The psychology of misconduct, vice, and crime / by Bernard Hollander.

  • Hollander, Bernard, 1864-1934.
Date:
[1922]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The psychology of misconduct, vice, and crime / by Bernard Hollander. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    182/232 (page 178)
    CHAPTER XI MORAL RESPONSIBILITY We have shown that man’s personality is a federation of organic impulses, arising from hereditary tendencies and acquired habits. Man shares with animals certain instincts which urge for gratification. They are his driving forces to action. They are kept in check in the first instance by their own antagonism, as, for example, at the sight of danger, when two impulses may arise simultaneously—to fight and to run away. But otherwise before the organisation of social life, man did not feel that he had any duties except towards himself. When another animal or one of his fellows opposed him in the immediate realisation of some appetite or some desire, his only idea was to suppress that obstacle, and he disposed of the adversary by a quick and violent movement, not moderated by anything, unless it were the recol¬ lection of a former defeat. When he was victorious, when the possession of some rich spoil had rewarded his actions, we may be sure that he knew neither sorrow nor remorse, but merely pleasure in gratifica¬ tion and pride in his strength.