Bodily changes in pain, hunger, fear, and rage : $b an account of recent researches into the function of emotional excitementCannon, Walter B. (Walter Bradford)
Science
Bodily changes in pain, hunger, fear, and rage : $b an account of recent researches into the function of emotional excitement
Cannon, Walter B. (Walter Bradford)
Emotions; Mental health; Mind and body
It is noteworthy that in all the instances thus far cited--in the
great games, in dancing, and in fighting--two factors are present
that are well known to have an augmenting effect both in the full
development of emotions and in the performance of unusual muscular
labors. One of these is the crowd of witnesses or participants, who
contribute the “mob spirit” that tends to carry the actions of the
individual far beyond the limits set by any personal considerations
or prudencies. The other is the influence of music. As Darwin long
ago indicated, music has a wonderful power of recalling in a vague
and indefinite manner strong emotions which have been felt by our
ancestors in long-past ages. Especially is this true of martial
music. For the grim purposes of war the reed and the lute are
grotesquely ill-suited; to rouse men to action strident brass and
the jarring instruments of percussion are used in full force. The
influence of martial music on some persons is so profound as to
cause the muscles to tremble and tears to come to the eyes--both
indications of the deep stirring of emotional responses in the body.
And when deeds of fortitude and fierce exertion are to be performed
the effectiveness of such music in rousing the aggressive emotions
has long been recognized. The Romans charged their foes amid the
blasts of trumpets and horns. The ancient Germans rushed to battle,
their forces spurred by the sounds of drums, flutes, cymbals and
clarions. There is a tradition that the Hungarian troops are the
worst in Europe, until their bands begin to play--then they are the
best! The late General Linevitch is quoted as saying: “Music is one
of the most vital ammunitions of the Russian army. Without music a
Russian soldier would be dull, cowardly, brutal and inefficient.
From music he absorbs a magic power of endurance, and forgets the
sufferings and mortality. It is a divine dynamite.” And Napoleon
is said to have testified that the weird and barbaric tunes of the
Cossack regiments infuriated them to such rage that they wiped out
the cream of his army.[169] A careful consideration of the use of
martial music in warfare would perhaps bring further interesting
evidence that its function is to reënforce the bodily changes that
attend the belligerent emotions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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