Reviews for The Mental State of Hystericals (Significant Contributions to the History of Psychology 1750...

The average rating for The Mental State of Hystericals (Significant Contributions to the History of Psychology 1750... based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-01-28 00:00:00 Ajsb Ajhjhjhjh I read the third edition of this book, published originally in 1875 (and reprinted in 2005 by Elibron Classics). The book’s title is “The Emotions and the Will,” but the book is more about the mind and its control over our affective life.* In Bain’s treatment of this subject, it was unclear how mental, volitional and affective components relate to each other. Feelings are divided into sensations and emotions, but that distinction is not always clear. Sensations are pleasure and pain reactions, but he also makes references to pleasure and pain as that “which we call emotional.” Elsewhere, he refers to primary emotions as reflexive, which are like sensations, as opposed to secondary emotions that have a mental component. If I understand Bain correctly, the will (discussed in Part 2), is about the mind’s control over the emotions. For Bain, the key point about the will is that it moves us from reactors, which is characteristic of children and primitive cultures, to sophisticated, pro-active beings who are under full executive control where we restrict ourselves in deference to some higher ideal or broader interest.** Bain’s treatment of mind and its relationship with the affective life probably reflects Western rationalism, beginning with Plato (body bad, mind good). This way of seeing the world, though, begs the larger question about how we formulate the ideals that direct behavior. What should we choose, why do we choose it, and why are we motivated to follow it? An answer may be buried in Bain’s own writing. All animal being from the beginning of life, he says, is defined in terms of good (pleasure) and bad (pain). We too seek pleasure and defend against pain. Absolute value (good/bad) is lodged in our biology. It’s self-interest and ultimately it’s survival. Mind then tells us how to promote and protect our self-interest in a larger social context where others are doing the same. It tells us that we must respect the freedom of others to satisfy their interest if we are to satisfy our own. It is the golden rule and Kant’s categorical imperative turned into a hypothetical imperative. Without anchoring the will in evolutionary self-interest,*** the response to any plea to follow the golden rule or Kant’s ethical imperative (treat others as an end as well as a means) is, “Why?” There has to be a motive force to release the will’s energy. That motivation lies in our self-interest. *The first sentence in this long and detailed book states: “Mind is distinguished by the three attributes or properties, named Feeling, Volition and Intellect.” **As we become sophisticated and cultured adults, Bain believes sympathy overcomes its diametric opposite, selfishness. He writes that, "Now the direct counteractive of selfishness is Sympathy; a power very variously manifested in individuals, and in races; being deficient in the lowest tribes of mankind, and increasing with mental endowment generally. Advancement in morality follows advancement in sympathy; no other factor is essential; although increased intelligence or knowledge is an extremely valuable adjunct." Bain thus presumes that education and culture cultivates sympathy, not selfishness, even though history and everyday experiences suggest this is not the case. ***The will is released energy that activates emotions toward or against objects (Bain’s pleasure and pain, respectively) that have a bearing on survival and self interest.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-06-15 00:00:00 Eko Hardjo Read