登陆注册
5384300000130

第130章

As Mr.Darwin observes, a real dread of definite consequences may enter into this > stage-fright' and complicate the shyness.Even so our shyness before an important personage may be complicated by what Professor Bain calls 'servile terror,' based on representation of definite dangers if we fail to please.But both stage-fright and servile terror may exist with the most indefinite apprehensions of danger, and, in fact, when our reason tells us there is no occasion for alarm.We must, therefore, admit a certain amount of purely instinctive perturbation and constraint, clue to the consciousness that we have become objects for other people's eyes.Mr.Darwin goes on to say: "Shyness comes on at a very early age.In one of my own children, two years and three months old, I saw a trace of what certainly appeared to be shyness directed toward myself, after an absence from home of only a week." Every parent has noticed the same sort of thing.Considering the despotic powers of rulers in savage tribes, respect and awe must, from time immemorial, have been emotions excited by certain individuals; and stage-fright servile terror, and shyness, must have had as copious opportunities for exercise as at the present time.Whether these impulses could ever have been useful, and selected for usefulness, is a question which, it would seem, can only be answered in the negative.Apparently they are pure hindrances, like fainting at sight of blood or disease, sea-sickness, a dizzy head on high places, and certain squeamishnesses of æsthetic taste.They are incidental emotions, in spite of which we get along.But they seem to play an important part in the production of two other propensities, about the instinctive character of which a good deal of controversy has prevailed.I refer to cleanliness and modesty, to which we must proceed, but not before Tire have said a word about another impulse closely allied to shyness.I mean -- Secretiveness , which, although often due to intelligent calculation and the dread of betraying our interests in some more or less definitely foreseen way, is quite as often a blind propensity, serving no useful purpose, and is so stubborn and ineradicable a part of the character as fully to deserve a place among the instincts.Its natural stimuli are unfamiliar human beings, especially those whom we respect.Its reactions are the arrest of whatever we are saying or doing when such strangers draw nigh, coupled often with the pretense that we were not saying or doing that thing, but possibly something different.Often there is added to this a disposition to mendacity when asked to give an account of ourselves.

With many persons the first impulse, when the door-bell rings, or a visitor is suddenly announced, is to scuttle out of the room, so as not to be 'caught.' When a person at whom we have been looking becomes aware of us, our immediate impulse may be to look the other way, end pretend we have not seen him.Many friends have confessed tome that this is a frequent phenomenon with them in meeting acquaintances in the street, especially unfamiliar ones.The bow is a secondary correction of the primary feint that we do not see the other person.Probably most readers will recognize in themselves, at least, the start , the nascent disposition, on many occasions, to act in each and all of these several ways.That the 'start' is neutralized by second thought proves it to come from a, deeper region than thought.There is unquestionably a native impulse in every one to conceal love-affairs, and the acquired impulse to conceal pecuniary affairs seems in many to be almost equally strong.It is to be noted that even where a given habit of concealment is reflective and deliberate, its motive is far less often definite prudence than a vague aversion to have one's sanctity invaded and one's personal concerns fingered and turned over by other people.Thus, some persons will never leave anything with their name written on it, where others may pick it up-even in the woods;

an old envelope must not be thrown on the ground.Many cut all the leaves of a book of which they may be reading a single chapter, so that no one shall know which one they have singled out, and all this with no definite notion of harm.The impulse to conceal is more apt to be provoked by superiors than by equals or inferiors.How differently do boys talk together when their parents are not by! Servants see more of their masters'

characters than masters of servants'. Where we conceal from our equals and familiars, there is probably always a definite element of prudential prevision involved.Collective secrecy, mystery, enters into the emotional interest of many games, and is one of the elements of the importance men attach to freemasonries of various sorts, being delightful apart from any end.

Cleanliness.Seeing how very filthy savages and exceptional individuals among civilized people may be, philosophers have doubted whether any genuine instinct of cleanliness exists, and whether education and habit be not responsible for whatever amount of it is found.Were it an instinct, its stimulus would be dirt, and its characteristic reaction the shrinking from contact therewith, and the cleaning of it away after contact had occurred.

