Study of Association in Insanity | Page 8

and reaction and which
causes normal persons to respond in the majority of instances by
common reactions. And we speak of partial dissociation where there is
still an obvious, though weak and superficial, connection. Under this
heading we can differentiate four types:
*Non-specific Reactions* have already been defined; we distinguish
those in this class from those in the class of common reactions by
means of the frequency tables.
*Sound Reactions.*--This type requires no explanation; the main
difficulty is to decide what degree of sound similarity between stimulus
and reaction should be deemed sufficient for placing a reaction under
this heading. The total number of different sounds used in language
articulation is, of course, small, so that any two words are liable to
present considerable chance similarity. Some time ago we estimated the
average degree of sound similarity between stimulus words and
reaction words in a series of one hundred test records obtained from
normal persons; we found that on the average 14.53 per cent of the
sounds of the stimulus words were reproduced, in the same order, in the
reaction word. Our experience finally led us to adopt the following
general rule: A reaction is to be placed under this heading when fifty
per cent of the sounds of the shorter word of the pair are identical with
sounds of the longer word and are ranged in the same order.
Among sound reactions we occasionally find *neologisms*; for these a
separate heading is provided. Possibly their occurrence may be taken as
an indication of an exaggerated tendency to respond by sound
reactions.
*Word Compliments.*--Here we include any reaction which, added to
the stimulus word, forms a word, a proper name, or a compound word
in common use.
*Particles of Speech.*--Under this heading we include articles,
numerals, pronouns, auxiliary verbs, adverbs of time, place and degree,
conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections.
*Complete Dissociation.*--Here are included reactions which appear to
be entirely unrelated to the corresponding stimulus words; in the case
of such reactions the stimulus words seem to act, as Aschaffenburg has

pointed out, merely as signals for discharge. This subdivision contains
several types of reactions which seem to be dependent upon the
phenomenon of perseveration; it contains also the rather important type
of neologisms.
The phenomenon of *preservation* occurs in cases in which one may
observe an abnormal immobility of attention. To react normally to a
series of stimulus words requires on the part of the subject, in the first
place, a certain alertness in order that he may grasp quickly and clearly
the meaning of each word, and, in the second place, a prompt shifting
of the mind from one reaction to the next. When such mental mobility
is lacking the subject is liable to react not by a response adjusted to the
stimulus word, but either by repeating a previous stimulus or reaction,
or by giving a word associated to the preceding stimulus or reaction.
The names of the different types of reactions included under the
heading of perseveration are sufficiently descriptive; we shall here refer
only to those which require further definition.
*Association to Preceding Stimulus.*--Here is placed any reaction that
is shown by the frequency tables to be related to the stimulus preceding
the one in question. Seeming or even obvious relationship, if not
established by reference to the frequency tables, is disregarded. In the
tables, however, the combination may not exist in direct order but only
in reverse order, in which case the reaction is included here. The
following examples may serve as illustrations:
_thief--night_ _lion--pocket-book_
_Lion--pocket-book_ is not found in the frequency tables, and is,
therefore, an individual reaction; _thief--pocket-book_, however, is
found there; _pocket-book_ is, therefore, classed in this case as an
association to preceding stimulus.
_table--fork_ _dark--mutton_
_Dark--mutton_ is not found in the frequency tables; _table--mutton_ is
also not found there in the direct order, but is found in the reverse order,
viz.: _mutton--table; mutton_ is, therefore, classed in this case as an
association to preceding stimulus.
*Association to Preceding Reaction.*--If either the reaction in question
or the preceding reaction happens to be one of the stimulus words in
our list, and a relationship between the two be found to exist by
reference to the frequency tables--whether in direct or in reverse

order--the reaction in question is classed as an association to preceding
reaction. This is illustrated by the following examples:
_eating--table_ _mountain--floor_
_Mountain--floor_ is an individual reaction; _table--floor_
is found in the frequency tables; floor is, therefore, classed as an
association to preceding reaction.
_beautiful--flowers_ _window--red_
_Window--red_ is an individual reaction; _red--flowers_ is found in the
frequency tables; therefore, red is classed as an association to preceding
reaction.
In cases in which neither the reaction in question nor the preceding
reaction happens to be one of our stimulus words, but a relationship
between them