The psychology of alcoholism / by George B. Cutten.

  • George Barton Cutten
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The psychology of alcoholism / by George B. Cutten. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    100/388 page 76
    Of course, the alphabet we learned then, and other similar things which are frequently repeated, are never forgotten; but here specific experiences are referred to. We have some cases, though, of events in the life of children under two years of age being remembered. ‘These recollections were not produced spontaneously, but were recognized when experienced again.} The reason for the meagreness of babyhood memories is probably because dynamic associations are not firmly established,? and the mental material is in a chaotic state; but just as soon as there is a sufficiently organized basis for associations, then the time for acquiring has come, and the ten to twenty years following .babyhood is the best period for obtaining knowledge, as all readily recognize. The reasons for this are manifold. In children the cerebral cells are flabby, greyish, and flexible. The sensorial excitement must therefore make an impression upon them more readily, since it finds them in the state of vacuity when they will respond easily and quickly. It thus takes much less to impress a child than an older person; therefore little things in childhood make a stronger impression and more things are retained. Neither is there the struggle between the different impressions that there is in later years, for there are fewer things to distract the attention. The number of associations is much less, so that the last event is connected with more of the preceding, each element in the experience being incorporated into the general association. When later in life the groups of associations are numerous, the event must be con- nected only with its appropriate groups, and hence is 1 See L. Waldstein, Zhe Subconscious Self, pp. 64f., for case of Ifelen Keller; Dr. Abercrombie, /ugzdtries Concerning the Intellectual Lowers, p. 120, concerning case of dying mother and infant daughter ; and W. B. Carpenter, AZen/al Physiology, pp. 430°., for the case of Rev. S. Hansard. G. T. Ladd, Oudlines of Descriptive Psychology, p. 230. J. Luys, The Brain, p. 159. 0 Ww
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