Study of Association in Insanity | Page 8

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 may be judged to exist without considerable doubt, the reaction in question is also classed here. Example:
_priest--father_ _ocean--mother_
_Ocean--mother_ is an individual reaction; neither the word father nor the word mother is among our stimulus words; but the association between the words father and mother may be judged to exist without considerable doubt; therefore, in this case mother is classed as an association to preceding reaction.
In such cases as this personal equation must necessarily come into play; comparative uniformity of judgment may, however, be attained by systematically excluding any reaction the relationship of which to the preceding reaction is subject to any considerable doubt and by placing any such reaction in the unclassified group.
*Repetition of Previous Stimulus.*--Here we place any reaction which is a repetition of any previous stimulus from amongst the ten next preceding, at the same time placing *repetition of preceding stimulus* under a separate heading.
*Neologisms.*--Here we place the newly coined words, so commonly given by the insane, excepting such as possess a sound relationship to the stimulus