Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/477

 PRESENT PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 461

7. Organs are instituted to promote a completer socialization of the members of the group. By means of festivals, public wor- ship, authoritative doctrines, education, and the like, it is sought to realize in all, not merely specific sentiments, but a certain ideal of life.

Whatever the intermediate shadings, these seem to be the pri- mary colors in the moral spectrum that leads from personal ego to collective ego, from atomism to a corporate consciousness that makes men feel they exist solely for their tribe, state, church, or order ; and willing not only to die, but, what is more, to live for it. Now, after the social psychologist has determined the note- worthy levels in the emergence of a group-individuality, and has set forth their distinguishing characteristics, the yet more difficult task presents itself of ascertaining the causes and conditions of each of these phases of group-evolution. Some of these factors will be morphological, pertaining to the constitution and form of the group. For example, are the persons in the group few or many, alike or dissimilar, equal or graded, assembled or dispersed, assembled by chance or by appointment ? Do the members know or meet with one another? Are their relations direct or chiefly indirect ? Is their association casual or intentional, open or close, temporary or permanent, public or secret, for general ends or for a specific end ? How do executive centers arise? Are they simple or compound? Are the power-holders movable or irremovable, absolute or responsible, chosen for a term or for life, limited or unlimited in their powers ?

The make-up of the group is, nevertheless, not the only thing that determines what stage of unity it shall reach. How definite are its guiding ideas or ideals ? How important are the purposes the group undertakes to realize? Is there any other way of realiz- ing them than by collective action ? What sacrifices are required ? How much energy is lost through friction ? To what extent does organization chafe the organized? How far is socialization resisted by influences that fortify personal individuality? How far is it qualified by a dominant society? Is it limited by rival groupings, dividing the allegiance of its members? How com- plete is the assimilation possible among them? How does time