worked towards that result by trial and error, till +finally he had the necessary movement so closely linked to the thought +of the result as to follow directly upon the thought. + +Once brought under voluntary control, a movement becomes with further +repetition habitual and mechanical, and no longer voluntary or even +impulsive. Thus the voluntary {527} performance of an act intervenes +between the native or instinctive doing of it and the later habitual +doing of it. Blowing out a match affords another example of this +course of events. A child can of course blow out, instinctively, when +he has the natural stimulus for strong expiration, but he cannot at +will blow at the lighted match. Being prompted and shown, he comes by +degrees to be able to blow out the match; during the learning stage he +has to try, and the act is voluntary; but with further practice it +becomes involuntary, though it may still be executed as part of a +larger voluntary act, such as preventing a burning match from setting +fire to something on which it has fallen. + +A complex act, or series of movements, may be voluntary as a whole, +being directed towards some preconceived result, while the single +movements that constitute the series are mechanical, their particular +results no longer being thought of separately. This is well +illustrated by the instances of typewriting, speaking, and signing the +name, mentioned a moment ago. With practice, the interest in a +performance goes more and more to the final result and deserts the +elements of the act. + +It is during the organization of reactions that they require attention +and must be thought of before being executed. Organization goes on and +on, a thoroughly organized reaction being later combined with others +into a still bigger act. New demands constantly made upon the +individual prevent him, however well organized, from ever reaching the +condition of a wholly automatic machine. Will, in the sense of action +aimed at the accomplishment of foreseen results, stays with him to the +end. + + +Ideomotor Action + +Involuntary movement is not always "sensorimotor", which means +directly aroused by a sensory stimulus; oftener {528} it is +"ideomotor", or directly aroused by an idea or thought. It may be so +aroused and still be involuntary. We think of a certain result and our +muscles produce this result, though we did not really mean to do this +act ourselves. The thought arouses the movement because it has +previously been linked with the movement. A thought which has +previously served as the stimulus to an act will tend to have this +effect again, unless inhibited by some contrary stimulus. There is no +need of a definite _consent_ to the act, provided there is nothing +present to inhibit it. + +Good examples of ideomotor action can be observed among the audience +at an athletic contest. You are watching one of your team do the pole +vault, for instance, and are so much absorbed in his performance and +so desirous for him to succeed that you identify yourself with him to +a degree. He is rising to clear the high bar, and the thought of his +clearing it, monopolizing your mind and leaving no room for the +inhibitory thought that the performer is down there in the field and +you up here in the stand, causes you to make an incipient leg movement +as if you yourself were vaulting. + +Voluntary action, in the fullest sense, occurs when you realize the +situation and are definitely conscious of yourself, that is to say, +when you differentiate yourself clearly out of the total situation, +and not only imagine some change to be made, but think of that change +as to be produced _by you_, without at the same time having any +contrary thought to inhibit actual execution. + + +Conflict and Decision + +It appears that in our "digging" we have now struck another vein, for +here we have the fact of one tendency running contrary to another and +inhibiting it. Conflict of desires and the consequent necessity of +_choosing_ between {529} them, is thus brought vividly to our +attention. Every one would at once agree that "will" and "choice" +belong closely together. The most distinctly voluntary acts occur when +two alternatives are thought of, and one of them is chosen. + +Organized as we are by nature, that is to say, on a large scale, but +incompletely--environed as we are, with multitudinous stimuli +constantly playing on us and arousing contrary tendencies--we cannot +hope to escape conflict of motives and the necessity of making +decisions. Every decision made, every conflict resolved, is a step in +the further organization of the individual. It may be a step in a good +direction, or in a bad direction, but it is a step in organizing the +individual's reaction-tendencies into what we call his +_character_--the more or less organized sum total of his native and +acquired tendencies to reaction, with emphasis on those reactions that +affect his life and social relations in a broad way. + +The lowest animals, having few reaction tendencies, and being +responsive to only a narrow environment, show little sign of internal +conflict, and when it does occur it is resolved very simply by the +advantage going to one of the opposing tendencies, with perhaps a +shift later to the other, in the way described in our earlier +consideration of attention. [Footnote: See p. 251.] This type of +decision is fundamental. In the behavior of higher animals, we +sometimes detect signs of a longer-persisting conflict, as between +curiosity and fear, when a wild creature seems poised between his +inclination to approach and examine a strange object and his +inclination to run away, veering now towards the one and now towards +the other alternative, and unable, as it seems, to reach a decision. + +Conflict between the enterprising tendency to explore, manipulate or +somehow launch forth into the new, and the negative tendencies of +fear, inertia, shyness, etc., is {530} something that recurs again and +again in human experience, as illustrated by making up your mind to +get up in the morning, or to plunge into the cold water, or to speak +up and have your say in a general conversation. There is a _hesitancy_ +in such cases, due to a positive and a negative tendency. The conflict +may be resolved in favor of the negative tendency by simple +prolongation of the hesitation till the occasion for action has +passed, or it may be resolved in favor of the positive tendency when +this is strong enough for an instant to enable the individual to +commit himself to the enterprise, after which he usually stays +committed. The positive motive must for an instant be stronger than +the negative, in order to get action. + +A somewhat different type of conflict, which may be called +_vacillation_, occurs when two positive tendencies are aroused that +are inconsistent with each other, so that gratification of the one +entails renunciation of the other. Old Buridan's celebrated problem of +the ass, placed equally distant from two equally attractive bundles of +hay, and whether he would starve to death from the exact balance of +the two opposing tendencies, is a sort of parable to fit this case. +Probably the poor ass did not starve--unless he richly deserved his +name--but he may conceivably have ended the very uncomfortable state +of vacillation by running away altogether, as a human being, who is +really more subject to vacillation than any other creature, is +sometimes so much disturbed at having to decide between two +invitations for the same day as to decline both, and go fishing. +Vacillation is certainly a very unpleasant state of mind. We want +action, or else we want peace, but vacillation gives us neither. In +spite of its irksomeness, we seem sometimes almost powerless to end +it, because as soon as we have about decided on the one alternative, +what we shall miss by not choosing the other comes vividly to mind, +and swings the pendulum its way. + +{531} + +However it comes about that a decision is reached, it usually is +reached, and the curious fact then is that it usually sticks. A +student may vacillate long between the apparently equal attractions of +two colleges, but when he finally decides on one, the advantages of +the other lose their hold on him. Now he is all for one and not at all +for the other. Having identified himself with one college, he has +completely altered the balance of attractions, his self-assertion now +going wholly on the side of the chosen college, and even leading him +to pick flaws in the other as if to reinforce his decision. In other +words, he "rationalizes", justifies, and fortifies his decision, once +he has reached it. Some people, indeed, are abnormally subject to +vacillation and seem never to accept their own decisions as final, but +normally there are strong influences tending to maintain a decision, +once it is made: the unpleasantness of the state of vacillation and +relief at having escaped from it; the satisfaction of having a +definite course of action; and self-assertion, because we have +decided, and now this course of action is _ours_. During vacillation, +neither of the alternatives was identified with ourselves, but now we +have decided and are not going to be so weak as to change. X is our +college now and anything you say against it you say against us. Thus +the person who has decided defends himself energetically against +reopening the question. + +The state of indecision and the state of decision seem thus fairly +well understood, but the process of passing from the one to the other +is often obscure. It differs from one case to another. In one case we +find the rational process of deliberation, in which each alternative +is weighed and the decision awarded to the one that promises best. +This is essentially a work of imagination: you imagine that you have +adopted the one alternative, and see how it suits you, then you do the +same with the other alternative. You think each {532} alternative +through to see how satisfactory it will be, balance one against the +other, and choose accordingly. This is ideal, but often impracticable, +since we have not the time for full deliberation, or since we cannot +trust imagination to give us a correct picture, or since we have no +common measure by aid of which to balance off different sorts of +satisfaction. Even when practicable, the deliberate way of reaching a +decision is likely to seem irksome, because of the delay involved and +the natural propensity for impulsive action. Perhaps the most common +process is a sort of partial deliberation, the two alternatives +appealing to us by turns till at some moment one makes a strong enough +appeal to secure action. + +Sometimes there is a deadlock, and then we either give up deciding for +the moment, and, sleeping over the matter, find when we next take it +up that one alternative has lost its momentary attractiveness and the +other has the field; or else, feeling the irksomeness and humiliation, +almost, of being unable to make up our mind, we say, "Any decision is +better than none; here goes, then; _this_ is what I will do", so +breaking the deadlock by what seems like an arbitrary toss-up. + +At other times, without such a distinct "act of will", and without any +observable change in the attractiveness of either alternative, we +simply find, after awhile, that a decision has emerged, and that we +now know what we are going to do. What has happened in us to bring +about the decision we cannot see, but here we are with a decision made +and perhaps with the act already performed. The two alternatives +remain theoretically equal, but one has somehow got hold of us, while +the other has lapsed. + +Then there is the case where we "see the better, but follow the +worse", or are in great danger of so doing. The "worse" is usually +something that appeals to the {533} "old Adam" in us, something that +strongly arouses a primitive instinctive response; while the "better" +is a nobler, more dutiful, or more prudent course. The lower motive +being the stronger, how can it ever be that the higher motive gets the +decision? Well, the fight is not just a contest between these two. +Other motives are drawn into the fray, the whole man is drawn in, and +it is a question which side is the stronger. Fear of ridicule or +criticism, sense of duty, self-respect, ambition, ideals of oneself, +concern for the welfare of another person, loyalty to a social group, +may be ranged on the side of the "weaker" motive and give it the +advantage over the stronger. + +_What becomes of the rejected motives?