Sixteen Experimental Investigations from the Harvard Psychological Laboratory by Hugo Münsterberg (100 books to read .txt) 📕

themselves, who confessed to an expectation that the white would

assert itself as affectively in ideation as in perception. But it is

not improbable that affective or æsthetic 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 space, constituting 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.

[Illustration: 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 mass;’ ‘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, passing from point to point of the

figure;’ ‘the surface of the plain figure was attended to as a whole

or mass, 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 attitude. In a mass of

homogeneous 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

attitudes being as weak and uncertain as the attitudes actually but

loosely assumed, 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

attitudes. 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.

10: refers to object exposed 10 seconds.

General average: (5), 27.75 sec.; (10), 29.15 sec.

Series No. VII.—The object of this series was to determine the

effect in ideation of exposing for unequal lengths of time the two

objects compared. The figures compared were of the same area and

outline, and were distinguished only by their color, one being red and

the other green. These colors were employed, after a preliminary test,

as showing, on the whole, to nearly equal advantage in the individual

choice of colors. The shorter exposure was five seconds and the longer

exposure ten seconds. The color that was to be seen the longer time

was exposed first alone; after five seconds the other was exposed; and

then both were seen for five seconds together, so that neither might

have the advantage of the more recent impression. The two colors were

regularly alternated, and in one half of the series the longer

exposure was to the right, in the other half to the left. The extra

five seconds were thus in each case at the beginning of the

experiment.

The general averages show only a slight advantage in favor of the

color which was exposed the longer time, namely, 29.15 seconds, as

against 27.75 seconds. It is not easy to believe that the advantage of

sole occupancy of the visual field for five seconds, without any

offsetting disadvantage in the next five seconds, should have so

slight an effect on the course of ideation. And it is not improbable

that there was an offsetting disadvantage. In the presence of color

the subject can scarcely remain in the attitude of quiet curiosity

which it is easy to maintain in the observation of colorless objects.

A positive interest is excited. And the appearance of a new color in

the field when there is another color there already seems to be

capable of exciting, by a sort of successive contrast different from

that ordinarily described, an interest which is the stronger from the

fact that the subject has already been interested in a different

color. That is to say, the transition from color to color (only red

and green were employed) seems