The modification of instinct from the standpoint of social psychologyHunter, Walter S.
doi: 10.1037/h0063843pmid: N/A
In the discussion which follows the author has attempted a relatively comprehensive statement of the modification of instinct with particular reference to the topic as incorporated in social psychology. The formulations have been made with reference to a statement of general principles rather than with a view to a summary of such experimental data as might be available. In section I., I have sought merely a reformulation (possibly more detailed than usual) of the modification of instinct on its afferent or efferent sides, or on both simultaneously. This section is preparatory for those that follow. In sections II. and III., types of instinctive modification are considered which are new to social psychology and all but unsuggested in the other fields of general psychology. These sections discuss (1) the fact and significance of the temporal position of the modifications as occurring before or after the first instinctive performance, and (2) the modification of the biological purposes of inherited responses.
The nature of the rhythm experienceIsaacs, Elcanon
doi: 10.1037/h0064886pmid: N/A
Over the years, there has been a marked decrease in the number of contributions to the experimental psychology of rhythm. Dunlap, writing in 1916, remarks, "It is a significant fact that experimental work on the perception of time and of rhythm has nearly ceased. One research on time, a statistical study of speech rhythm and a minor study on rhythm effects are all that have appeared in the last two years" (7, p. 206). With the exceptions of one or two studies, this statement is still applicable; in fact, the subject of time and rhythm has been dropped from the reviews in alternate years. In this article, the author discusses the reasons for this decline in experimentation on the rhythmic experience. Also discussed is the nature of the rhythmic experience, as well as the analysis of different aspects of this experience.
A new point of view in the interpretation of threshold measurements in psychophysicsThomson, Godfrey H.
doi: 10.1037/h0064447pmid: N/A
I propose in this paper to examine some of the ideas underlying the interpretations hitherto given of threshold measurements, and in particular (a) the measure used in comparing the sensitivity of one individual with that of another, (b) the measure of sensitivity used in testing Weber's Law, (c) the origin of this law, whether it be psychological or physiological, (d) the idea of a psychometric function, and (e) the notion of the probability of a judgment. These points cannot be treated separately, but must be considered in conjunction with one another. The ideas which I wish to express have their origin, however, chiefly in an extension of the last mentioned point.
The correlation between interests and abilities in college coursesBridges, James W.; Dollinger, Verona M.
doi: 10.1037/h0068186pmid: N/A
This study investigates the relation between interest and ability in college courses. The experimenters determined the correlation between interests, evaluated subjectively by rankings of courses, and abilities, measured objectively by grades obtained in these same courses. Several hundred college students filled out a survey that determined what courses the student was studying and what level of interest they had in them. At the end of the semester the grades made by each student on the courses ranked were obtained from the registrar's office. The results show that when ability is measured by a more objective means, namely college grades, a very low correlation between interest and ability is obtained, so low in fact that one might well be justified in the statement: A person's relative interests are an extraordinarily inaccurate symptom of his relative capacities.
Visual phenomena in the dreams of a blind subjectWheeler, Raymond H.
doi: 10.1037/h0065961pmid: N/A
The primary purpose of this paper is to report visual phenomena in the dream life of a blind subject after sixteen years of blindness. The subject whose dreams are herein reported was a student at the University of Oregon from 1915-1918. He was a trained introspector and at the time of this investigation he had had several courses in psychology, including laboratory. After a preliminary period of training in recording dreams he found it possible to describe the important details in note form, in American Braille, immediately upon waking. These notes were subsequently edited by the writer with the help of the reagent, great care being taken to omit all uncertain or otherwise questionable details.