Harvard Psychological Studies Part 27

313 392 254 353.5 292.5 381.5 290 386 293.5 388.5 255 375.5

7 8 9 10 Averages S L S L S L S L S L I. 20.5 31.5 21.5 28.5 22.5 28 22.5 26 20.90 26.50 II. 14.5 17.5 19 20 11 4.5 7 30.5 16.10 25.00 III. 10 22 8.5 26 17 16 8 16 12.35 21.90 IV. 27.5 28.5 35 30.5 23.5 46 27.5 49.5 28.95 33.35 V. 40.5 35 24.5 22.5 21 31 21.5 21.5 35.40 36.75 VI. 22.5 18.5 11.5 21 20 27 22.5 24 21.35 21.60 VII. 44.5 46.5 52 51 33.5 49 39.5 50.5 44.85 47.85 VIII. 19.5 20 21 27 19.5 27.5 18.5 22.5 24.05 29.60 IX. 18.5 46 13 42 20 42 18.5 43 19.95 44.90 X. 18.5 24 20.5 21 20.5 22 18.5 28.5 17.00 28.75 XI. 21 49 32 53.5 38 53.5 34.5 46.5 29.00 50.15

257.5 338.5 258.5 343 246.5 346.5 238.5 358.5 24.54 33.30

_L_: large. _S_: small.

General average, _S_, 24.54 sec.; _L_, 33.30 sec.

_Series No. III._--In the third series, where the variant is the extent of (gray) surface exposed, the preponderance is in favor of the image corresponding to the larger object. This shows an appearance of some 33 seconds per minute as against 24 for the smaller (Table III.).

Here the most obvious thing in the reports, aside from the relative durations, is the greater vividness of the favored image. Something, no doubt, is due to the greater length of boundary line and other spatial dimensions involved in the greater size. And it is this superiority, and the ampler movements which it implies, which were probably felt by the subject who reports 'a feeling of expansion in the eye which corresponds to the larger image and of contraction in the other.' But the more general comment is as to the greater vividness of the larger image. "The larger images seem brighter whichever side they are on." "The larger is a little more distinct, as if it were nearer to me." "Large much more vivid than small." Such are the reports which run through the series. And they point, undoubtedly, to a c.u.mulative effect, corresponding to a well-known effect in sensation, in virtue of which greater extension may become the equivalent of greater intensity. In other words, the larger image made the stronger impression. Now in external perception the stronger impression tends to hold the attention more securely; that is, it is more effective in producing those adjustments of the sensory organs which perceptive attention implies. So here what was noticed as the superior brightness and distinctness of the larger image may be supposed to imply some advantage in the latter in securing those adjustments of the mental att.i.tude which were favorable to the apprehension of that image. Advantage means here, again, in part at least, if the considerations we have urged are sound, inhibition of those motor processes which would tend to turn attention to a rival.

And here, again, the adjustment may reach no external organ. An incipient innervation, which is all that we need a.s.sume as the condition of a change of mental att.i.tude, would suffice to block, or at least to hamper, inconsistent innervations no more complete than itself.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 4.]

TABLE IV.

1 2 3 4 G W G W G W G W I. 15.5 28.5 21.5 32.5 20 33 21 28.5 II. 39.5 23 22.5 22.5 19 20.5 35.5 17.5 III. 13.5 12.5 32 4.5 8.5 10 11.5 11.5 IV. 30 33.5 38 36.5 36 39.5 37.5 13.5 V. 33.5 32.5 34.5 32 33 35 45 36.5 VI. 15 22 21 21 18.5 22 12 22 VII. 53.5 50 43 46 54.5 55 56 56 VIII. 15.5 24.5 24 25 20 13 16.5 21 IX. 17.5 44 9.5 46 18.5 43.5 16 42 X. 25.5 19 29.5 19 21 20.5 23.5 18 XI. 35 42.5 13 29.5 18.5 46 16 38 294 332 288.5 314.5 267.5 338 290.5 304.5

