登陆注册
5229700000084

第84章 CONSCIOUSNESS AND ATTENTION(5)

In the case of momentary, and rapidly changing impressions, it is very brief; when, on the other hand, we concentrate on particular objects, it is longer. But, even when the attention is thus concentrated on objects of a constant character, a periodic interruption, due to the alternating relaxation and renewed concentration, always appears. This may be [p. 213] easily observed, even in the ordinary action of attention. But here, too, we gain more detailed information through experiments. If we allow a weak, continuous impression to act on a sense-organ and remove so far as possible all other stimuli, it will be observed when the attention is concentrated upon it that at certain, generally irregular, intervals the impression becomes for a short time indistinct, or even appears. to fade out entirely, only to appear again the next moment. This wavering begins, when the impressions are very weak, after 3-6"; when they are somewhat stronger, after 18-24".

These variations are readily distinguished from changes in the intensity of the impression itself, as may be easily demonstrated when, in the course of the experiment, the stimulus is purposely weakened or interrupted. There are essentially two characteristics that distinguish the subjective variations from those due to the changes in the stimulus. First, so long as the impression merely passes back and forth from the obscure field of consciousness to the inner fixation-point, there is always an idea of its continuance, just as there was in the experiments with momentary impressions an indefinite and obscure idea of the components which were not apperceived. Secondly, the oscillations of attention are attended by characteristic feelings and sensations which are entirely absent when the changes are objective. The characteristic feelings are those of expectation and activity, which regularly increase with the concentration of attention and decrease with its relaxation.

These will be discussed more fully later. The sensations come from the sense-organ affected, or at least emanate indirectly from it. They consist in sensations of tension in the tympanum, or in those of accommodation and convergence, etc. These two series of characteristics distinguish the concepts of the clearness and distinctness of psychical contents from that of the intensity of their sensational elements. A strong impression may be obscure and a weak one clear. The only causal relation between these two different concepts is to be found in the fact that in general the stronger impressions force themselves more upon the apperception. Whether or not they are really more clearly apperceived, depends on the other conditions present at the moment. The same is true of the advantages which those parts of a visual impression have that fall within the region of clearest vision.

As a rule, the fixated [p. 214] objects are also the ones apperceived.

But, in the experiments with momentary impressions described above, it can be shown that this interconnection may be broken up. This happens when we voluntarily concentrate our attention on a point in the eccentric regions of the field of vision. The object which is obscurely seen then becomes the one which is clearly ideated.

6b. In the same way that momentary spacial impressions are used to determine the scope of attention, we may use those which succeed one another in time, as a measure for the scope of consciousness. In this case we start with the assumption that a series of impressions can be united in a single unitary idea only when they are all together in consciousness, at least for one moment. If we listen to a series of hammer-strokes, it is obvious that while the present sound is apperceived, those immediately preceding it are still in the field of consciousness.

Their clearness diminishes, however, just in proportion to their distance in time from the apperceived impression, and those lying beyond a certain limit disappear from consciousness entirely. If we can determine this limit, we shall have a direct measure for the scope of consciousness under the special conditions given in the experiment. As a means for the determination of this limit we may use the ability to compare temporal ideas that follow one another immediately. So long as such an idea is present in consciousness as a single unitary whole, we can compare a succeeding idea with it and decide whether the two are alike or not. On the other hand, such a comparison is absolutely impossible when the preceding temporal series is not a unitary whole for consciousness, that is, when a part of its constituents have passed into unconsciousness before the end is reached. If, then, we present two series of strokes, such as can be produced, for example, by a metronome, one immediately after the other, marking of each series by a signal at its beginning, as, for example, with a bell stroke, we can judge directly from the impression, so long as they can be grasped as single units in consciousness, whether the, two series are alike or not. Of course, in such experiments counting of the strokes must be strictly avoided. judgments it may be noticed that the impression produced by the affective elements of the temporal before (p. 156). Every stroke in the second series is preceded [p. 215] by a feeling of expectation corresponding to the analogous stroke of the first series, so that every stroke too many or too few produces a feeling of disappointment attending the disturbance of the expectation.