_ If unimportant and s +superficial, they simply lapse into an inactive state and are gradually +forgotten, perhaps recurring to mind once in a while with a faint +tinge of regret, since after all we should have liked to gratify them. +"As a boy, I wanted to be a sailor; well, I would rather like to try +it for once." When a motive is deeply rooted in our nature, it cannot +be so easily eliminated. Sometimes it is simply _deferred_ and remains +dormant, content to bide its time; "there will be time enough for that +later on". Sometimes it is _disguised_ and then gratified, as when an +apparently courteous deed contains an element of spite. Sometimes it +is afforded a _substitute gratification_, as when the boastful boy, +after having his "conceit taken out of him" by his mates, boasts of +his school, profession, town or country. This is often called +"sublimation". Sometimes, though denied, it remains insistent, and +"_defense mechanisms_" have to be devised to keep it down; the "sour +grapes" mechanism is an example, which may be used not only when the +"grapes" are physically out of reach but also when for any reason we +decide to leave them alone. + +The psychoanalytic school lays great stress on {534} "suppressed" +desires, holding that they become _unconscious while still remaining +active_, and that they find gratification symbolically in dreams, and +at times break into waking life in a disturbing way. + +The most adequate way of handling rejected motives is to _coördinate_ +them with other, accepted motives--to harness them into teams and put +them to work. This cannot always be done; for example, if a young +woman has two attractive suitors, she might find difficulty in +harnessing them together, and will have to say good-by to one, at +least. But when the boastful boy becomes a loyal and enthusiastic +member of a school, his self-assertive motive is harnessed up with +social motives into a very effective team. Probably a tendency can +only be "sublimated" by being thus combined and coördinated with other +strong tendencies. + +These various ways of handling a rejected motive could be nicely +illustrated from the case of the sex instinct. It so happens, partly +because modern economic and educational conditions enforce a delay in +marriage--and in part simply because there are so many attractive +people in the world--that the cravings of sex must often be denied. +What becomes of them? Of course the sex instinct is too deep-seated to +be eradicated or permanently to lapse into a dormant state. But the +fascination for particular individuals may so lapse or be forgotten. +Certain people we remember, once in a while, with half-humorous and +certainly not very poignant regret. Deferring the whole matter till +the time is ripe works well with many a youth or maiden. Combined with +social interests, the sex motive finds sublimated satisfaction in a +great variety of amusements, as well as in business associations +between the sexes. Introduce a nice young lady into an officeful of +men, and the atmosphere changes, often for the better,--which means, +certainly, that the sex motive of these men, combined with ordinary +business {535} motives, is finding a sublimated satisfaction. The sex +motive thus enters into a great variety of human affairs. "Defense +mechanisms" are common in combating unacceptable erotic impulses; the +sour grapes mechanism sometimes takes the extreme form of a hatred of +the other sex; but a very good and useful device of this general sort +is to throw oneself into some quite different type of activity, as the +young man may successfully work off his steam in athletics. This is +not sublimation, in any proper use of that term, for athletic sport +does not gratify the sex tendency in the least, but it gratifies other +tendencies and so gratifies the individual. It is the individual that +must be satisfied, rather than any specified one of his tendencies. As +regards coördination, the fact was illustrated just above that this +method would not always work; but sometimes it works immensely well. +Here is a young person (either sex), in the twenties, with insistent +sex impulses, tempted to yield to the fascination of some mediocre +representative of the other sex. Such a low-level attachment, however, +militates against self-respect, work, ambition, social sense. Where is +the "coördination"? It has to be found; some worthy mate will harness +all these tendencies, stimulating and gratifying sex attraction, +self-respect, ambition, and others besides, and coördinating them all +into the complex and decidedly high-grade sentiment of love. + + +Obstruction and Effort + +The term "will" is used to designate the response to external +obstruction as well as the response to internal conflict. In fact, +nothing is so characteristically "will" as the overcoming of +resistance that checks progress towards a desired result. As +"decision" is the response to internal conflict of tendencies, so +"effort" is the response to external {536} resistance encountered in +executing a desire that has been adopted. The obstruction may be +purely physical, as the underbrush that impedes your progress through +the woods; or it may be another person's will running counter to +yours; or it may be of the nature of distraction of attention from the +end in view. + +The resistance may also be internal, and consist in your own lack of +skill in executing your intentions, or in the disturbing effect of +some desire which, though rejected, has not gone to sleep but still +pulls you another way than the way you have decided to go. + +In all these cases, the individual is moving towards a certain goal, +but encounters obstruction; and his response is effort, or increased +energy put into his movement towards the goal. So long as the tendency +towards a goal finds smooth going, there is not the same determination +that appears as soon as an obstruction is encountered. The "will", in +common usage, will not brook resistance--the "indomitable will". + +Now effort and determination, in our chapter on the native impulses, +were put under the head of the assertive or masterful tendency; and it +does seem that "will", in this sense, is almost the same thing as the +instinct of self-assertion. Certainly, in the case of adults, an +obstruction puts the individual "on his mettle", and superimposes the +mastery motive upon whatever motive it may have been that originally +prompted the action. + +The mastery motive came clearly to light in an experiment designed to +investigate "will action". The subject of the experiment was first +given a long course of training in responding to certain stimulus +words by other certain words that were constantly paired with them; +and when his habits of response were thus well fixed, his task was +changed so that now he must respond to any word or syllable by any +{537} other that _rhymed_ with it. A series of stimuli now began with +words for which no specific response habit had been formed, and to +these the subject reacted with no great difficulty. But then, +unexpectedly, he got a stimulus word to which he had a fixed habit of +response, and before he could catch himself he had made the habitual +response, and so failed to give a rhyme as he had intended. This check +sometimes made him really angry, and at least it brought him up to +attention with a feeling which he expressed in the words, "I can and +will do this thing". He was thus put on his guard, gave closer +attention to what he was doing, and was usually able to overcome the +counter tendency of habit and do what he meant to do. Some subjects, +who adapted themselves readily and fully to the rhyming task, i.e., +who got up a good "mental set" for this sort of reaction, made few +errors and did not experience this feeling of effort and +determination; for them the effort was unnecessary; but the average +person needed the extra energy in order to overcome the resistances +and accomplish his intentions. + +Other good instances of effort are found in the overcoming of +distraction, described under the head of attention, [Footnote: See p. +259.] and in the work of the beginner at any job. When the beginner +has passed the first cautious, exploratory stage of learning, he +begins to "put on steam". He pounds the typewriter, if that is what he +is learning, spells the words aloud, and in other ways betrays the +great effort he is making. + +Ask a child just learning to write why he grasps the pencil so +tightly, why he bends so closely over the desk, why he purses his +lips, knits his brow, and twists his foot around the leg of his chair, +and he might answer, very truly, that it is because he cannot do this +job easily and has to _try hard_. All these unnecessary muscular +movements and tensions {538} show the _access of energy_ that has been +liberated in his brain by the obstruction encountered. + +Any learner, once he has mastered the difficulties of the task, +reaches an easy-running stage in which effort is no longer required, +unless for making a record or in some way surpassing himself. With +reference to effort, then, we may speak of three stages of practice: +the initial, exploratory stage, the awkward and effortful stage, and +the skilled and free-running stage. These are identical with the three +stages in the development of attention to a subject, which were +described [Footnote: See p.258] as the stage of spontaneous attention +or curiosity; the stage of forced attention, or effortful attention, +controlled by such motives as fear or self-assertion; and the final +stage of objective interest and absorption in the subject, which is +evidently the same as the free-running condition. + +Effort is not a good in itself; it is an unpleasant condition; but it +is a natural response to difficulty and is often necessary in order to +get the individual into the free-running condition which is both +efficient and pleasant. It is often required to get the individual out +of the easy-going condition into the free-running condition, which is +something entirely different. In free-running action there may be even +more energy expended than in effortful action, but it is better +directed and produces no strains and jolts. + +Intelligence, in the sense of adaptability and "seeing the point", may +often take the place of effort. Consider the way two different people +react to a sticking door: the one puts in more strength and forces it, +the other by a deft thrust to the side opens it without much extra +force. You can't say absolutely which mode of attack is better, for +your stubborn one may waste his strength on an obstruction that really +cannot be forced, while your clever one may waste his {539} time on a +door that needs only a bit of a push. Persistence _plus_ adaptability +is what efficient activity demands. + + +Thought and Action + +"Men of thought" and "men of action" are sometimes contrasted--which +is hardly fair to either, since the great man of action must have the +imagination to conceive a plan, and must know exactly what he is +aiming to accomplish, while the great thinker must be persistent in +thinking and must get into action by way of writing or somehow making +his thoughts count in the world. But we do find men who are impatient +of thought and want to get into action at once, even without knowing +just what they are about, and other men who seem quite contented to +think and plan, without any definite intention of ever putting their +plans into execution. The former type, the impulsive individual, is +not difficult to understand, his behavior fits in so well with the +primitive trial-and-error sort of activity; but the mere thinker seems +an anomaly, in view of the general psychological principle that +thought tends toward motor action. + +In accounting for the inactive thinker, we have to remember, first, +that some inhibition of immediate action is often necessary, in order +to have time to think the matter over; this prudent attitude becomes a +habit with some individuals. Besides, there are the negative motives +of fear, shyness and laziness that tend to deter from the actual +execution of a plan. Hamlet's "conscience" that makes "cowards of us +all", so that "the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the +pale cast of thought, and enterprises of great pith and moment . . . +lose the name of action" turns out, if we look a few lines further +back, to be the "dread of something" unknown, that "puzzles the will, +and makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others that we +know not of". {540} Fear--fear of unforeseen consequences, fear of +committing ourselves, fear of ridicule--is one great inhibiter of +action, and inertia is another, since it is much less strenuous to sit +in the armchair and plan than to get out and put the plan into effect. +Besides this, some people who are good at planning come to take so +much pride and satisfaction in the thinking part of an enterprise that +they do not feel the need for action. Moreover, you can "plan" in a +large way, without bothering about details, but once you start to +execute your plan you encounter details and preliminaries which are +apt to rob the enterprise of its zest. Here is where persistence and +effort are needed. + +_Abulia_--"no will"--is an abnormal degree of lack of zest for action. +Along with it go timidity and lack of social force, proneness to +rumination and daydreaming, and often a feeling of being compelled to +perform useless acts, such as doing everything three times or +continual washing of the hands. Abulia is not just a comfortable +laziness, but is attended by a sense of humiliation and inferiority. +It shows itself in excessive hesitation and vacillation and in failure +to accomplish anything of consequence. Sometimes the subject expends +much effort, but fails to direct the effort towards the execution of +his purposes. Some authorities have ascribed abulia to inertia or "low +mental tension", some to an overdose of fear and caution, some to the +paralyzing effect of suppressed desires still living in the +"unconscious". Mild degrees of it, such as are not uncommon, seem +sometimes to be due to the hiatus that is bound to exist between the +end one has in view and the means one must take to start towards that +end. One has zest for reaching the goal, but not for the +preliminaries. + +An author, whose case was studied because he was accomplishing so +little, was found to follow a daily program about as follows. He would +get up in the morning full of {541} confidence that this was going to +be a good day, with much progress made in his book. Before starting to +write, however, he must first have his breakfast, and then a little +fresh air, just to prepare himself for energetic work. On returning +from his walk, he thought it best to rest for a few moments, and then +one or two other little matters seemed to demand attention; by the +time these were done, the morning was so far gone that there was no +time for a really good effort, so he optimistically postponed the +writing till the afternoon, when the same sort of thing happened, and +the great performance had to be put over till the next day. This man +did better under a regime prescribed by his medical adviser, who +commanded him to write for two hours immediately after rising, and +make this his day's work--no more and no less than two hours. The +definiteness of this task prevented dawdling. + +Other writers have noted a curious tendency to "fight shy" of the +passage actually being written and let the thoughts move ahead and +plan out the later passages. Sometimes it is necessary to trick +yourself if you are to get anything done; you say, "I can't write this +properly just now; I'll just sketch out a preliminary draft"--on which +understanding you may be able to write, whereas you could not if you +thought you were writing "for keeps"; but when you have got well +started and warmed to the task, you may find your work good enough to +keep, after all. Judging by these mild cases, abulia may be due partly +to distaste for the details of actual performance, and partly to a +dread of committing oneself to anything that has the stamp of +finality. + + +Securing Action + +No chapter in psychology offers more in the way of practical +applications than this chapter on the will--if we only {542} knew more +on the subject! How to get action, either from yourself, or from +others if you are responsible for their action, is a big practical +problem. A few hints on the matter are suggested by what precedes. + +How to get action from yourself--how to liberate your latent energies +and accomplish what you are capable of accomplishing. A definite +purpose is the first requirement; without that one merely drifts, with +no persistency and no great energy. The goal should be something that +appeals vitally to you, and something which you can attain; not too +distant a goal; or, if the ultimate goal is distant, there must be +mileposts along the way which you can take as more immediate goals; +for a goal that can be reached by immediate action enlists more +present effort. The student puts more energy into his study when the +examination is close at hand; and, although this is regrettable, it +reveals a fact in human nature that can be utilized in the management +of yourself or others. A well defined and clearly visible goal is a +much better energy-releaser than vague "good intentions". + +The more clearly you can see and measure your approach towards the +goal, the more action; thus it has been found in many different lines +that the "practice curve method" of training gives quicker and better +results than ordinary drill. In the practice curve [Footnote: See p. +321.] you have a picture of your progress; you are encouraged by +seeing how far you have advanced, and stimulated to surpass your past +record, and thus your immediate goal is made very definite. You cannot +do so well when you simply "do your best" as when you set out to reach +a certain level, high enough to tax your powers without being quite +out of reach. You cannot jump so high in the empty air as you can to +clear a bar; and, to secure your very best endeavor, the bar must not +be so low {543} that you can clear it easily, nor so high that you +cannot clear it at all. + +The goal should be heartily adopted as _your_ goal, which is to say +that the self-assertive motive should be harnessed into service. The +importance of this motive in securing action is seen in the strong +effect of competition to arouse great activity. The runner cannot make +as good speed when running "against time" as when competing directly, +neck to neck, with other runners. Hence, to get full action from +yourself, find worthy competitors. And for the same reason, accept +responsibility. This puts you on your mettle. To shun competition and +responsibility is characteristic of abulia. Other strong motives, such +as the economic motive or the sex motive (seen in the energetic work +of a young man whose goal is marriage to a certain young woman) can +also be enlisted in many cases. But, for the best results, there +should be, in addition to these extraneous motives, a genuine interest +in the work itself. + +Do not say, "I will try". Say, "I will do it". The time for trying, or +effort, is when obstruction is actually encountered. You cannot really +try then, unless you are already fully determined to reach the goal. + +Getting action from other people is the business of parents, teachers, +bosses, officers, and to some extent of every one who wishes to +influence another. In war, the problem of "morale" is as important as +the problem of equipment, and it was so recognized by all the armies +engaged in the Great War. Each side sought to keep the morale of its +own soldiers at a high level, and to depress the morale of the enemy. +Good morale means more than willingness for duty; it means "pep", or +positive zest for action. Some of the means used to promote morale +were the following. The soldier must believe in the justness of his +cause; that is, he must make victory his own goal, and be {544} +whole-hearted in this resolve. He must believe in the coming success +of his side. He must be brought to attach himself firmly to the social +group of which he forms a part. He must be so absorbed in the +activities of this group as to forget, in large measure, his own +private concerns. Not only must he be enthusiastic for cause and +country, but he must be strong for his division, regiment and company. +Much depends on the officers that directly command him. He must have +confidence in them, see that they know their business, and that they +are looking out for the welfare of their men as well as expecting much +from them. Competition between companies, regiments, and arms of the +service was a strong force tending towards rapid progress in training +and good service in the field. Interest in the actual technical work +that was being done, and seeing that one's immediate group was +accomplishing something towards the winning of the war was a powerful +spur, while a sense of the uselessness of the work in hand strongly +depressed the morale of a group. "Nothing succeeds like success"; +morale was at its best when the army was advancing and seemingly +nearing the goal. Morale was also wonderfully good when the enemy was +advancing, provided your side was holding well with a good prospect of +bringing the enemy to a halt and baffling his offensive. On the other +hand, nothing was so hard on morale as the failure of an ambitious +offensive of one's own side; the sense of futility and hopelessness +then reached its maximum--except, of course, for the case of obviously +approaching defeat. The conditions of trench warfare imposed a strain +on morale: no progress, in spite of the danger and hardship, no chance +to get at the enemy or do anything positive. + +The manager of an industrial enterprise has the same problem of morale +to meet. It is his business to get action from people who come into +the enterprise as servants. The {545} main difficulty with the +master-servant relation is that the servant has so little play for his +own self-assertion. The master sets the goal, and the servant has +submissively to accept it. This is not his enterprise, and therefore +he is likely to show little "pep" in his work. He can be driven to a +certain extent by fear and economic want; but better results, and the +best social condition generally, can be expected from such management +as enlists the individual's own will. He must be made to feel that the +enterprise is his, after all. He must feel that he is fairly treated, +and that he receives a just share of the proceeds. He must be +interested in the purposes of the concern and in the operations on +which he is engaged. Best of all, perhaps, some responsibility and +initiative must be delegated to him. When the master, not contented +with setting the main goal, insists on bossing every detail, +continually interfering in the servant's work, the servant has the +least possible chance of adopting the job as _his own_. But where the +master is able, in the first place, to show the servant the objective +need and value of the goal, and to leave the initiative in respect to +ways and means to the servant, looking to him for results, the servant +often responds by throwing himself into the enterprise as if it were +his own--as, indeed, it properly is in such a case. + +"Initiative"--that high-grade trait that is so much in demand--seems +to be partly a matter of imagination and partly of will. It demands +inventiveness in seeing what can be done, zest for action, and an +independent and masterful spirit. + +The physician who treats "nervous" or neurotic cases has this problem +of getting action from his patients. Strange as it may seem, these +cases, while bemoaning their unfortunate condition, cling to it as if +it had its compensations, and do not wholeheartedly _will to get +well_. They have {546} slumped into the attitude of invalidism, and +need reorientation towards the goal of health and accomplishment. How +to bring this about is the great problem. Much depends here on the +personality of the physician, and different physicians (as well as +mental healers outside the medical profession) employ different +technique with more or less of success. The first necessity is to win +the patient's confidence; after that, some use persuasion, some +suggestion, some psychoanalysis, some (non-medical practitioners) use +metaphysical doctrines designed to lead the patient to "hitch his +wagon to a star". On the intellectual side, these methods agree in +giving the patient a new perspective, in which weakness, ill health +and maladaptation are seen to be small, insignificant and unnecessary, +and health and achievement desirable and according to the nature of +things; while on the side of impulse they probably come together in +appealing to the masterful and self-assertive tendency, either by +putting the subject on his mettle, or by leading him to partake of the +determined, masterful attitude of the physician, or by making him feel +that he is one with the great forces of the universe. Methods that +psychologically are very similar to these are employed by the +clergyman in dealing with morally flabby or maladjusted individuals; +and the courts are beginning to approach the delinquent from the same +angle. All the facts seem to indicate that the way to get action is to +have a goal that "fires the imagination" and enlists the masterful +tendencies of human nature. + + +The Influence of Suggestion + +Can the will of one person be controlled by that of another, through +hypnotism or any similar practice? This question is often asked +anxiously by those who fear that crime or misconduct willed by one +person may be passively executed by another. + +{547} + +Hypnosis is a sleeplike and passive state that is nevertheless +attentive and concentrated. It appears as if the subject were awake at +just one point, namely at the point of relation with the hypnotizer. +To stimuli from other sources, external or internal, he is +inaccessible. His field of activity is narrowed down to a point, +though at that point he may be intensely active. + +The depth of the hypnotic state varies from shallow to profound. +Comparatively few individuals can be deeply hypnotized, but many can +be got into a mild receptive state, in which they accept the +suggestions of the hypnotizer more readily than in the fully awaking +state. The waking person is alert, suspicious, assertive, while