5 6 7 8 G W G W G W G W I. 24 26.5 23.5 25 19.5 30.5 21 29 II. 21 29.5 20 18.5 29 16.5 28.5 14 III. 20.5 8.5 11 11.5 10 14 23 16.5 IV. 39.5 28.5 34.5 22.5 23 30.5 33.5 18 V. 45 53 48 51 45 29 32.5 34.5 VI. 21.5 28 18 32 20.5 19 21.5 18 VII. 54.5 56 54.5 54.5 45 46 49 49 VIII. 24 26.5 23.5 22.5 24 17.5 31 31.5 IX. 16 44 14 43.5 9 43.5 13 44.5 X. 24.5 18 24 21.5 25.5 24 22 22.5 XI. 20.5 8.5 15 36.5 33 23 34 29 311 327 286 339 283.5 293.5 309 306.5

9 10 11 12 Averages.

G W G W G W G W G W I. 25 25.5 22.5 21 25 26.5 27 21.5 22.95 27.33 II. 20 25 15 20 29 32 13.5 20 24.37 21.58 III. 12 20 12.5 17.5 10.5 21 3 23 14.00 14.25 IV. 33 19.5 35.5 28 21.5 34.5 25.5 26.5 32.29 27.58 V. 51 50 35 30.5 40.5 54.5 45.5 52.5 40.70 40.91 VI. 13 29.5 25 33.5 28.5 23 23.5 27.5 19.83 24.79 VII. 46.5 39.5 38.5 44.5 43.5 47.5 42.5 34.5 48.41 48.20 VIII. 17.5 25.5 22 15.5 21 29 22.5 21.5 21.79 22.75 IX. 13 43.5 12.5 41.5 15 42 11 40 13.75 43.16 X. 24 24 27 19 25 21.5 23.5 23.5 24.58 20.87 XI. 13.5 49 2.5 43 14 34 23 22 19.83 33.41 268.5 351 248 314 273.5 365.5 260.5 312.5 25.61 29.53

_G:_ Gray. _W:_ White.

General average: _G_, 25.61 sec.; _W_, 29.53 sec.

_Series No. IV._--This and the next following series do not suggest much that differs in principle from what has been stated already. It should be noted, however, that in the white-gray series (Table IV.) the persistence of the gray in ideation surprised the subjects themselves, who confessed to an expectation that the white would a.s.sert itself as affectively in ideation as in perception. But it is not improbable that affective or aesthetic elements contributed to the result, which shows as high a figure as 25 seconds for the gray as against 29 for the white. One subject indeed (IV.) found the gray restful, and gives accordingly an individual average of 32 for the gray as against 27 for the white. More than one subject, in fact, records a slight advantage in favor of the gray. And if we must admit the possibility of a subjective interest, it seems not unlikely that a bald blank s.p.a.ce, const.i.tuting one extreme of the white-black series, should be poorer in suggestion and perhaps more fatiguing than intermediate members lying nearer to the general tone of the ordinary visual field. Probably the true function of the brightness quality in favoring ideation would be better shown by a comparison of different grays. The general average shows, it is true, a decided preponderance in favor of the white, but the individual variations prove it would be unsafe to conclude directly, without experimental test, from the laws of perception to the laws of ideation.

_Series No. V._--The fifth series, which was suggested by the second, presents the problem of the lines in greater simplicity than the second; and, unlike the earlier series, it shows in all the individual averages the same sort of preponderance as is shown in the general average (straight line, 31; broken line, 38). The footings of the columns, moreover, show an aggregate in favor of the broken line in the case of every pair of lines that were exposed together. The results in this case may therefore be regarded as cleaner and more satisfactory than those reached before, and come nearer, one may say, to the expression of a general law. The theoretical interpretation, however, would be in both cases the same.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 5.]

TABLE V.

