Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/771

 A THEORY OF SOCIAL MOTIVES 757

The development of intimacy of association and the increase in the variety of goods are both in line with finer discernment of the feelings. One reason that, when in an expansive mood, one seeks above all else a companion is that a companion oflfers a greater variety of expansive stimuli than do things. Intimacy of association increases the variety of these stimuli. The multi- plication of goods likewise increases the variety of stimuli and the importance of this increase lies in the fact that the individual must choose between many kinds of goods and, in so doing, develops a power of feeling-discrimination. This is less true of the effect of intimacy of association because so many of the stimuli from this source cause instinctive reactions which do not permit of introspective analysis.

Having indicated some essential feeling and cognitive pro- cesses of personality, we have next to point out that while the individual is trying to realize a feeling oscillation farther and farther above the agitation point, he is at the same time develop- ing habits which make such self-realization less and less possible. Thus the young steelworkers, forceful in temperament, gradually develop an agitative disposition as the habitual overwork required by the employers creates a habitual impulse of submission. This habitual attitude develops into the belief^^ that their position of submission is hopeless. As they say, "What can labor do against capital?" The employers, on the other hand, develop a forceful disposition owing to their successful domination and their habitual impulse of domination becomes the belief that they dominate by right.^^

When a complex of habitualized impulses and beliefs has stamped in a certain disposition, this becomes the more or less conscious end of activity. Toward this end the individual not only consciously directs his way but subconsciously feels his

p. 141).
 * ^ Professor Giddings has emphasized this process {Elements of Sociology,

■" Sec testimony of Samuel Gompers before Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Senate Documents, VoL 16, s/th Congress, ist Session.