the +hypnotized subject is passive and submissive. The subject's +coöperation is necessary, in general, in order to bring on the +hypnotic state, whether shallow or deep. + +The means of inducing hypnosis are many and varied, but they all +consist in shoving aside extraneous thoughts and stimuli, and getting +the subject into a quiet, receptive attitude, with attention sharply +focussed upon the operator. + +When the subject is in this state, the "suggestions" of the operator +are accepted with less criticism and resistance than in the fully +waking state. In deep hypnosis, gross illusions and even +hallucinations can be produced. The operator hands the subject a +bottle of ammonia, with the assurance that it is the perfume of roses, +and the subject smells of it with every appearance of enjoyment. The +operator points to what he says is a statue of Apollo in the corner, +and the subject apparently sees one there. + +Loss of sensation can also be suggested and accepted. Being assured +that his hand has lost its sensation and cannot feel a pin prick, the +subject allows his hand to be pricked with no sign of pain. Paralysis +of the arm or leg can be similarly suggested and accepted. + +{548} + +Acts may be suggested and performed. The subject is handed a cardboard +sword with the assurance that that is a sword, and directed to attack +some person present, which he does with the appearance of serious +intent. + +Now, however, let the subject be given a real sword with the same +command as before. Result--the subject wakes up! This suggestion was +too much; it aroused dormant tendencies, broadened out the field of +activity, and so produced the waking condition. A suggestion that runs +counter to the subject's organized character and tendencies cannot get +by without arousing them and so awakening the subject. Consequently, +there does not seem to be much real danger of crimes being performed +by innocent persons under hypnosis. + +In mild hypnosis, the above striking phenomena are not produced, but +suggestions of curative value may be conveyed, and so taken to heart +that they produce real results. The drowsy state of a child just +falling to sleep can be similarly utilized for implanting suggestions +of value. One little boy had a nervous twitching of the face that was +very annoying. His father, just as the child was dropping off to +sleep, conveyed the suggestion that the child didn't like this +twitching; and this suggestion, repeated night after night, in a few +days caused the twitching almost wholly to disappear. + +Suggestion often succeeds in a waking state. In a certain test for +"suggestibility", the task is set of copying a series of lines. The +first line is short, the second longer, the third longer still, the +rest all of the same length, but the more suggestible individual keeps +on making each succeeding line longer. There are, however, various +tests for suggestibility, and an individual who succumbs to one does +not necessarily succumb to another, so that it may be doubted whether +we should baldly speak of one individual as more suggestible than +another. + +{549} + +Suggestion may be exerted by a person, or by the circumstances. If by +a person, the more "prestige" he enjoys in the estimation of the +subject, the greater his power of suggestion. A prestige person is one +to whom you are submissive. A child is so dependent on older people, +and so much accustomed to "being told", that he is specially +susceptible to prestige suggestion. + +Suggestion exerted by the circumstances is about the same as what is +often called "auto-suggestion" or "self-suggestion". A man falls and +hurts his hip, and, finding his leg difficult to move, conceives that +it is paralyzed, and may continue paralyzed for some time. + +"Counter-suggestion" applies to cases where a suggestion produces the +result contrary to what is suggested. You suggest to a person that he +should do a certain thing, and immediately he is set against that act, +though, left to himself, he would have performed it. Or, you advance a +certain opinion and at once your hearer takes the other side of the +question. Quite often skilful counter-suggestion can secure action, +from children or adults, which could not be had by positive suggestion +or direct command. + +If suggestion succeeds by arousing the submissive tendency, +counter-suggestion succeeds by arousing the assertive tendency. +Suggestion works when it gets response without awakening the +resistance which might be expected, and counter-suggestion when it +arouses so much resistance that the suggestion itself does not have +the influence which might be expected. In terms of stimulus and +response, suggestion works when a particular stimulus (what is +suggested) arouses response without other stimuli being able to +contribute to the response; and counter-suggestion works when a +stimulus (what is suggested, again) is itself prevented from +contributing to the response. In counter-suggestion, response to the +suggestion itself is inhibited, and in positive {550} suggestion +response to other stimuli is inhibited. Both involve narrowness of +response, and are opposed to what we commonly speak of as "good +judgment", the taking of all relevant stimuli into account, and +letting the response be aroused by the combination. + +{551} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. Which of the previous chapters have the closest contacts with + the present chapter? + +3. How does the popular conception of hypnotism differ from the + scientific? + +4. List 8 acts performed during the day, and arrange them in order + from the most involuntary to the most voluntary. + +5. Analyze a complex performance so as to show what in it is voluntary + and what involuntary. + +6. Mention an instance of practice changing a voluntary performance + into an involuntary, and one of practice changing an involuntary + performance into a voluntary. + +7. If an individual is influenced by two opposing motives, must he + act according to the stronger of the two? + +8. Illustrate, in the case of anger, several ways of dealing with a + rejected motive. i.e., in what different ways can anger be + controlled? + +9. How would you represent purpose in neural terms? How does + it compare with "mental set"? + + +REFERENCES + +On the importance of self-assertion (and of submission) in will, and +on the relation of conduct to impulse and to reasoning, see +McDougall's _Social Psychology_, Chapter IX, on "Volition", and +Supplementary Chapter I, on "Theories of Action". + +For a practical study of the question, how to secure action, see +Walter Dill Scott's _Increasing Human Efficiency in Business_, 1911. + +On hypnotism, see Albert Moll's _Hypnotism_, translated by A. F. +Hopkirk; or James's Chapter XXVII in his _Principles of Psychology_, +1890. + +{552} + +CHAPTER XXI + +PERSONALITY + +THE INDIVIDUAL AS A WHOLE, INTEGRATED OR PARTIALLY DISSOCIATED + +People differ not only in intelligence and efficiency, but in an +intangible something referred to as "personality". If your +acquaintance is applying for a certain position, and has named you as +one of his references, you will be asked by the appointing officer to +tell what you know of the candidate's experience, his knowledge and +skill in the field where he desires a position, his character and +habits, and his _personality_; and in replying you state, if you +conscientiously can, that the candidate has a pleasing and forceful +personality, that he gets on well with superiors, equals and +inferiors, is coöperative, energetic, ambitious without being selfish, +clean, modest, brave, self-reliant, cheerful, optimistic, +equal-tempered; and you perhaps include here traits that might also be +classed under the head of "character", as honesty, truthfulness, +industry, reliability, and traits that might be classed under +physique, as good appearance and carriage, commanding presence, a +"strong face", and even neatness and good taste in dress. Here we have +an array of traits that are of great importance to the individual's +success in his work, in his social relationships and in his family +life; and it is a proof of how much remains to be accomplished in +psychology that we cannot as yet present anything like a real +scientific analysis of personality, nor show on what elementary +factors it depends. + +{553} + +Factors in Personality + +If we do attempt some sort of analysis, we have first to notice that +personality depends in part on _physique_. In ordinary life, mental +and physical traits are not sharply distinguished, and probably they +cannot be distinguished except in the abstract. The mere size of a +person affects his attitude towards other people and their attitude +towards him--and it is in such social relations that personality most +clearly stands out. His size affects the individual's behavior in +subtle ways, since the big fellow dominates others easily just by +virtue of his size, and so tends to be good-humored, while the little +fellow is apt to be strenuous and self-assertive. Muscular development +and "looks" also have their effect on personality. + +Another factor might, by a sort of play on words, be called +_chemique_. This corresponds to what is often called _temperament_, a +very obscure matter psychologically. We speak of one as having an +excitable temperament, a jovial or a sour temperament. "Disposition" +is another word used in connection with such traits. The ancients +attempted to relate the "four temperaments" to the four great "humors" +or fluids of the body. Thus the "sanguine" individual was one with a +surplus of blood, the "choleric" had a surplus of bile, the +"phlegmatic" a surplus of phlegm, and the "melancholic" a surplus of +black bile or spleen; and any individual's temperament resulted from +the balance of these four. Sometimes a fifth temperament, the nervous, +was admitted, dependent on the "nerve fluid". + +This particular chemical derivation of temperament is, of course, out +of date, being based on very imperfect knowledge of physiology; but it +still remains possible that chemical substances carried around in the +body fluids have much to do with the sort of trait that we think of +under {554} the head of temperament. Only that to-day, with some +knowledge regarding the internal secretions of the "endocrine glands", +we should be inclined to connect temperament with them, rather than +with blood, bile, etc. Take, for example, the secretion of the adrenal +glands, that we found to be poured out during fear and anger and to +have so much to do with the bodily condition of readiness for violent +action and probably also with the "stirred-up" emotional state. What +is more likely than that individuals differ in the strength of their +adrenal secretion or in the readiness with which the glands are +aroused to pour it out into the circulation? The excitable individual +might be one with over-active adrenals. And in the same way the +strenuous individual might be one with an unusually active thyroid +gland, since there certainly seems to be some connection between this +gland and the tendency to great activity. There are several other +glands that possibly affect behavior in somewhat similar ways, so that +it is not improbable, though still rather hypothetical, that chemical +substances, produced in these glands, and carried by the blood to the +brain and muscles, have much to do with the elusive traits that we +class under temperament and personality. + +Once more, consider the instincts in relation to personality. +Undoubtedly these instinctive tendencies differ in strength in +different individuals. One is more gregarious than another, and this +is an important element in his personality. One is more assertive and +masterful than another, one is more "motherly" than another, more +responsive by tender and protective behavior to the presence of +children or others who need help. One is more prone to laugh than +another, and the "sense of humor" is admitted to be an important +element in personality. And so on through the list; so that +personality can be partially analyzed in terms of instinct. + +{555} + +Has _intelligence_ anything to do with personality? It certainly has, +in many ways. One who is slow in learning adapts himself poorly to +other persons and remains out of touch with his social environment. +"Tact" depends partly on instinctive liking for society, no doubt, but +partly on the ability to perceive what others want, and on the +imagination to put yourself in their place. High principles require +the ability to reason things out and see them in perspective. +Statistical studies of the rulers of Europe, for a period of several +centuries, show that on the whole those with higher intelligence were +also of better character and personality. Criminals, taken as a whole, +average rather low in intelligence; and it may even be doubted whether +the clever, scheming rascal, who defrauds widows of their money, or +trains feeble-minded boys to pick pockets for him, has, after