1 2 3 4 5 6 L A L A L A L A L A L A I. 28 26.5 24.5 29.5 25 28 26 28.5 26 29.5 25.5 29.5 II. 35 41.5 42 34.5 31.5 47.5 53 50.5 52 52 48 48 III. 16.5 19.5 24 29 41 29.5 35.5 29 21 40 39 40 IV. 40 41.5 37 45 32.5 45.5 36.5 43.5 33.5 38 36.5 43.5 V. 49 53 45 47 45.5 36.5 32.5 51 37 46 40 51 VI. 18 31.5 16 45 22.5 30.5 25 25 24.5 37 25 22 VII. 43 39.5 52 54.5 52.5 53.5 51 54.5 40.5 55 48 48.5 VIII. 23 23 27 29.5 38 40 34.5 32 23 37 42 38.5 IX. 23 48 48 47.5 35 46.5 48 35 28.5 48 46.5 34.5 X. 18 33 19.5 31.5 20.5 30 22 29.5 16.5 35.5 19.5 33 XI. 22.5 33.5 18 41 26 23 19 35.5 5 38 7 50.5

316 390.5 353 434 370 410.5 383 414 307.5 456 377 439

Averages.

L A I. 25.83 28.58 II. 43.58 45.66 III. 29.50 31.16 IV. 36.00 42.83 V. 41.50 47.41 VI. 21.83 31.83 VII. 47.83 50.91 VIII. 31.25 33.33 IX. 38.16 43.25 X. 19.33 32.08 XI. 16.25 36.91

31.91 38.54

_L_: Line (straight line). _A_: Angle (broken line).

General average: _L_, 31.91 sec.; _A_, 38.54 sec.

TABLE VI.

1 2 3 4 5 6 P M P M P M P M P M P M I. 22 32.5 23.5 32 23.5 32 22.5 32.5 23.5 31.5 21 39 II. 24.5 32.5 31.5 49.5 32 39 36 36 33.5 42 28.5 35 III. 8.5 23.5 0 36 0 31.5 11.5 5.5 8.5 14 3.5 8.5 IV. 30 49.5 30.5 42 24 48 27.5 44 28 40.5 43.5 34.5 V. 55.5 55.5 54.5 54.5 46.5 53 34 36 41.5 47 31 35.5 VI. 19.5 22.5 19.5 28 19.5 28.5 26.5 27.5 24.5 29.5 18.5 36 VII. 45 56.5 47.5 55.5 40.5 40 48 54 33.5 50 41 42.5 VIII. 19.5 24 0 40 27.5 20.5 13.5 23 16 25 23 34.5 IX. 28 49.5 26.5 48.5 27.5 45 18 45 21.5 48.5 42.5 44.5 X. 8 43.5 22 29 8.5 43.5 9.5 42.5 16 35 12.5 40.5 XI. 5.5 42.5 7.5 35.5 16.5 35.5 7.5 41 10 41.5 8 32.5

24.18 39.27 23.91 40.95 24.18 37.86 23.14 35.18 23.32 36.77 24.82 34.82

Indiv. Aver.

P M I. 22.666 33.250 II. 31.000 39.000 III. 5.333 19.833 IV. 30.583 43.083 V. 43.833 46.916 VI. 21.333 28.666 VII. 42.583 49.750 VIII. 16.583 27.833 IX. 27.333 46.833 X. 12.750 39.000 XI. 9.166 38.083

23.92 37.48

_P_: Plain. _M_: Marked.

General average: Plain, 23.92 sec.; Marked, 37.48 sec.

Series No. VI._--Both the figures in each pair of this series were of the same material (granite-gray cardboard) and of the same area and outline, but the content of one of the two was varied with dark lines for the most part concentric with the periphery.

The advantage on the side of the figures with a varied content is marked, the general averages showing a greater difference than is shown in any of the tables so far considered. And the advantage appears on the same side both in the individual averages and in the averages for the different pairs as shown at the foot of the columns.

There can be little doubt, accordingly, that we have here the expression of a general law.

For the meaning of this law we may consult the notes of the subjects: 'The plain figure became a mere amorphous ma.s.s;' 'the inner lines reinforce the shape, for while previously the number of points in this star has increased (in ideation), here the number is fixed, and fixed correctly;' 'my attention traversed the lines of the content, and seemed to be held by them;' 'the variety of the marked objects was felt as more interesting;' 'the attention was more active when considering the marked figures, pa.s.sing from point to point of the figure;' 'the surface of the plain figure was attended to as a whole or ma.s.s, without conscious activity;' 'in the plain figure I thought of the gray, in the marked figure I thought of the lines;' 'part of the plain figure tended to have lines.'

