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Psychological Investigations   235


up who might repeat my experiments. Therefore one sees clearly, and I may say one can see measurably bow impossible it is in a general way for two grown-up persons to lay their minds side by side together in perfect accord. The same sentence cannot produce precisely the same effect on both, and the first quick impressions that any given word in it may convey, will differ widely in the two minds." (p. 157.)

Galton was able in 124 cases of associatd ideas to determine the period of life at which they became associated with' the word. His results may be thus abstracted


Associations formed at following periods of Life.

 
 

No.

Percentages

 

Total

Four times

Three times

Twice

Once

Boyhood and Youth ...

48

39

10

9

7

13

Subsequent Manhood ...

57

46

8

7

5

26

Quite Recent Events ...

19

15

0

3

1

11

Total ...

124

100

18

19

13

50

The greater fixity of the earlier associations is clear as well as the fact that half the associations date from the period of life before leaving college. Associations are largely fixed in childhood and adolescence, but I do not think it necessarily follows as Galton seems to suggest that early education has a large effect in fixing our associations. The result may flow from mental plasticity, or the unstocked condition of the mental storehouse of youth.

Lastly Galton divides the original words into three classes, and the associated ideas into four.

The original words

(i) were capable of mental images, as `abbey,' `aborigines,' `abyss.' (ii) represented actions or states of mind as `abasement,' `abhorrence,' `ablution.'

(iii) formed more abstract notions as `aptness,' `ability,' `abnormal.'

 

N .

Nature of Words

Sense

imagery

Histrionic

Verbal Associations

Per

cent.

Persons

Phrases and Quotations

26

Capable of Mental Images

43

11

30

16

100

20

Actions or States of Mind

32

33

13

22

100

29

Abstract Notions    

22

25

16

37

100

The associated ideas were

(a) Sense imagery, chiefly visual.

(b) Histrionic, the mind visualised itself acting a part. (c) Merely verbal associations as names of persons. (d) Verbal associations as in phrases and quotations.

Galton gives the following analysis

Per cent. nature of Associated Ideas.

30-2