all, the +brains of the man who can easily see how such schemes could be worked +but decides against them himself because he sees something better +worth doing. + +A sense of inferiority, either physical or mental, is apt to affect +the personality unfavorably. It does not necessarily produce humble +behavior; far from that, it often leads to a nervous assertiveness. An +apparently disdainful individual is often really shy and unsure of +himself. Put a man where he can see he is equal to his job and at the +same time is accomplishing something worth while, and you often see +considerable improvement in his personality. + + +The Self + +In a broad, objective sense, the self is the individual, but in a more +subjective sense the self is what the individual knows about himself, +how he conceives himself, how he feels about himself, what he plans +and wishes for himself. It is reasonable to suppose that the newly +born infant does not {556} distinguish himself from other objects. +Perhaps his foot, as he sees it, seems simply an object among others, +like a toy; but he soon learns to connect the visual appearance with +the cutaneous and kinesthetic sensations from the foot, and these +sensations, along with the organic, always retain in large measure the +subjective quality of belonging to the self, whereas sights, sounds, +odors and tastes seem to belong to objects distinct from the self. + +If we ask how the child comes to make the distinction between the self +and the not-self, we have to call to mind the assertiveness that +manifests itself very early in the child's behavior--how he resists +being pushed and pulled about, struggles against being held, and in +many ways, more and more complex as he develops, shows that he has a +"will of his own". It is in resisting and overcoming external things +that he comes to distinguish himself from them. + +Not only external things, but other _persons_ particularly, have to be +encountered and resisted by the child; and often, too, he has to +submit to them, after a struggle. Probably he distinguishes between +himself and other people even more sharply than between himself and +inanimate things. Ask any one to tell you what he knows about himself, +and he will begin to tell you how he differs from others. Thus the +individual's conception of himself is largely a product of his social +experience. + +The self is first known as wish or will, and probably that always +remains the core of any one's conception of himself. That is to say, I +think of myself first of all as wishing, aiming, purposing, resisting, +striving, competing. But I may come to know myself more objectively. +By dint of experience I know something of my limitations. I know I am +not muscular enough to do this, nor mathematical enough to do that, +nor artistic enough to do the other. In this progressive age, some +children even know their own IQ. We {557} have frequent occasion to +measure ourselves against others, or against tasks, and lay some of +the lessons to heart. Though most of us are probably inclined to +overrate ourselves, many will be found to give a pretty exact estimate +of themselves. It is surprising that this should be so, in view of the +tendency to believe what one wishes, and of the deep-seated desire for +superiority or at least against inferiority. It shows that, after all, +there is a good deal of fidelity to fact in our make-up. + +The word "self-assertion", which has been used more or less throughout +the book as a name for the native tendency to resist, persist, master, +dominate, display oneself and seek social recognition, can now be seen +to be not entirely a good word for the purpose. It seems to imply that +the self-assertive individual is necessarily conscious of the self. +From what has just been said, it can be seen that this would be +putting the cart before the horse. The self-assertive impulse +precedes, consciousness of self follows and depends on self-assertion. +A true estimate of oneself and one's limitations arises from +self-assertion plus experience of failure and the necessity of giving +up and submitting. + +Self-assertion is not identical with selfishness. Selfishness aims to +get, self-assertion to do. Selfish behavior is, however, often +dictated by self-assertion, as when a person wishes to get and have, +in order to be able to show by his possessions what a great man he is. +But sometimes self-assertion squelches selfishness, leading a person +to renounce present gain without hope of later gain in compensation, +just because he sees in such renunciation the best chance for mastery +and proving himself "the captain of his soul". + +The "expansion of the self" is an interesting and significant +phenomenon. The individual comes to call things, persons, social +groups, ideas and principles by the name {558} "mine". Now what is +mine is part of me. My self-feeling attaches to my dog; I am proud of +that dog, brag of his exploits, am cast down if I see him outclassed; +and it is the same way with my house, my son, my town, my country. We +spoke of this sort of thing before, under the name of "sublimation of +the self-assertive impulse", and we said then that the sublimation was +made possible by the combination of this impulse with some other +interest. My dog is not entirely myself; he is a dog, and I am +interested in him as a dog; I am interested in other dogs, and like to +watch their antics. But this particular dog means more than another to +me because he is mine; I have expanded myself to include him. In +general, the self is expanded to take in objects that are interesting +in themselves, but which become doubly interesting by being +appropriated and identified in some measure with oneself. + + +Integration and Disintegration of the Personality + +Though the individual is always in one sense a unit, there is a sense +in which he needs to achieve unity. His various native tendencies and +interests do not always pull together, and in fact some necessarily +pull against others. So that we sometimes say of a person that he is +behaving so differently from usual that we should not know he was the +same person. We may speak of one person as being well integrated, +meaning that he is always himself, his various tendencies being so +coördinated as to work reasonably well together; whereas of another we +speak as poorly integrated, unstable, an uncertain quantity. +Integration is achieved partly by selection from among conflicting +impulses, partly by coördination, partly by judicious treatment of +those impulses that are denied; as was partly explained in the last +chapter. + +{559} + +The self, expanding socially, may expand in more than one direction, +with the result that the individual has in a sense two or more selves, +one for his business, one for his home; and it may happen that the +instincts and interests dominating the individual in these two +relations are quite different, so that a man who is hard and grasping +in business is kind and generous to his wife and children. "Dr. Jekyll +and Mr. Hyde" gives an extreme picture of such lack of integration, a +picture rather fanciful than drawn from real life. + +But we do find in real life cases of _dissociation_ of the +personality, also called cases of double or multiple personality. The +individual passes from one state to another, behaving very differently +in the two states, and usually unable to remember in the primary or +more lasting state what he has done in the secondary state. In the +secondary state he remembers what he did in the primary state, but is +apt to speak of it as if done by another person. In many cases, the +primary state seems limited and hampered, as if the individual were +not his complete self, while the secondary state is a sort of +complement to the first, but decidedly imperfect in itself. Thus in +the primary state the individual may be excessively quiet, while in +the secondary state he is excessively mischievous. It is much as if +some of his reaction-tendencies were forcibly kept apart from the +rest, so that when they did become aroused to activity, the remainder +of the individual went to sleep. The individual seems to function in +fractions, and never as a whole. + +Often the secondary state likes to have a name for itself and to be +considered as a secondary personality, as if two persons were +inhabiting the same body--a very forced conception. The secondary +personality will even assert that it stays awake in the background and +watches the primary personality when the latter is active, spying on +it without {560} that personality being aware of it. Thus two +fractions of the individual would be functioning at the same time, but +still not working together as a unit. + +This claim of the secondary personality has been experimentally +checked up by Dr. Morton Prince, in the following way. He was able to +cause his subject, a young woman, to pass from the primary to the +secondary state and back again, by a procedure resembling hypnotism. +While she was in the secondary state, he told her that she (the +secondary personality) was to solve an arithmetical problem, the +general nature of which he described to her then and there, while the +actual numbers were not shown till she was put back in the primary +state. He then put her into the primary state for a few moments, and +placed the numbers unobtrusively before her, without the primary +personality seeming to notice them. Put back now into the secondary +state, she instantly shouted out the answer to the problem, and +asserted that she (the secondary personality) had had the answer ready +for some time, and had been impatiently waiting to be brought back and +announce it. This is at least prima facie evidence in favor of Dr. +Prince's view, that two separate fractions of the individual were both +functioning consciously at the same time. + +It is weird business, however interpreted, and raises the question +whether anything of the same sort, only milder in degree, occurs in +ordinary experience. Here is one somewhat similar fact that we are all +familiar with: we have two matters in hand at the same time, very +different in their emotional tone, one perhaps a worrisome matter of +business, the other an interesting personal matter; and the shift from +one to the other feels almost like changing personalities. Also, while +busy with one, we may sometimes feel the other stirring, just barely +awake and dimly conscious. + +Also, is not something like this true?--A person, very {561} +conscientious in the performance of his duties, always doing what he +is told, feels stirrings of a carefree, independent spirit, as if some +sides of his nature were not finding expression, and in little ways he +gives it expression, not exactly by taking a "moral holiday" +[Footnote: This is one of William James's expressive phrases.] or +going on a spree of some sort, but by venting his impulses just an +instant at a time, so that he scarcely remembers it later, and in such +little ways that other people, also, are scarcely aware of It. He has +a "secondary personality", only it is little developed, and it has its +little place in the conscious life, instead of being dissociated. + +In the cases of true dissociation, there was often a violent emotional +shock that started the cleavage. One celebrated case started at 8 +years of age, when the subject, a little girl, was thrown to the floor +by a drunken father angered by finding the child asleep in his bed. +From that moment, it would seem that the frolicsome side of childish +behavior was banished from the main personality, and could get into +action only when the main personality relaxed its control and became +dormant; so that thereafter the child alternated between two states, +one very quiet, industrious and conscientious, the other vivacious and +mischievous; and the main personality never remembered what was done +in this secondary, mischievous state. In such cases, it would appear +that the cleavage resulted from a violent thrusting out from the main +personality of tendencies inconsistent with the dominant (here +serious) attitude of that personality. + + +The Unconscious, or, the Subconscious Mind + +Here at last, it may strike the reader, we have come to the core of +the whole subject of psychology; for many readers will undoubtedly +have been attracted by the statements {562} sometimes made, to the +effect that the "unconscious" represents the deeper and more +significant part of mental life, and that psychologists who confine +their attention mostly to the conscious activities are treating their +subject in a very partial and superficial manner. There is a sort of +fascination about the notion of a subconscious mind, and yet it will +be noticed that psychologists, as a rule, are inclined to be wary and +critical in dealing with it. Let as take up in order the various sorts +of unconscious mental processes. + +In the first place, _retention is unconscious_. The host of memories +that a person possesses and can recall under suitable conditions is +carried