The Psychology of the EmotionsRibot, Th. (Théodule)
Science
The Psychology of the Emotions
Ribot, Th. (Théodule)
Emotions
This is followed by a minute description of the emotions already
enumerated, and their physical symptoms, for which I refer the
reader to the work itself. If we generalise, we shall see that the
phenomena described can be classed in two groups—(1) modifications
of muscular innervation: it diminishes in fear or sorrow, but
increases in joy, anger, impatience; (2) vaso-motor modifications:
constriction in fear and sadness, dilatation in joy and anger. Are
these two groups of equal importance?—are they both primary? or is
one subordinated to the other? As far as the actual state of our
knowledge permits us to answer the question, says Lange, the
vascular changes must be assumed as primary, since the slightest
circulatory variations profoundly modify the functions of the brain
and spinal marrow.
What is the significance of all this as regards the emotions?
According to the current psychology, an emotional state subjected to
analysis yields the following result:—(1) an intellectual state,
perception, or idea, as a starting-point (_e.g._, a piece of bad
news, a terrifying apparition, an injury received); (2) a state of
feeling—the emotion: sorrow, anger, fear; (3) the organic states and
movements resulting from this emotion. But the second point—the
emotion conceived as such—is only an abstract entity, a mere
hypothesis. Now, to be admissible, a hypothesis ought to explain all
the facts and be necessary to their explanation. This is not the
case here. We find, both in normal and in pathological life,
emotions which are derived from no ideas, but, on the contrary,
engender them: wine gives rise to joy, alcohol to courage;
ipecacuanha causes a depression akin to fear, haschisch produces
exaltation, and shower-baths calm it. Asylums are full of patients
whose irritability, melancholy, and anguish are “causeless”—_i.e._,
result from no perception or image. Here, we seize the true cause at
its source; it lies in the physical influences. Let us therefore get
rid of the useless hypothesis of a psychic entity called emotion,
supposed to be intercalated between the perception or idea, and the
physiological occurrences. Reversing the order admitted by common
sense, we say: First an intellectual state, then organic and motor
disturbances, and then the consciousness of these disturbances,
which is the psychic state we call emotion.
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