Now, if some animals are cleanly, men may be so, and there can be no doubt that some kinds of matter are natively repugnant, both to sight, touch, and smell -- excrementitious and putrid things, blood, pus, entrails, and diseased tissues, for example.It is true that the shrinking from contact with these things may be inhibited very easily, as by a medical education;

同类推荐
  • 佛说目连所问经

    佛说目连所问经

    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。
  • 临汉隐居诗话

    临汉隐居诗话

    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。
  • 十住毗婆沙论

    十住毗婆沙论

    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。
  • 金刚经科仪

    金刚经科仪

    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。
  • 鲲瀛日记

    鲲瀛日记

    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
  • 瑶石山人稿

    瑶石山人稿

    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。
  • 匡谬正俗

    匡谬正俗

    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。
  • 题侯仙亭

    题侯仙亭

    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。
  • 极品全能狂医

    极品全能狂医

    一根金针,能救天下人。一根银针,可杀一切敌。逆天医道,惊世战武,揭开一个不一样的世界。
  • 大乘百福相经

    大乘百福相经

    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。
  • 广黄帝本行记

    广黄帝本行记

    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。
  • 冥王有令之夫人速速回

    冥王有令之夫人速速回

    【正经简介】浮生一梦的楼主银灵子,据说是个怪人,长得比女人还漂亮,却一天到晚笼着一身黑衣。银灵子:老娘本来就是女人,有颜任性,不服?进军队,闯地府,踏魂殿,所向披靡,一往无前。~冥王府的阎罗神荼,据说温润如玉,对谁都是言笑晏晏,却唯独视女人为猛虎。神荼:看不得本尊撩“男人”么,呵呵,要不要来地府喝杯茶?掌魑魅魍魉,判生死名簿,阴阳间翻手云覆手雨。~江城少帅郁垒,据说冷酷无情,除了形影不离的贴身秘书,没人入的了他的眼。郁垒:想入我的眼?你有我家凌胤的一根脚指头好看么?五感不通,无痛无觉,唯一能给点反应的不过一个“他”。~【有爱剧场】身份未明前,银灵子整天被劫持,不厌其烦地追问一个问题。郁垒:(面无表情)你到底爱他还是爱我?银灵子:你神经病啊。神荼:(神情纠结)你爱他多一些,还是爱我多一些?银灵子:出门左拐,地府精神病院欢迎你。~身份大白后,银灵子整天被威胁,不择手段地想把她戳上私有印记。神荼:乖宝儿,一日之计在于夜,咱们赶紧洗洗睡吧银灵子:(强行转移话题)冥王不都是夜班吗?你不上班,跑我这来干嘛?郁垒:(三下五除二打横抱起)乖宝儿,赶紧起床,陪我去晨训!银灵子:训了一晚,还不够?郁垒:那不是我!!银灵子:喂,妖妖铃吗?这里有个神经病~
  • 那校草真帅2恶魔校草天使心

    那校草真帅2恶魔校草天使心

    夏天瑜原本是居住在一个海边渔村不起眼的女生,直到有一天她在海边救了一个男生,从此她的生活全所未有的体验接踵而至。一所全国闻名的贵族学院,一封神秘的入学通知书…是曾经救过的那个男生,发来的吗?而他又是谁呢?这是一个海的王子爱上泡沫美人鱼的故事…
  • 我家王爷很呆萌

    我家王爷很呆萌

    【新文《快穿女配:反派,狠狠撩》已发布,求支持(*^ω^*)】倾城女子红衫妖娆,斜倚门槛,妩媚多姿。 “爷,今天天气不错,咱们来洞房吧!”一双大眼眨呀眨,不遗余力的放电。 冰山王爷满是疑惑,很是呆萌:“王妃,你不冷吗?” 门外,一尺厚的雪努力找着存在感。 …… 豪华的浴室里雾气升腾,仙气漫漫,一朵清丽芙蓉出水来。 “爷,来洗鸳鸯浴吧!” 话音刚落,一道白光闪过,原来在浴池里的极品美男已经立于浴池边,捂的严严实实的。 美男眉头微皱,很是不赞同:“王妃,做女人,不可以这么色的!” ……总之,这就是俏皮王妃努力扑倒冰山王爷的艰难之旅,温馨有爱,欢迎来看
  • 养胃食谱

    养胃食谱

    《美食天下(第2辑):养胃食谱》详细讲解了日常生活中最常用的养胃食物及其营养成分、养生功效、烹调应用、搭配宜忌,及以这些食物为主料烹制的家常幕肴。这些菜肴均介绍了详细的制作方法、食用方法及功效,让您既享受到美味,又增加了营养,书中还阐述了胃的生理结构和功能,以及养胃原则和饮食调理方法,帮助您全方位呵护您的胃健康。