Cultivated motor automatism; a study of character in its relation to attention.

Abstract

Studied the tendency to motor automatism on 41 males and 50 females, using a planchette suggested by Delabarre, which responded to very slight movements. This was used to teach the Ss rhythmical movements under distraction. Results categorized the Ss as: (1) Type 1 - nervous, high-strong, very imaginative, had the capacity to be easily roused and intensely interested, had to have their attention distracted for the experiment to succeed, were more distracted in fatigue conditions, and therefore exhibited more automatism; and (2) Type 2 - lacked of power of attention, extremely suggestible, great tendency to automatic movement, had an increased suggestibility in fatigue conditions, and less vigor in response. Concluded that Type 2 Ss were similar to profiles described in books on hysteria; and Type 1 Ss had good physical condition and blood supply, while Type 2 Ss had sluggish circulation and poor fatigue response. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)