The part played by the motor elements previously referred to in sustaining attention and prolonging (internal) sensation is here unmistakable. We have further evidence, too, of the value of the line in defining and strengthening the mental att.i.tude. In a ma.s.s of h.o.m.ogeneous elements such as is presented by a uniform gray surface, the attention is equally engaged by all and definitely held by none.

Monotony therefore means dullness. And the inhibition of incompatible att.i.tudes being as weak and uncertain as the att.i.tudes actually but loosely a.s.sumed, the latter are readily displaced, and the sensation to which they correspond as readily disappears. Hence the greater interest excited by the lined figures. The lines give definiteness and direction to the attention, and as definitely inhibit incompatible att.i.tudes. And the shutting out of the latter by the spontaneous activity of the mind means that it is absorbed or interested in its present occupation.

TABLE VII.

1 2 3 4 5 6 5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10 I. 29.5 23 24.5 21.5 27 18.5 28 26 27 20 25 29.5 II. 25.5 21 32.5 42.5 19.5 33 27 33.5 26 32 20 28.5 III. 4.5 18.5 12.5 5.5 0 3.5 7.5 11 10.5 18.5 0 7 IV. 33 31.5 28 32 42 44 25 45 38.5 43 41 36.5 V. 35 40.5 35 52.5 28 49.5 43 31 42.5 29 47.5 50.5 VI. 10.5 34.5 10.5 34.5 23 15 26 26.5 22 27 19.5 34.5 VII. 27 42 28.5 19 31.5 49 39 45.5 28.5 50.5 49.5 51.5 VIII. 13.5 21.5 19 15 21.5 18 23 22.5 19.5 18 24.5 21.5 IX. 33 43.5 36 37.5 35 40 26 45 31.5 44 21.5 43.5 X. 20.5 23 22.5 23 23 23.5 22 27.5 21.5 29 21 34.5 XI. 13.5 29 32 16.5 9.5 36.5 40.5 8.5 39.5 8.5 17.5 30.5

22.32 31.50 25.55 27.23 23.64 30.05 27.91 29.27 27.91 29.05 26.09 33.45

7 8 9 10 11 12 5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10 I. 22.5 29 27.5 25.5 26 22 22.5 27.5 25.5 25 22 28 II. 29 37.5 32.5 28 34 32 26 23 30.5 28 25.5 23 III. 20.5 8.5 12 16.5 21 9 32 3 21.5 15 8 22 IV. 31 26 39.5 41.5 37 29.5 28.5 37 36.5 30.5 33 31.5 V. 38 34 39 46.5 54 40 32.5 46 43.5 46 36.5 50.5 VI. 30 17 13 25 34.5 26.5 20.5 27 27 35 27.5 33 VII. 55.5 50 42.5 28 50.5 15.5 49 17.5 43.5 29.5 44 26.5 VIII. 16.5 21.5 18 17 17.5 21.5 21 22.5 21.5 23.5 23 27.5 IX. 41 46 45.5 43.5 46.5 33 39 37.5 32 35 33.5 40 X. 24.5 28.5 26.5 24 28.5 25.5 25.5 25 22 30 24 23.5 XI. 19.5 26.5 14 30 42.5 2.5 21.5 30 22.5 33 25.5 24

29.82 29.50 28.18 29.59 35.64 23.36 28.91 26.91 29.64 30.05 27.50 29.96

Indiv. Aver.

5 10 I. 25.58 24.62 II. 27.33 30.16 III. 12.50 11.50 IV. 34.41 35.66 V. 39.54 43.00 VI. 22.00 27.95 VII. 40.75 35.37 VIII. 19.87 20.83 IX. 35.04 40.70 X. 23.45 26.41 XI. 24.83 22.95

27.75 29.15

5: refers to object exposed 5 seconds.