Psychology : an introductory manual for the use of students / by F. Ryland.

  • Ryland, Frederick, 1854-1902.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Psychology : an introductory manual for the use of students / by F. Ryland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    neural activity in the organs of the special senses, the muscles, etc. And we have seen how a repre- sentative element (imperfect visual image, verbal image, or some other symbol) lies at the base of every concept. This imperfect image must, like the fully developed visualized image, involve an activity of the same muscles as would be involved in the corresponding percept from which it is derived. While the doctrine has some likelihood, we must not take it as proved that intellectual and emotional control mean at bottom simply muscular control. Control of emotions and impulses is possible on account of:— (1) Our control of expressive movements, which are not only the external signs of emotion but are a part of its bodily conditions. Negatively, we can suppress those movements which at once express and help to develop the feeling; and positively, we can initiate those movements which are incompatible with the feeling and express its opposite. By putting on a serious face we go far towards suppressing hilarity; by making a muscular effort wTe get rid to some extent of the feeling of despair or of sloth. (2) Our control of the ideas which arouse feeling. Negatively, we can keep out of the focus of attention ideas which stimulate (let us say) anger towards a person; and positively, we can keep within the focus ideas which tend to arouse gentler feelings towards the same person. It is important to set up the anti-