Daniel Putnam

A Text-Book of Psychology for Secondary Schools Daniel Putnam

Publisher Marketing: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X. THE EMOTIONS. What the Emotions are. Emotions are feelings which spring up in the soul spontaneously when certain appropriate conditions are presented. They differ from the sensations previously considered in that they are not merely sensuous; they differ from the sentiments in that they are not rational; that is, they do not result from a process of reasoning, or from any action of the judgment. They are not irrational; that is, they are not, when moderate, opposed to reason, but are simply non-rational. Emotions greatly intensified become passions, of which violent anger is an example. In this they are irrational, urging one on to conduct of the most unreasonable character, regardless of consequences. We see a person suffering extreme pain, and the emotion of pity springs up; we see some act of injustice or cruelty perpetrated, and the feeling of indignation is felt; insulting words are addressed to us, and the feeling of resentment or anger immediately appears. These are all illustrations of emotion. The Animals. The lower animals evidently experience many of the emotions, but it is doubtful if they are capable of experiencing the sentiments, unless it be the sentiment of gratitude and possibly one or two others. Differences in Susceptibility to Emotions. It is a matter of common observation that some persons are much more susceptible to emotions than others. Something of this difference may be set down to the credit of the habit of self-control acquired by continued effort, but undoubtedly much depends upon the original constitution of the individual. Certain differences are found in the physical and mental make-up of men, which render some much less susceptible than others. The Temperament. Among these differences one of the most influenti...