[Transcriber's notes]
This text is derived from an unedited version in the Internet Archive.
Page numbers are indicated by numbers enclosed in curly braces, e.g. {99}. They have been located where page breaks occurred in the original book.
Labels and text in a figure that are not mentioned in the figure description are included as a comma separated list, as in "(Figure text: cochlea, vestibule, 3 Canals)".
Lengthy footnotes and quotations are indented.
Obvious misspellings and typos are corrected but inconsistent spelling is not resolved, as in coordinate and coördinate.
Here are the appearances of the heading levels.
Here are the definitions of some unfamiliar words (to me).
amour propre: self-esteem; self-respect.
esprit de corps: camaraderie, bonding, solidarity, fellowship.
motility (motile): moving or capable of moving spontaneously.
unwonted: unusual.
[End Transcribers's notes]
BY
ROBERT S. WOODWORTH, Ph. D.
Professor of Psychology in Columbia University
NEW YORK
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
1921
COPYRIGHT, 1921
BY
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
Printed in the U.S.A.
A few words to the reader are in order. In the first place, somethinglike an apology is due for the free way in which the author has drawnupon the original work of many fellow-psychologists, without anymention of their names. This is practically unavoidable in a bookintended for the beginner, but the reader may well be informed of thefact, and cautioned not to credit the content of the book to thewriter of it. The author's task has been that of selecting from thelarge mass of psychological information now available, much of it new,whatever seemed most suitable for introducing the subject to thereader. The book aims to represent the present state of a very activescience.
Should the book appear unduly long in prospect, the longest and mostdetailed chapter, that on Sensation, might perfectly well be omitted,on the first reading, without appreciably disturbing the continuity ofthe rest.
On the other hand should any reader desire to make this text the basisof a more extensive course of reading, the lists of referencesappended to the several chapters will prove of service. The books andarticles there cited will be found interesting and not too technicalin style.
Much advantage can be derived from the use of the "Exercises". Thetext, at the best, but provides raw material. Each student's finishedproduct must be of his own making. The exercises afford opportunityfor the student to work over the material and make it his own.
A first or preliminary edition of this book, in mimeographed sheets,was in use for two years in introductory classes conducted by theauthor and his colleagues, and was subjected to exceedingly helpfulcriticism from both teachers and students. The revision of thatearlier edition into the present form has been very much of acoöperative enterprise, and so many have coöperated that room couldscarcely be found for all their names. Professor A. T. Poffenberger,Dr. Clara F. Chassell, Dr. Georgina I. Gates, Mr. Gardner Murphy, Mr.Harold E. Jones and Mr. Paul S. Achilles have given me the advantageof their class-room experience with the mimeographed book. Dr.Christine Ladd-Franklin has very carefully gone over with me thepassages dealing with color vision and with reasoning.