about with him in an unconscious condition. But there need be +no special mystery about this, nor is it just to speak about memories +being "preserved in the unconscious". The fact simply is that +retention is a resting condition, whereas consciousness is an active +condition. Retention is a matter of brain structure, neurone +connections, neural mechanisms ready for action when the proper +stimulus reaches them but remaining inactive till the stimulus comes. +An idea is like a motor reaction, to the extent that it is a reaction; +and we retain ideas in the same way that we retain learned motor +reactions. Now no one would think of saying that a learned motor +reaction was retained in the unconscious. The motor reaction is not +present at all, until it is aroused; the neuro-muscular mechanism for +executing the reaction is present, but needs a stimulus to make it +active and give the reaction. In the same way, an idea is not present +in the individual except when it is activated, but its neural +mechanism is present, and unconscious just because it is inactive. + +Unconscious inactivity is therefore no great problem. But there is +such a thing as _unconscious activity_. Two sorts of such activity are +well known. First, there are the {563} purely "physiological" +processes of digestion, liver and kidney secretion, etc. We are quite +reconciled to these being unconscious, and this is not the sort of +unconscious activity that gives us that fascinatingly uncanny feeling. +Second, there are the "secondarily automatic" processes, once +conscious, now almost or quite unconscious through the effect of +frequent repetition. + +Such unconscious activities occur as _side-activities_, carried on +while something else occupies attention, or as _part-activities_ that +go on while attention is directed to the total performance of which +they are parts. In either case, the automatism may be motor or +perceptive, and the degree of consciousness may range from moderate +down to zero. [Footnote: See pp. 265-267.] + +For example, the letters of your name you write almost unconsciously, +while fully conscious of writing your name. When you are reading, the +letters are only dimly conscious, and even the words are only +moderately conscious, while the whole performance of reading is highly +conscious. These are instances of unconscious (or dimly conscious) +part-activities. Unconscious side-activities are illustrated by +holding your books firmly but unconsciously under your arm, while +absorbed in conversation, by drumming with your fingers while puzzling +over a problem, and by looking at your watch and reading the time, but +so nearly unconsciously that the next instant you have to look again. +In all such cases, the unconscious or barely conscious activity has +been made easy by previous practice, and there is no special +fascination about it, except such as comes through the use of that +awesome word, "unconscious". + +But now for the real "subconscious mind". You try to recall a familiar +name, but are stuck; you drop the matter, and "let your subconscious +mind work"; and, sure enough, after a few minutes you have the name. +Or, you are all {564} tangled up in a difficult problem; you let the +subconscious mind work on it overnight, and next morning it is +perfectly clear. Just here it is that psychology begins to take issue +with the popular idea. The popular interpretation is that work has +been done on the problem during the interval when it was out of +consciousness--unconscious mental work of a high order. But is it +necessary to suppose that any work has been done on the problem during +the interval? + +The difficulty, when you first attacked the problem, arose from false +clues which, once they got you, held you by virtue of their "recency +value". [Footnote: See pp. 390-391.] The matter laid aside, these +false clues lost their recency value with lapse of time, so that when +you took the matter up again you were free from their interference and +had a good chance to go straight towards the goal. + +It is the same with motor acts. On a certain day, a baseball pitcher +falls into an inefficient way of handling the ball, and, try as he +may, cannot recover his usual form. He has to give up for that day, +but after a rest is as good as ever. Shall we say that his +subconscious mind has been practising pitching during the rest +interval? It is much more likely that here, as in the preceding case, +the value of a fresh start lies in freshness, in rest and the +consequent disappearance of interferences, rather than in any work +that has been done during the interval of rest. + +Next, consider the "co-conscious" as Morton Prince has well named +the presence and activity of the secondary personality along with the +primary, as in his experiment described above. Here it seems that two +streams of consciousness were flowing along side by side within the +same individual. There is the activity of the main personality, and +there is the activity of the secondary personality, going on at the +same time without the knowledge of the main {565} personality. This is +a way of reading the facts, rather than a simple statement of fact, +but at least it is a reasonable interpretation, and worthy of +consideration. + + +Unconscious Wishes and Motives + +Schopenhauer wrote much of the "will to live", which was, in his view, +as unconscious as it was fundamental, and only secondarily gave rise +to the conscious life of sensations and ideas. Bergson's "élan vital" +has much the same meaning. In a sense, the will to live is the +fountain of all our wishes; in another sense, it is the sum total of +them all; and in another sense, it is an abstraction, the concrete +facts consisting in the various particular wishes and tendencies of +living creatures. The will to live is not simply the will to stay +alive; it is the will to _live_ with all that that includes. Life is +activity, and to live means, for any species, to engage in the full +activity possible for that species. + +The will to live is in a sense unconscious, since it is seldom present +simply in that bald, abstract form. But since life is activity, any +will to act is the will to live in a special form, so that we may +perfectly well say that the will to live is always conscious whenever +there is any conscious impulse or purpose. + +In this simple statement we may find the key to all unconscious +motives, disregarding the case of dissociation and split personality. +If you analyze your motives for doing a certain act and formulate them +in good set terms, then you have to admit that this motive was +unconscious before, or only dimly conscious, since it was not +formulated, it was not isolated, it was not present in the precise +form you have now given it. Yet it was there, implicated in the total +conscious activity. It was not unconscious in the sense of being +active in a different, unconscious realm. The realm in which it was +active was that of conscious activity, and it formed an {566} +unanalyzed part of that activity. It was there in the same way that +overtones are present in perceiving the tone quality of a particular +instrument; the overtones are not _separately_ heard and may be very +difficult to analyze, yet all the time they are playing an important +part in the conscious perception. + +In the same way, we may not "realize" that we are helping our friend +as a way of dominating over him, but think, so far as we stop to +think, that our motive is pure helpfulness. Later, analyzing our +motives, we may separate out the masterful tendency, which was present +all the time and consciously present, but so bound up with the other +motive of helpfulness that it did not attract attention to itself. Now +if our psychology makes us cynics, and leads us to ascribe the whole +motivation of the helpful act to the mastery impulse, and therefore to +regard this as working in the unconscious, we are fully as far from +the truth as when we uncritically assumed that helpfulness was the +only motive operating. + +For man, to live means a vast range of activity--more than can +possibly be performed by any single individual. We wish to do a +thousand things that we never can do. We are constantly forced to +limit the field of our activity. Physical incapacity, mental +incapacity, limitations of our environment, conflict between one wish +and another of our own, opposition from other people, and mere lack of +time, compel us to give up many of our wishes. Innumerable wishes must +be laid aside, and some, resisting, have to be forcibly suppressed. +Renunciation is the order of the day, from childhood up to the age +when weakness and weariness supervene upon the zest for action, and +the will to live fades out into readiness to die. + +What becomes of the suppressed wishes, we have already briefly +considered. [Footnote: See p. 533.] We have noticed Freud's conception +{567} that they live on "in the unconscious". Nothing ever learned, he +would say, can ever be forgotten, and no wish ever aroused can ever be +quieted, except by being gratified either directly or through some +substitute response. Each one of us, according to this view, carries +around inside of him enough explosive material to blow to bits the +whole social structure in which he lives. It is the suppressed sex +wishes, and spite wishes growing out of thwarted sex wishes, that +mostly constitute the unconscious. + +These unconscious wishes, according to Freud, motivate our dreams, our +queer and apparently accidental actions, such as slips of the tongue +and other "mistakes", the yet queerer and much more serious "neurotic +symptoms" that appear in some people, and even a vast deal of our +serious endeavor in life. All the great springs of action are sought +in the unconscious. The biologist, consciously, is driven by his +desire to know the world of plants and animals, but what really +motivates him, on this view, is his childish sex curiosity, thwarted, +driven back upon itself, and finding a substitute outlet in biological +study. And so, in one way or another, with every one of us. + +All this seems to depart pretty far from sober reality, and especially +from proved fact. It involves a very forced interpretation of child +life, an interpretation that could never have arisen from a direct +study of children, but which has seemed useful in the psychoanalysis +of maladjusted adults. It is a far cry from the facts that Freud seeks +to explain, to the conception of the infantile unconscious with which +he endeavors to explain them. + +Freud's conception of life and its tendencies is much too narrow. +There is not half enough room in his scheme of things for life as it +is willed and lived. There is not room in it even for all the +instincts, nor for the "native likes and dislikes"; and there is still +less room for the will to live, in {568} the sense of the zest for all +forms of activity, each for its own sake as a form of vital activity. +Any scheme of motivation, which traces all behavior back to a few +formulated wishes, is much too abstract, as was illustrated just above +in the case of the helpful act. + +Freud is apparently guilty of yet another error, in supposing that any +specific wish, ungratified, lives on as the same, identical, precise +wish. A very simple instance will make clear the point of this +criticism. Suppose that the first time you definitely mastered the +fact that "3 times 7 are 21", it was in a certain schoolroom, with a +certain teacher and a certain group of schoolfellows. You were perhaps +animated at that moment by the desire to secure the approval of that +teacher and to shine before those schoolfellows. Does it follow, then, +that every time you now make use of that bit of the multiplication +table, you are "unconsciously" gratifying that wish of long ago? To +believe that would be to neglect all that we have learned of +"shortcircuiting" and of the "substitute stimulus" generally. +[Footnote: See p. 338.] That wish of long ago played its part in +linking the response to the stimulus, but the linkage became so close +that that precise wish was no longer required. The same response has +been made a thousand times since, with other wishes in the game, and +when the response is made to-day, a new wish is in the game. It is the +same with the biologist. Suppose, for the sake of argument, what +probably is true in only a fraction of the cases, that the biologist's +first interest in making any minute study of animals arose from sex +curiosity. As soon, however, as he engaged in any real study of +animals, substitute stimuli entered and got attached to his exploring +responses; and to suppose that that identical wish of long ago is +still subconsciously active, whenever the biologist takes his +microscope in hand, is to throw out all {569} these substitute stimuli +and their attachments to many new responses, and to see in a very +complex activity only one little element. + +In making use of the conception of the unconscious to assist us in +interpreting human