EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

VOLUME I

THE ORIGINAL NATURE OF MAN

BY EDWARD L. THORNDIKE PROFESSOR OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY IN TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

PUBLISHED BY t^cacfjcra College, Columbia ©niberaitp NEW YORK 1913 Copyright 1913, By EDWARD L. THORNDIKE UY/.3t

SCIENCE

'OSI

The MASON-HENRY Pro« Syraonse and New York TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM JAMES

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PREFACE

This volume, which describes man's original mental equip- ment—the inherited foundations of intellect, morals and skill, is the first of three, which, together, give the main facts of educational psychology. The second volume, on The Psychol- ogy of Learning, treats of the laws of learning in general, the improvement of mental functions by practice and their deterior- ation by fatigue. The third volume, on Individual Differences and Their Causes, treats of the variations of individual men around the general type characteristic of man as a species, and of the influence of sex, race, immediate ancestry, maturity and train- ing in producing these variations. This third volume was written first, appearing in 1903 under the general title, Educational Psychology. A systematic account of present knowledge of the dynamics of human nature and behavior is much needed for students of education and other forms of human control. These volumes represent a selection from, and organization of, recent work in experimental, statistical and comparative psychology, such as will, I hope, economize effort and diminish the chances of error for such students. The reader to whom these volumes bring any new insight into human nature, power in the quantitative treatment of mental facts, or interest in the rich details of concrete human nature, will be- come a sharer in my debt to my teachers, William James and James McKeen Cattell, and to that intrepid devotee to concrete human nature, Stanley Hall, whose doctrines I often attack, but whose genius I always admire.

Parts of Chapters I, II, VII, IX, X and IXVII of this volume constituted four lectures given at Union College in March, 1913, under the provisions of the Ichabod Spencer Foundation.

Teachers College, Columbia University, March, 1913 vii

CONTENTS

Chaftek Page I. Introduction i Original versus Learned Tendencies The Problems of Original Nature

II. General Characteristics of Original Tendencies 5 Names for Original Tendencies The Components of an Original Tendency The Action of Original Tiendencies

Stages in the Description o*f Human Nature

III Inventories of the Original Nature of Man 16 James' Inventory Indefiniteness in Descriptions of Original Ten- dencies Criteria of the Probable Unlearnedness of a Ten- dency

IV. Sources of Information 27 The Discovery of Original Tendencies by Syste- matic Observation of Children The Discovery of Original Tendencies by a Cen- sus of Opinions Other Sources The Insecurity of Present Information

V. Responses of Sensitivity, Attention and Gross Bodily Control 43 Sensory Capacities Original Attentiveness Gross Bodily Control

VI. Food Getting, Protective Responses, and Anger. . 50 Food Getting X CONTENTS CxAFTXK Pack Habitation Fear Fighting- Anger

VII. Responses to the Behavior of Other Human Beings 8i Motherly Behavior Responses to the Presence, Approval and Scorn of Men Mastering and Submissive Behavior Other Social Instincts

VIII. Responses to the Behavior of Other Human

Beings : Imitation io8 General Imitativeness The Imitation of Particular Forms of Behavior

IX. Original Satisfiers and Annoyers 123 The Original Nature of Wants, Interests and Motives The Principles of Readiness The Explanation of 'Multiple Response' or 'Varied Reaction'

X. Tendencies to Minor Bodily Movements and Cerebral Connections 135 Vocalization, Visual Exploration and Manipula- tion Other Possible Specializations Curiosity and Mental Control Play 'Random' Movements

XI. The Emotions and Their Expression 150 Difficulties in Identifying and Studying Emo-

. tional States McDougall's Inventory of Original Tendencies to Emotional States CONTENTS XI Chapter Page The Relation of Emotions to the Movements which "Express" Them The Original Bonds of the Expressive Movements

XII. Consciousness, Learning and Remembering 170 Original Tendencies to Consciousness The Capacity to Learn Limitations to Modifiability The Supposed Formation of Connections by "Faculties" The Supposed Formation of Connections by the Perception of Their Action in Another The Supposed Formation of Connections by the Power of an Idea to Produce the Act which

it Represents Attempted Explanations of Learning by the Laws of Exercise Alone Remembering

XIII. Summary. Criticism and Classification 195 The Action of Fragments and Combinations of Original Tendencies The Variability of Men in Original Tendencies The Modifiability of Original Tendencies A Summary of Man's Original Nature Criticisms The Classification of Original Tendencies

XIV. The Anatomy and Physiology of Original Ten- dencies 209 The Structure of the Neurones The Arrangement of the Neurones Sensitivity and Conductivity The Physiology of the Capacity to Learn and of Readiness The Physiology of Delay and Transitoriness in Original Tendencies

XV. The Source of Original Tendencies 230 The Hypothesis of the Transmission of Acquired Traits Xll CONTENTS Chaftbs Page The Selection of 'Chance' Variations in the Germ Plasm The Continuity of Original Tendencies The Extent of Selection for Intellectual and Moral Superiority

XVI. The Order and Dates of Appearance and Dis- appearance OF Original Tendencies 245 The Recapitulation Theory The Utility Theory The Evidence The Dates of Appearance of Particular Ten- dencies The Gradual Waxing of Delayed Instincts and Capacities The Probable Frequency of Transitoriness in Original Tendencies

XVII. The Value and Use of Original Tendencies 270 The Doctrine of Nature's Infallibility The Doctrine of Catharsis- Defects in Man's Original Nature The Use of Original Tendencies in Detail

Original Tendencies as Ends : Emulation in the Case of School 'Marks' Original Tendencies as Means: Suggestion in Education Original versus 'Natural' Tendencies The Importance of the Original Satisfiers and Annoyers The True Significance of Plasticity Which Instincts are of Most Worth Original Nature the Ultimate Source of All Values

Bibliography of References Made in the Text 313

Index 320