Psychological Bulletin

Brown, Warner

doi: 10.1037/h0074750pmid: N/A

Reviews 20 studies, published between 1912-1914, on the classification of individuals on the basis of psychological factors. While the "type' theorists support these categorizations on various dimensional scales, a number of tests show that there are enormous differences in ability between children of the same class. The phenomenal mathematical feats shown by some are attributable to practice and to family influences. There is no typical difference between these rare performers and ordinary persons.

Smith, Stevenson

doi: 10.1037/h0075050pmid: N/A

Reviews 8 published studies (1912-1913) on handedness. The right hand is normally the favored hand in the earliest experiences, because objects in the right visual field attract visual attention, which in turn leads to grasping by the right hand. Hence, it acquires a special skill which causes it to be used in all manual acts requiring the greatest precision. However, studies have also demonstrated the presence of left-handedness in infants. A deterministic explanation attributes the dominant hand to heredity. Ambidexterity is attributed to training.

Woodworth, R. S.

doi: 10.1037/h0075626pmid: N/A

Reviews 5 experiments on voluntary reactions (1912-1913). It is objectively demonstrated that an intended operation is impeded by contrary associations previously formed, and by the perseveration of contrary operations just previously exercised. Voluntary influence is probably exerted directly upon the coenesthesia which lie at the basis of emotions. The methodology used in the experiments on memory and sensation have been discussed.

Wells, F. L.

doi: 10.1037/h0073573pmid: N/A

Reviews 5 publications (1913-1914) which discuss the dynamic school of thought. Titchener considers Behaviorism as logically "irrelevant' to psychology, and questions the factual validity of Watson's generalizations, calling attention to the contributions to applied psychology from introspective sources. Cites W. B. Cannon's study on emotions which gives an anatomical description of the autonomic nervous system to explain the basis of emotions. Benussi has shown that there is a possibility of determining lies in pedagogical and criminalistic fields. Summarizes other experiment-based studies which overlap with psychoanalytical results.

Henmon, V. A. C.

doi: 10.1037/h0072413pmid: N/A

Reviews 10 studies (1912-1914) on RT. The speed of the nervous system, as proved by one study, is 10 m/sec. However, the study did not receive much support. Ten possible sources of error are discussed, which conclude that in the case of sensation, the cortical and the psychic processes are not synchronous. There is no evidence of increase of RT with decrease of stimulus duration. Literature, however, confirms Wundt's law, that RT decreases with increase in stimulus intensity.

Strong, Edward K.

doi: 10.1037/h0072737pmid: N/A

Reviews 42 studies (1911-1914) on the following: the effect of physical and psychological factors on fatigue; effects of fatigue on physiological processes; the nature of fatigue; physical phases of work; the work curve; mental fatigue; fatigue in school; fatigue in industry; and inhibition. Women have been found to show greater inhibition than males. The social implications of fatigue have also been addressed.

Poffenberger, A. T.

doi: 10.1037/h0074841pmid: N/A

Reviews reports (1912-1913) on the effects of drugs. The influence of alcohol, tea, and coffee on the speed and accuracy of work in type-writing reveals that alcohol decreases speed and increases errors. Tea and caffeine increase the amount of work. In regard to the effects of alcohol on mental and muscular activity, it has a brief stimulating effect which is followed by depression. Tobacco smoking decreases mental efficiency. RT has been found to decrease, with drug usage, but the quality of reaction is poorer.

Bingham, W. V.

doi: 10.1037/h0075722pmid: N/A

Reviews 79 studies published between 1909-1914, in the science of "exotic' music. Phonographical transcriptions have been used in the study of music. It is impractical to measure every note of each melody with tonometrical methods, however, a set of representative measurements should be made to exhibit the range and nature of variability of performance, as well as the typical performance. Stumpf deals with the origins of music, and traces the development of music to later evolution. Seven characteristics of exotic music are delineated by Gilman. Comparison of traditional music across cultures has also been made.

Franz, Sheperd I.

doi: 10.1037/h0067458pmid: N/A

Reviews the book, Il Methodo degli Equivalenti. Contributo allo studio dei processi di confronto by A. Gemelli (1914). This book is undoubtedly one of the most important experimental researches in the psychophysics of touch which has appeared for some time. The author has measured the equivalence-ratio for several parts of the body in pairs, under varying conditions which are faithfully reported. In respect of this experimental work and this analysis the book is an excellent addition to the literature of the subject, and one which should be added to every psychological library. The style of the book calls for some remark. The lucidity of the Italian is most refreshing in contrast to the numerous quotations in ponderous German. But the pleasure of reading is marred by the extraordinary and reprehensible frequency of misprints. Experiments in the chapter are concerned with the equivalence-ratios between certain regions of the hand. Apart from the consistency of the experimental results illustrating Gemelli's law, the other chief point of interest in this research is the combination of experimental and introspective methods.

Franz, Sheperd I.

doi: 10.1037/h0069113pmid: N/A

Reviews the book, Ancient Rome and Modern America: A Comparative Study of Morals and Manners by Gugliemo Ferrero . America is taken in this book less for itself than as a symbol of the modern industrial age, the age of steam and electricity, of rapid production and consumption, when the bounds that were formerly set to human activity, enjoyment and thought are swept aside, and no limits are longer admitted, when the ideal of unlimited "progress" is the controlling force. There are also certain parallels between the decline of the ancient civilization and the tendencies of our own times, especially an excess of urbanization, and a decrease in the fertility of the human species. The book makes interesting reading; whether solid or not is a question that can not be argued in brief compass.