conduct, we are thus exposed to two errors. First, +finding a motive which was not analyzed out by the individual, and +which was only vaguely and implicitly conscious, and formulating that +motive in an explicit way, we are then liable to the error of +supposing that the motive must have been explicitly present, not +indeed in consciousness but in the unconscious; whereas the whole +truth is exhausted when we say that it was consciously but only +implicitly present--active, but not active all alone. Second, having +traced out how a certain act was learned, we are apt to suppose that +its history is repeated whenever it is performed afresh--that the +wishes and ideas that were essential to its original performance must +be unconsciously present whenever it is once more +performed--neglecting thus the fact that what is retained and renewed +consists of responses, rather than experiences. What is renewed when a +learned act is performed is not the history of the act, but the act +itself. In a new situation, the act is part of a new performance, and +its motivation is to some degree new. + +Though his theories are open to criticism, Freud has made important +contributions to the study of personality. The same can be said of +other schools of psycho-pathology. Jung and Adler deserve mention as +representing varieties of psychoanalysis that differ more or less +radically from that of Freud. Outside of the psychoanalytic school +altogether, Janet and Morton Prince have added much to psychological +knowledge from their studies of dissociated and maladjusted +personalities. In endeavoring to assist the maladjusted individual, +all these schools have much in common, since they all seek to bring to +his attention elements in his personality {570} of which he is not +clearly aware. Clear consciousness of implicit or dissociated elements +in one's personality often proves to be a step towards a firmer +organization of the personality and towards a better adjustment to the +conditions of life. + + +{571} + +EXERCISES + +1. Outline the chapter. + +2. Mention some personal traits that appear when the individual + is dealing with inanimate things, and some that only appear in + dealing with other persons. + +3. Construct a "rating scale" for the trait of independence, as + follows. Think of some one who is extremely independent, and call + him A; of some one who is at the opposite extreme and call him E; + of some one standing halfway, and call him C; and fill in the + positions B and D with other persons standing between A and C and + between C and E, in this matter of independence. You now have a + sort of measuring rod, with the five persons A, B, C, D and E + marking degrees of the trait. To rate any other individual, + consider where he belongs on this scale--whether even with A, with + B, etc. + +4. How does the embarrassing "self-consciousness" of one who is + speaking in public differ from simple consciousness of self? + +5. Consider what was conscious and what unconscious in the following + case of "shell shock": A sharpshooter had a certain peekhole in the + front of the trench through which he was accustomed to take aim at + the enemy. The enemy evidently spotted him, for bullets began to + strike close by as soon as ever he got up to shoot. He stood this + for a time, and then suddenly lost the sight of his right eye, + which he used in aiming. + +6. Explain the difference between unconscious action of the + dissociated type and of the implicit type. + + +REFERENCES + +For attempts to utilize psychological methods in the study of +personality, see F. L. Wells, _Mental Adjustments_, 1917; also Chapter +11 in Watson's _Psychology_, 1919. + +Much interesting psychological material, along with a good deal of +philosophical discussion, is contained in James's chapter on the +"Consciousness of Self" in Vol. I of his _Principles of Psychology_, +1890. + +For a discussion of the unconscious, see the symposium on +_Subconscious Phenomena_, 1910, participated in by Münsterberg, Ribot, +Janet, Jastrow, Hart and Prince. + +On dissociation, see Morton Prince's _Dissociation of a Personality_. + +For Freud's doctrine of the unconscious, see his _Psychopathology of +Everyday Life_, translated by Brill. + + + + +INDEX + +Abulia, 499, 539-541, 545-546 + +Accessory sense-apparatus, 192-196, 200 + +Acquired reactions, 89-90, 94, 99-102, 112-114, 144, 247, 296-829, 399 + +Adaptation, + of attention, 247, 260; + negative, 302-303, 310, 312; + sensory, 224-225, 447 + +Adjustment, 72, 78-79, 131, 178, 382, 385, 420, 430, 431, 433 + +Adler, 569 + +Adrenal glands, 123-124, 554 + +Advantage, + factors of, 245-248, 259, 382; + law of, 256 + +Aggressive behavior, 160-161, 164-165 + +After-images, 226-227, 451-452 + +Ambiguous figures, 253-254, 425 + +Analysis, + of motives, 565-566, 569; + of sensations, 197, 201, 203, 205-206, 211-212, 230, 233 + +Anger, 118, 122-123, 125-126, 131-132, 158-159, 163, 300-301, 429-430 + +Animal behavior, 8-9, 14, 39-40, 76-79, 93-94, 97, 105-107, 109-111, + 116, 121-122, 141, 145, 147, 148, 156, 159, 160, 298, 302-311, + 313-314, 317-320, 436, 463-464 + +Aphasia, 57-60, 62, 428 + +Appetite, 125, 126 + +Applied psychology, 3-4 + +Apraxia, 57, 63-64, 428 + +Aptitudes, 101, 288-289, 291, 293 + +Area, + auditory, 50, 59-60, 62; + motor, 50-57; + olfactory, 62-63; + somesthetic, 50, 62-63; + speech, 58-60, 62; + visual, 50, 53, 62-63 + +Aristotle, 394, 454 + +Art, 182-183, 512-516 + +Assertiveness, _see_ Self-assertion + +Association, 366; + by contiguity, 395-398, 405; + free, 376-381; + by similarity, 395-396, 405-408, 519; + laws of, 389-417; + controlled, 381-385, 413-414, 417 + +Association fibers, 56, 416-417, 424 + +Atrophy through disuse, 349, 390, 415 + +Attachment of stimulus and response, 25, 34-35, 53-54, 84, 92, + 112, 135, 139, 298-301, 303, 311, 338, 372, 377-379, 390, 392, 394, + 399-412, 414-417, 433 + +Attention, 244-269, 381, 421, 433 + +Attitude of attention, 249; + of thought, 249, 464 + +Autistic thinking, 508-510 + +Automatism, 26, 328, 338, 383-384, 433, 525, 563 + +Autonomic nerves, 124-125 + +Auto-suggestion, 549 + +Avoiding reaction, 24-25, 142-144, 305, 310 + +Axon, 31-38, 51-52, 56, 61, 64, 189-192 + + + +Baldwin, 243 + +Basilar membrane, 196, 234-235 + +Behavior psychology, 1, 8-9, 18, 21 + +Bergson, 565 + +Betts, 388 + +Big, appeal of the, 515-516 + +Binet, 272-273 + +Binet tests, 272-275 + +Binocular, + rivalry, 253-254; + vision, 442-443 + +Biology, 5; + liking for, 182 + +Black, a sensation, 218, 223-224 + +Blends, 197-199, 202-203, 205-206, 219-220, 232, 301, 424, 500 + +Bloomfield, 104 + +Boasting, 169, 495 + +Book, W. F., 325 + +Brain, 14-15, 28-30, 49-66, 292-293; + stem, 29-330, 32, 33, 50 + +Brown, Warner, 449 + +Bryan, 321 + + + +Cajal, 51, 61, 239 + +Callosum, 56, 62 + +Cannon, 136 + +Carr, 314 + +Caution, 156, 511 + +"Censor," 505-506 + +Central neurone, 37-39 + +Cerebellum, 29-30, 35, 50, 65 + +Cerebrum, 29-30, 50-64, 292-293 + +Character, 529, 555 + +Child, behavior, 91-92, 94-97, 100-101, 138, 141, 143-144, 147, + 150-159, 162-168, 297-298, 300-301, 303-304, 313-314, 319, 357-358, + 434-435, 437, 445, 481-483, 485-487, 490, 501, 504, 506, 526-527 + +Choice, 528-535 + +Cochlea, 192, 195-196, 234-235 + +Co-conscious, 564 + +Collecting instinct, 141 + +Color, + liking for, 183; + circle, 207; + cone, 209; + pyramid, 209; + sense, 204-228; + theories, 220-224; + tone, 206-207, 213-215; + triangle, 217; + zones, 211-212; + mixing, 214-217 + +Color-blindness, 209-211 + +Colored hearing, 376 + +Combination, + 80, 135, 140, 148, 260-261, 299, 301, 306-308, 311, 323-326, 334, + 479, 519; + law of, 263-264, 398-417, 431-432, 468 + +Comparative method, 14-15 + +Comparison, 466-467 + +Compensatory movements, 236-238 + +Complementary colors, 216-217, 227-228 + +"Complexes," 381 + +Conditioned reflex, 303-304, 312, 401-402 + +Cones, 191, 226 + +Consciousness, 7-8; + of animals, 8-9; + degrees of, 172, 265-267, 338, 383-384 + +Constant error, 447-448 + +Constitution, native, 91, 92, 98, 271, 289-292 + +Constructiveness, 154, 482 + +Contentment, 156-157 + +Contiguity, association by, 395-398, 405 + +Contrast, visual, 227-228 + +Control, 55, 257, 298, 320, 335-336, + 348, 381-385, 413-414, 417, 484, 511 + +Coördination, 30, 37-39, 41, 55-59, 66, 260-261, 299, 410-412, 534-535 + +Correlation method, 14-16, 283-285 + +Cortex, 50, 52, 56-63, 293, 414, 423 + +Counter-suggestion, 549 + +Cramming, 342, 346 + +Criteria of instinct, 92, 97, 138 + +Criticism, 499-500, 503, 505, 508-512, 547 + +Crying, 144 + +Curiosity, 154-157, 181, 244, 258 + +Curve, + of distribution, 280; + of forgetting, 350, 390; + of learning or practice, 307, 316, 321, 325, 390 + +Cutaneous senses, 197-201, 224, 440, 451 + + + +Dallenbach, 362 + +Daring, 489, 518-519 + +Darwin, 127, 136 + +Davenport, 104 + +Day dreams, 493-499 + +Decision, 528-535 + +Defense mechanisms, 533, 535 + +Defensive reactions, 24-26, 142-144, 159-160, 162-164, 310 + +Delayed reaction, 76-77, 429 + +Delusion, 509 + +Dendrites, 31-32, 34-35, 51, 61, 190, 414 + +Detachment of response from stimulus, 299, 302, 310, 328 + +Determining tendency, 72, 380-385 + +Dewey, 480 + +Differential psychology, 3, 12, 180, 210, 271, 272, 274, 279-280, + 286, 291-292, 368-370, 374, 548 + +Digestion, 121-123, 125 + +Discord, 232 + +Discovery, 421, 462 + +Discrimination, 435-437 + +Disgust, 127, 312 + +Dissociation, 559-561 + +Distraction, 259-260, 356-356 + +Distribution of intelligence, 274-275, 279-281 + +Dizziness, 238 + +Domination, 165 + +Dot figure, 252 + +Doubt, 472-473 + +Drainage, 269 + +Dreams, 499-508 + + + +Ear, 191-192, 195-196, 236-238 + +Ebbinghaus, 350, 365 + +Economy of effort, 151; + in memorizing, 338-346, 353 + +Effect, law of, 391-393, 413 + +Effort, 127, 162, 259-260, 534, 539 + +Egocentric response, 380 + +Elementary, + feelings, 173, 184-185; + sensations, 197-198, 201, 203, 211-212, 216-220, 233-234 + +Elimination in learning, 306, 308-309, 310, 314, 327 + +Emotion, 118-136, 137-169, 173, 299-301, 345, 355, 361, 381, 513-514, + 554, 661 + +Empathy, 491, 516-516 + +Emulation, 165-166 + +End-brush of an axon, 33-36, 38, 61 + +Endocrine glands, 122-123, 554 + +Energy, + conservation of, 40; + dammed-up, 82-84, 301, 309, 393; + released, 535-546; + stored, 40-41, 46 + +Envy, 166, 168 + +Equilibrium, 65 + +Errors, 446-459, 467 + +Escape tendency, 142-144, 489, 498-499 + +Esthetics, 443-444, 457-458 + +Euphoria, 120, 151 + +Excitement, 126 + +Exercise, + effect of, 297-298; + law of, 389-391, 393-394, 413-415 + +Experiment in psychology, 12-15, 93, 302, 333 + +Explanation, 471-472 + +Exploration, 154-157, 244, 249-252, 258, 288, 305, 421, 462-465, 470 + +Expressive movements, 126-128 + +Eye, 32, 34-35, 62, 191, 198-196; + movements of, 249-251 + + + +Facilitation, 54-55, 78, 83-85, 248, 257, 263, 382-385, 413-414, 417 + +Factors, + in attention, 245-248, 259; + in intelligence, 285-288; + in memorizing, 345-346; + in personality, 553-555; + in recall, 379, 382 + +Faculties, 523 + +Fallacy, 467-468, 479 + +Father complex, 606 + +Fatigue, 73-74, 119, 123, 145, 151 + +Fear, 125-126, 129-133, 142-144, 153, 303-304, 489, 497-498, 504, + 513, 516, 539-540; + abnormal, 133, 497-498 + +Feeble-mindedness, 275, 290-292, 446 + +Feeling, 172-185; + of activity, 45-46; + of excitement, 126, 184-185; + of familiarity, 185, 357-360; + of readiness, 75, 383; + of tension, 78-79, 184-185 + +Feeling-tone, 174-176, 178, 180-181 + +Feleky, 136 + +Fernald, 388 + +Fiction, 512-513 + +Fighting, 158-161 + +Fissures of the brain, 50 + +Fixation, 298 + +Fluctuation of attention, 254-255 + +Flying, 93 + +Forgetting, 349-353, 415 + +Forgotten name, 356, 563-564 + +Fovea, 193, 211, 226 + +Free association, 376, 504, 507; + test, 380 + +Frequency, 379, 390, 433 + +Freshmen, intelligence of, 279-281 + +Freud, 505-508, 522, 566-569, 571 + + + +Galton, 368, 388 + +Gamble, 243 + +Games, 487 + +Gates, 339, 365 + +General psychology, 4-5 + +Genetic method, 15-16, 90 + +Genius, 99 + +Glands, 25, 122-124, 303 + +Gliding dream, 503 + +Golden section, 444 + +Gray matter, 35-36, 50-52, 56, 61-62 + +Gregariousness, 110, 146-147 + +Group tests, 276-277 + + + +Habit, 89, 112-114, 157, 247-248, 260, 328-329, 381 + +Hallucination, 375-376, 501, 547 + +Hart, 571 + +Harter, 321 + +Hearing, 50, 59-60, 62, 228-235, 439-440 + +Helmholtz, 220, 234, 475 + +Helplessness, 144, 149 + +Henning, 203, 243 + +Herd instinct, 110, 146-147 + +Heredity, 91, 98, 100-101, 118, 289-292 + +Hering, 220-221 + +Hero, + worship, 168; + conquering and suffering, 494-496, 509 + +Herrick, 44, 67 + +Hesitancy, 530 + +Hicks, 306, 314 + +Higher units, 323-326, 334, 410-412 + +Hollingworth, 20, 104, 243 + +Homing, 78, 146 + +Humor, theories of, 157-168 + +Hunger, 79-81, 120, 140-141, 204 + +Hunter, 88, 295 + +Hunting instinct, 72, 78, 140-141 + +Hypnosis, 349, 547-548 + +Hypothesis, 473-475 + + + +Ideomotor action, 527-528 + +Illusion, 424, 450-459, 500, 547 + +Imageless thought, 374 + +Imagery, + mental, 368-376, 499-500; + in perception, 425-427; + types, 370 + +Imagination, 481-520, 525 + +Imitation, 