Page:Psychology and preaching.djvu/90

 72 PSYCHOLOGY AND PREACHING

emotion is in essence our consciousness of the conflict between the several reactions which the stimulus tends to call forth. The conflict subsides only when the two or more groups of nascently aroused co-ordinations are in some way unified and brought into a larger and more inclusive co-ordination. . . . The point we here make is that we should not become so vividly aware of the movement were there not a tendency to inhibit them, exercised by tendencies to make other movements. . . . The emotion is a state of tension, and this fact is all too likely to be submerged from notice in our disposition to emphasize the objective basis of our emotion rather than the mental experience in which it is apprehended.&quot;

This matter will become clearer if we consider certain facts in the constitution of our bodies. The several organs of the body fall into two groups broadly distinguished as to their general functions. I. There is a group of organs the general function of which is to effect adjustments between the organism and the external environment. 2. There is a group which have for their function the carrying on of cer tain vital processes within the body, such as respiration, digestion, circulation of the blood and secretion. The first group falls into two distinct classes. ( I ) There are certain parts of the organism which are adapted to the purpose of apprising us of the qualities and location of the objects with which we have to do in the environment. Under this head come the several senses the organs of sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell. (2) There are certain parts which are adapted to act upon the objects of the external environment, either for the purpose of modifying them or changing the relations of the body to them. Among these organs are the legs and feet, the arms and hands. To this class belong also the organs of mastication, and in it also may be included the vocal organs and the facial muscles.

Now fix attention upon these two divisions of the first group. When through any of the senses the organism re ceives a stimulus and the impulse which the stimulus excites

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