同类推荐
  • The Filigree Ball

    The Filigree Ball

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说顶生王故事经

    佛说顶生王故事经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宗玄先生玄纲论

    宗玄先生玄纲论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 要略

    要略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说太子慕魄经

    佛说太子慕魄经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 好妈妈的100声叮咛:满分孩子满分妈妈

    好妈妈的100声叮咛:满分孩子满分妈妈

    她可能不是世界上最好的妈妈,但一定是世界上最懂孩子的妈妈,她关怀、抚慰、帮助、指导、扶持、温暖过的孩子数以万计,这些孩子和他们的父母称她“好妈妈”。好妈妈,多动人的称呼,从此成了她唯一的名字。她写下的可能不是世界上最美的文字,但一定是世界上最用心的文字。她用赞许、欣赏、肯定、提示、表扬、奖励的“好妈妈方式”对待自己和别人的孩子,这些孩子日后都成为学校、家庭和社会的有用之材,他们说,是好妈妈给了他们爱、希望和勇气。现在,越来越多的孩子和“长不大”的成年人正被她吸引,倾听她100声动情叮咛。再僵化的心灵也会在她的叮咛声中软得快要化掉。
  • 借尸还魂:夫人闹和离

    借尸还魂:夫人闹和离

    她一曲水袖舞名动天下,却换得皇姐的嫉妒与暗杀,抛尸枯井!借尸还魂后,她以另一名女子的肉身重生,势要报仇雪恨,将皇姐手刃于刀下。她乃当今丞相夫人,被小妾所害香消玉殒。再睁眼,她已非她,小妾心狠,她手辣,步步为营,屡战屡胜。她的锋芒毕露,引来了一群狼的偷窥……有一日,卫琉璃手拿一张纸,盯着苏如瑾,雄赳赳道,“姓苏的,老娘要和离!”他笑得张狂邪魅,将她禁锢在墙角,阴森森道,“带着我的种,准备和离去哪?”
  • 如何做好精益生产:JIT生产实务手册

    如何做好精益生产:JIT生产实务手册

    Just In Time(简称JIT)是丰田汽车公司首创的,在多品种、小批量生产条件下,高质量、低消耗地进行生产的一套高效、灵活的生产模式。此模式被美国理论界誉为“精益生产”。如今,以最低成本生产最高品质产品的JIT生产方式,已成全球企业公认的竞争撒手锏。JIT生产方式,通过对生产的精确计划与综合控制,通过看板管理、品质管理、设备管理和采购管理等措施,实现生产的同步化、柔性化、均衡化,从而实现生产效益的最大化。
  • 张岱集

    张岱集

    《张岱集(修订版)》为绝世散文家张岱的佳作选集,其内容包括《西湖十景》《蝶恋花(山水精神莺燕喜)》《葑门荷宕》《小青佛舍》《伍公祠》等。张岱散文广汲市民文化和通俗文艺的丰富养料,既雅且俗,亦庄亦谐,洋溢着十七世纪的时代气息,具有鲜明的个人特色。
  • 我的燃

    我的燃

    想我泱泱中华,和其庞大!尔等就跪等唱征服吧!!!
  • 俞生有你

    俞生有你

    初相见,她是懵懂入局的职场新人,怀揣梦想,无知亦无畏;他是传闻放荡不羁的纨绔富三代,讥诮地看着每个过路的人;从她入职第一天起,职场上的各种诡计、陷阱、谎言……轮番在她周围上演,得他指点,她一次次化险为夷,以为两人就此并肩商场;原来注定是场梦。多年不见,往事温柔,一幕幕缱绻浮现,她已恨他入骨。
  • 至此终年

    至此终年

    如果你遇到一个老师,曾是个外科医生。十三岁那年,他和你的母亲在同一间医院被抢救,却意外地,在六七年后,听不见声音,上不了手术台,拿起书,成为了一个普通的大学老师。如果,他和你一样,有个遗弃自己的母亲,不能说出口的父亲。如果,他是因为一场举国的救死扶伤,损失了该有的健康。如果,他爱你。你会舍得,不爱他吗?——得顾平生,平生已无憾。
  • 美国精神的封闭(人文与社会译丛)

    美国精神的封闭(人文与社会译丛)

    本书论证现代民主的起源,品评马基雅维利、霍布斯、洛克、卢梭等启蒙思想家的意图及其得失,考察当代美国心智与德国思想之间的联系,批判20世纪60年代以来美国社会盛行的虚无主义及文化相对主义,揭示出民主政治之下高等教育的危机。
  • 嘴角微扬之菇凉要坚强

    嘴角微扬之菇凉要坚强

    花儿一样年纪我们,本该无忧无虑的活这,奈何命运弄人,使得这世上有太多的情非得已。前路漫漫,我心茫茫。未来的路还得我自己走,毕竟,人,总要学着长大,不能事事依靠别人,他们不能陪你一生,伴你一世,。所以,我只能靠自己!可是,我该怎样续走未来的路呢?
  • 美国中小学最佳课外读本:写给孩子的世界艺术史

    美国中小学最佳课外读本:写给孩子的世界艺术史

    本书讲述的主要是世界艺术史.分为绘画、雕塑、建筑三个部分,不是简单的对艺术家和艺术作品的介绍,而是采用了讲故事的方式.通过对作者生存时代历史环境、人文环境、地理环境的介绍,以及作品创作过程的讲述,介绍艺术的发展历程。独特的写法使得故事生动有趣,引人入胜,能够引发孩子的兴趣。