319, 486 + +Impulse, 132-135, 155, 167, 177, 299, 524-525, 539 + +Incentives, 541-546 + +Incidental memory, 346-348, 397 + +Independence, 163-164 + +Individual, 91 + +Individual psychology, _see_ Differential psychology + +Induction, 374-375 + +Inference, 465-468, 475-476, 479 + +Inferiority, sense of, 166, 168, 496, 510, 555 + +Inheritance of acquired traits, 113-114 + +Inhibition, 25, 54-55, 78, 83-84, 122-125, 248, 257, 263, 314, 382, + 384, 429-430, 528, 540 + +Initiative, 545 + +Insane, 269, 508-609 + +Insight in learning, 316-320 + +Instinct, 105-116, 137-169, 179, 181, 488-489, 492, 513, 554; + criteria of, 92, 97, 138; + and emotion, 134-135; + modification of, 299-301 + +Integration, 558-561 + +Intelligence, 90-91, 271-293, 538, 555; + tests of, 3, 272-277, 281-283 + +Intelligence quotient, 274-275, 289-290 + +Intensity of sensation, 206; + of reaction, 379, 391, 433 + +Interest, 181-184, 248, 257-259 + +Interference, 355-356 + +Internal secretions, 122-123, 554 + +Intra-uterine life, 90-92 + +Introspection, 10-11, 19 + +Invalidism, 546 + +Invention, 421, 475, 484, 485, 509-512, 517, 619 + +"IQ," 274-275 + +Isolation, 431-432, 435-437, 455-459, 468,479 + + + +James, 117, 129, 136, 331, 365, 418, 480, 511, 551, 561, 571 + +James-Lange theory, 128-130 + +Janet, 569, 571 + +Jastrow, 571 + +Jennings, 88 + +Jost, 342 + +Judd, 461 + +Judgment, 550 + +Jung, 388, 569 + + + +Kimmins, 522 + +Kinesthesis, 240 + +König, 217 + + + +Ladd, 44 + +Ladd-Franklin, 221-224, 243, 453 + +Lange, 129 + +Lashley, 88 + +Laughter, 157-168, 161 + +Law, + of advantage, 256; + of association, 394-398; + of attention, 256, 262-263, 267; + of combination, 263-264, 398-417; + of effect, 391-393; + of exercise, 389-391, 393-394; + of habit, 389; + of reaction, 256, 262-263, 267; + of selection, 256, 262, 378, 382; + of shifting, 256, 263; + of tendency, 81, 263 + +Learning, 93-94, 96, 99, 112, 113, 143-144, 296-329; + laws of, 389-417, 433 + +Libido, 507 + +Light, 212-213 + +Likes and dislikes, 178-184, 291, 492-493, 513 + +Linkage, _see_ Attachment + +Lobes of the brain, 50 + +Local sign, 440-441 + +Locomotion, 93-97, 99, 152-153, 486 + +Logic, 475-476 + +Love, 535 + +Loyalty, 169, 531 + + + +Make-believe, 482-483, 508 + +Management, + of action, 541-546; + of attention, 267-268; + of memory, 338-346, 353, 356, 360-363; + of reasoning, 478-479 + +Manipulation, 154, 315, 481-483 + +Massed learning, 341-343, 345 + +Mastery impulse, _see_ Self-assertion + +Martin, 28 + +Mathematics, liking for, 181-182 + +Mating instinct, 97, 116, 147-148 + +Maturing, 92, 96 + +Maury, 501 + +Maze learning, 305-308, 318-314 + +McDougall, 136, 171, 418, 551 + +Meaning, 421, 482-483 + +Median, 280 + +Memorizing, 333-346, 360-363 + +Memory, 332-363 + +Memory colors, 426 + +Mental action, 6-7, 45-47 + +Mental age, 273-274 + +Mental set, 72, 382-385, 413-414, 417, 433, 452 + +Mental work, 384 + +Methods of psychology, 9-16 + +Mnemonic systems, 363 + +Modification of reactions, 297-299 + +Moll, 551 + +Morale, 543-545 + +Morgan, 270 + +Mother complex, 506 + +Mother instinct, 148-150, 159, 161 + +Motive, 69, 72, 84-85, 137, 257-258, 469-473, 487-499, 501-510, + 513-517, 528-546, 565-570 + +Motor, + area, 50-54; + centers, 50-59, 65, 66; + nerve, 27, 30-33, 36-37, 39, 50, 52-53 + +Movement, + expressive, 126-128; + reflex, 24-26; + skilled, 55-59, 268, 321-326, 410-412; + voluntary, 53-55, 298 + +Moving pictures, 454 + +Müller-Lyer illusion, 455-456, 459 + +Münsterberg, 265, 571 + +Muscle sense, 225, 238-240 + +Music, 235; + liking for, 182-183, 291 + +Music deafness, 60 + + +Native traits, 89-102, 297 + +Negative adaptation, 302-303, 310, 312, 413 + +Nerve, 26, 30, 32; + autonomic, 124-125; + cell, 31-36, 51, 414; + center, 26, 29-30, 49-66, 76, 82-84, 96, 107, 125, 293; + fiber, 32 + +Nervous system, 27-29, 32, 41, 124 + +Nesting, 105, 110-112 + +Neurone, 32-36, 51, 61, 346, 414-417 + +Newton, 212 + +Nicoll, 522 + +Nightmare, 504 + +Noise, 231, 236 + +Nonsense syllables, 334 + +Non-sensory recall, 373-375 + +Norsworthy, 20, 104, 522 + + + +Object blindness, 62 + +Objective observation in psychology, 9, 11-13 + +Observation, 267; + learning by, 317-320, 333-337, 348, 367-375 + +Obstruction, 162-163, 177, 534-559 + +Organic needs, responses to, 139-145 + +Organic sensations, 119-120, 128, 204 + +Organic state, 72-74, 79, 82, 119-126, 132-133, 175-176 + +Original nature, 91, 92, 98 + +Organization of the individual, 527, 529, 532, 558 + +Otolith, 192, 238 + +Overlapping, 324-325, 412 + +Overtones, 230, 438 + + + +Pain, 173, 198-201 + +Paired associates, 336, 347, 404 + +Paralysis, 57, 547 + +Parental instinct, 148-150 + +Parsons, 243 + +Path, + auditory, 62; + motor, 51-53, 62; + tactile, 62, 64 + +Pathological method, 16 + +Patterns, 204-205 + +Pechstein, 344 + +Perception, 45, 60, 62-63, 65-66, 419-459, 462, 465, 468, 475-476, + 479, 520 + +Performance tests, 275-276 + +Perseveration, 355 + +Personality, 552-570 + +Perspective, 435, 441-442, 453-454 + +Phrenology, 52, 65, 293 + +Physiognomy, 445-446 + +Physiological limit, 321 + +Physiology, 6-7 + +Physique, 553 + +Piano theory of hearing, 234-235 + +Piéron, 342 + +Pillsbury, 270, 295 + +Pintner, 295 + +Pitch, 229-230, 450 + +Place associations, 304, 305, 315, 333 + +Plan, 483, 493, 539-540 + +Plateau, 322 + +Play, 139, 148, 151-152, 160, 485-499, 504-505, 517 + +Pleasantness and unpleasantness, 173-180, 184-185 + +Poffenberger, 20, 104, 243 + +Poggendorf illusion, 457, 459 + +Practice, 177, 298, 304-310, 314-317, 321-327, 360-363, 433, 538; + curve, 307, 316, 321, 325, 390, 542 + +Preparation for action, 22-25, 72, 74-77, 427-430 + +Preparatory reactions, 77-84, 111-112, 125-128, 132, 139-140, 145, 147 + +Prestige, 549 + +Prince, 559, 564, 569, 571 + +Problem solution, 385, 465, 469-470, 477, 514 + +Proofreader's illusion, 453 + +Protozoa, 39-40, 188, 302 + +Psychiatry, 16 + +Psychoanalysis, 505-508, 521, 533, 567-669 + +Psychology, + definition of, 1-2, 5-8, 17-18; + methods of, 9-16; + varieties, 2-6 + +Psychopathology, 16, 498, 540-541, 545-550, 567, 569 + +Punishment, 304-305 + +Purpose, 69-71, 75, 78, 524-527, 542 + +Puzzle experiment, 308-310, 315-319, 463-464 + +Pyle, 343 + +Pyramid cells, 51, 52, 61 + +Pyramidal tract, 52-55, 57, 62 + + + +Random activity, 151-152 + +Rationalization, 470-471, 531 + +Raynor, 331 + +Reaction, 22-26, 39-41, 45-49, 65-66, 68, 75, 84, 256, 262-263, 266, + 423, 428; + acquired, 89-90, 94, 99-102; + delayed, 76-77, 429; + native, 89-102; + preparatory, 77-84, 111-112, 125-128, 132; + time, 22-24, 75, 424 + +Reading, 250-251, 258, 262, 267-268, 384, 427, 453, 512-513 + +Reaney, 522 + +Reasoning, 320, 422, 462-479, 520; + in animals, 310, 317-318, 463-464 + +Recall, 354-356, 366-385, 413, 422, 469-471, 500, 519, 563 + +Recency, 345, 356, 379, 390, 433, 511, 563 + +Recitation in memorizing, 339-341 + +Recognition, 187, 357-360 + +Red-green blindness, 210 + +Reflex, 24-26, 53, 107-109, 256, 297; + conditioned, 303-304; + control of, 54-55; + arc, 26-30, 34, 36-37; + centers, 30, 53 + +Relationships, response to, 286-287, 317, 320, 333-336, 345, 404-405, +432, 467-468, 520 + +Relief, 79, 84 + +Reproduction, instinct of, 116 + +Respiration, 37, 55, 141, 176, 527 + +Response by analogy, 405-406, 435, 452-455 + +Restlessness, 78-79, 112 + +Retention, 286, 302, 349-353, 360, 562 + +Retina, 191, 193, 195, 210-211, 233, 441-442 + +Revery, 376-380 + +Ribot, 571 + +Rivalry, 165-166, 474, 489, 543; + binocular, 253-254 + +Robinson, 522 + +Rods, 191, 226 + +Rotation, sense of, 236-238 + +Rosanoff, 20 + +Rote learning, 333, 337 + +Royce, 522 + +Ruger, 316 + + +Sanford, 252 + +Satisfaction, 79, 84, 109-110, 132, 472, 487-499, 501-510, 513-517, + 533-535, 540 + +Saturation of colors, 207-208, 213-214, 217 + +Scatter, 23, 273, 298, 448 + +Schopenhauer, 565 + +Science, 3-4, 473-475; + liking for, 181-182 + +Scott, 93, 551 + +Seashore, 295 + +Secondary personality, 559-561, 564 + +Selection, 256, 262. 378, 382 + +Self, 428, 555-558 + +Self-activity, 46-47 + +Self-assertion, 158, 161-169, 181, 183, 258-259, 287, 472-478, + 489-496, 502-503, 508, 513, 515-516, 531, 536-537, 545-546, 549, + 556-558 + +Self-criticism, 509-511 + +Selfishness, 557 + +Self-preservation, 115-116, 507 + +Semicircular canal, 192, 194, 195, 225, 236-238, 486 + +Sensation, 6, 19, 46, 60, 62-64, 120, 187-240; + and feeling, 173-174; + feeling-tone of, 174-175; + and perception, 423-425; + recall of, 368-376 + +Sense, cells, 189-192; + organs, 188-196, 199-200, 236-239, 249; + perception, 421-422 + +Sensory, + nerve, 27, 30, 32-34, 36-38, 188-189, 191, 193, 196, 239-240; + areas, 50, 59-66, 423 + +Setting of an object, 358 + +Sex, + attraction, 97, 116, 125, 147-148, 488, 507-508, 534-535; + differences, 281 + +Sex differences, 281 + +Shame, 166, 168 + +Shell shock, 504 + +Shifting of attention, 251-256 + +Short-circuiting in the process of learning, 338, 405, 568 + +Shyness, 166 + +Sight, 32, 34-35, 62, 191, 193-195, 204-228, 231-234, 441-443 + +Sign and meaning, 421, 437-446 + +Signal experiment, 304-305, 312 + +Similarity, association by, 395-396, 405-408 + +Size-weight illusion, 459-460 + +Skill, 55-59, 268, 282, 348, 352, 410-412, 428, 482, 488 + +Skin senses, 197-201, 224, 440, 451 + +Sleep, 145, 499-500 + +Smell, 29, 32, 62, 63, 190, 201, 203-204, 224 + +Snyder, 343 + +Sociability, 181, 183-184, 489, 492 + +Social, behavior, 145-151, 510. 552, 558-559; + perception, 444-446, 512, 555 + +Sociology, 5 + +Song of birds, 98-94 + +Sound, 228-231 + +Space, 439-443 + +Spaced repetition In learning, 341-343, 345, 390 + +Spaulding, 93 + +Span of attention, 261-262 + +Speech, 6, 60, 94, 98, 113, 154, 325, 402-403, 416; + centers, 57-62 + +Spinal cord, 29-33, 50, 52, 55, 64 + +Spite, 507 + +Staircase figure, 253 + +Starch, Daniel, 20, 331 + +Starr, 56 + +Statistical measures, 14-15, 280, 283-285 + +Stereoscope, 254, 442 + +Stiles, 44, 67 + +Stimulus, 22, 24, 26-27, 34, 40-41, 46-49, 188, 484-486, 500-501; + central, 48-49, 368, 371, 422, 468, 500, 528; + internal, 41, 47, 79, 119, 128, 132 + +Story-telling, 482-483 + +Straining, 162-163 + +Strong, 246, 351 + +Struggle for existence, 114 + +Subconscious minds, 563-564 + +Sublimation, 533-535 + +Submissive tendency, 166-169, 287, 516, 549 + +Substitute, response, 299-301, 305, 311, 328, 400, 409-413, 430, + 436-437, 498-499, 533; + stimulus, 298, 300, 303, 311, 368, 371-372, 376, 400-409, 416, 434, 568 + +Suggestion, 546-650 + +Suppression, 505-508, 533, 566-567 + +Surprise, 155 + +Survival value, 114, 139, 148, 151, 160 + +Survivals, 127 + +Sustained attention, 257-260 + +Syllogism, 476-479 + +Symbols, 383, 468, 505-507 + +Symmetry, 444 + +Synapse, 34-35, 96, 414-416 + +Synesthesia, 376 + + + +Tact, 555 + +Taste, 189-190, 201-208, 224 + +Taussig, 522 + +Telegraphy, learning of, 321-323 + +Temperament, 553-554 + +Temperature, responses, 141-142; + sense, 197-201, 224-225 + +Tendency, 68-85, 109-112, 116, 130-135, 137-169, 177, 257, 263, + 299-301, 309, 348, 367, 382, 392-393, 408-409, 417, 483-499, + 501-510, 512-516, 528-546, 561 + +Terman, 272, 296 + +Testimony, 347, 352, 397 + +Tests, 3, 12, 14, 272-277, 281-283, 548 + +Thalamus, 56, 62, 64-65, 178 + +Thinking, 48-49, 319-320 + +Third dimension, 441-443 + +Thirst, 79-81, 120-121, 139-140, 179 + +Thorndike, 20, 104, 171, 331, 418 + +Thought and action, 539-541 + +Thrill, 489, 498-499 + +Thyroid gland, 123, 554 + +Timbre, 231 + +Time, 438-439, 447 + +Titchener, 186, 242, 270, 461 + +Touch, 50, 62, 63, 197-201; + spots, 198 + +Toys, 486-497 + +Training of memory, 360-363 + +Traits, native and acquired, 89-102 + +Transfer, 316-317, 361-362 + +Trial and error, 112, 305, 309, 311, 313, 315, 335, 392, 409, 424, 426, + 430, 462-465, 526 + +Typewriting, learning of, 324-325, 411-412, 518, 525-526, 537 + + + +Unconscious, activity, 265-266, 383-384, 506-508, 525-526, 562-565; + emotion, 118-119; + feeling, 172; + motive, 565-569; + retention, 348-349, 562 + +Unintentional learning, 346-348 + +Utility, + of emotion, 125-127; + of instinct, 114, 144-145; + of reflexes, 125 + + +Vacillation, 530 + +Variability, 23, 273, 298, 369, 447-448 + +Verification of hypotheses, 473-475 + +Visual, + area, 62; + images, 370; + perception, 441-443, 450; + sensations, 204-228, 231-234 + +Visualist, 370 + +Vocalization, 93-94, 154 + +Voluntary action, 298, 524-528 + +Vowels, 231 + + +Walking, 95-97, 99, 153 + +Warming-up, 74, 119-120, 343, 391 + +Warren, 171, 242, 418, 461 + +Washburn, 19, 88, 331 + +Watson, 20, 88, 117, 171, 307, 308, 331, 571 + +Watt, 243 + +Weber's law, 449-450 + +Weight, perception of, 448-450, 459-460 + +Wells, 571 + +Whipple, 295, 365 + +White matter, 32, 35-36, 56, 62 + +Whitley, 20, 104, 522 + +Whole and part study, 343-346 + +Will, 523-550; + to learn, 346-348; + to live, 565 + +Wish, 496-497, 501-509, 565 + +Word + blindness, 62; + deafness, 59 + +Worry, 497-499 + +Wundt, 184 + + +Yerkes, 104, 295 + + +Young, 220 + +Youth, 147, 164, 495, 519 + + +Zoellner illusion, 459 + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Psychology, by Robert S. 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