Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/558

 542 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

not to excite undue interest. The mind being off of the self and the experiment, the curve was usually even. Near the close of this the stimulus for pain was given. For this was used a sharp pinprick in the back of the neck. The change here was usually a sharp rise or fall, and the return to the normal curve was more quickly made than in surprise. The next curve was the reading-aloud curve. This was gi\'en for the purpose of noting the difference between the various methods of reading. Note was taken of the rapidity, monotony, attention to pauses, etc. This test also served to relieve any tension still existing in the subject. The fourth curve was related to the effect of interest. In the first half the subject was required to read the ordinary crop report found in the daily paper; in the second half she was given a graphic account of the rebellion of two criminals in prison. The former was dull to her, the latter interesting. The changes here were not so marked, partly, I believe, because the crop report was too dull, and her attention wandered to more interesting things. In the last curve the subject was allowed to think of whatever she chose, until I suggested the train of a stimu- lus thought. I gave first one for joy, suggesting that she think of being released. This almost never failed, the curves being deeper and wider. The second was for disgrace, and for this I used the fact of her being in such an institution and its effect upon relatives and friends. This did not secure so marked a response as did the first, but here I secured three genuine crying curves. Such curves as these, as well as those for laughter, sighing, etc., must come unexpectedly and voluntarily, and can- not be secured for the asking. The last was that for fear. For this I used a simple device. Placing a plethysmograph near the temple, I said I intended applying an electric current ; that if they would not move or speak the pain would be slight. The fear of electricty is very great, and this never failed. My great difficulty was in keeping them quiet, so excessive was this fear. Two marked changes were observable : either the curve became almost a straight line, as when they held their breath, or it became ragged and of varying amplitude, as when they became nervous through fear.