Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/679

 PROLEGOMENA TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 659

of social growth and functioning, which are essentially psy- chical and subjective, before we can proceed to examine intelli- gently the relations of society to nature.

Now, if sociology be conceived as the complete interpreta- tion of society, as the bringing-to-bear of all knowledge upon the problems of societary growth, structure, and function to effect their solution, it will be a synthesis of the objective with the subjective interpretation of society. In this synthesis the subjective interpretation of the social process, afforded by indi- vidual and social psychology, becomes progressively important as we pass from the lower to the higher stages of social develop- ment. Thus an objective or biological interpretation of society may seemingly answer very well for its primitive stages, but it is felt to be entirely inadequate for the interpretation of present social life with its preponderance of the psychic factor. Again, as we pass from the lower to the higher stages of society, social psychology becomes increasingly important for the interpreta- tion of the social life. As social groups become more highly unified and organized, that is, " individualized," they act more and more as "individuals," and group life-processes become more definite and coherent. Corresponding to these group life- processes are psychical processes, which, though manifested in individuals, may properly be regarded as the expression of group- life. They represent the coordination and organization of the activities of group-life on its inner side. They not only func- tion to secure those inner and outer adjustments necessary to the continuance of group-life, but they embody in themselves all those emotional and volitional attitudes, all those ways of think- ing, feeling, and acting, which are favorable to the persistence solidarity, and growth of the group. They hand down in unbroken tradition the ideas, valuations, and methods which have been to the group of life-saving advantage. Thus group psy- chical processes become the great vehicle of progress; and group or social psychology, rather than individual psychology, must interpret the general method or mechanism of that pro- gress. If this reasoning be substantially correct — and in a later article evidence will be adduced to show that it is correct — the