Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/696

 THE SOCIOLOGY OF CONFLICT. 1 II.

OUR discussion thus far has found evidence among the parties in conflict of many kinds of unification ; minglings of antithesis and synthesis; the erection of the one above the other; recip- rocal limitations as well as promotions. Parallel with this is to be found the further sociological significance of struggle ; namely, the influence which it exercises, not upon the relation of the parties to each bther, but rather upon the inner structure of each party. Daily experience shows how easily a conflict between two individuals changes the individual himself. V Entirely apart from its distorting or purifying, weakening or strengthening, consequences for the individual, the change occurs through the preliminary conditions w'hich struggle imposes. There must be inner alterations and adaptations demanded by the exigencies of conflict. The German language affords a peculiarly apposite and simple formula for these immanent alterations. The cham- pion must "pull himself together;" 2 that is, all his energies must be concentrated upon a single point at once, in order that at any moment they may be exerted in the direction demanded. In peace he may allow himself more latitude; 3 that is, he may indulge the individual energy and interests of his nature which may take courses in various directions and somewhat independ- ently of each other. In times of attack and defense, however, the consequence of this indulgence would be a waste of energy through counter efforts of the different impulses, and a loss of time through the necessity of assembling and organizing them in each instance. In such cases, therefore, the whole man must assume the form of concentration as his essential line of battle and means of defense. Conduct formally the same is demanded

1 Translated by A. W. SMALL.

of sich zusammennehmen.
 * The phrase may be pardoned, in this connection, as the most expressive rendering

3 More aptly, "let himself go": sich gehen lassen.

672