Experimental Study of Associative Processes 29 



no higher qualification in the observer than a pair of eyes. 

 The literature of animal psychology shows so uniformly and 

 often so sadly the influence of the personal equation that 

 any method which can partially eliminate it deserves a trial. 



Furthermore, although the associations formed are such 

 as could not have been previously experienced or provided 

 for by heredity, they are still not too remote from the ani- 

 mal's ordinary course of life. They mean simply the con- 

 nection of a certain act with a certain situation and resultant 

 pleasure, and this general type of association is found 

 throughout the animal's life normally. The muscular 

 movements required are all such as might often be required 

 of the animal. And yet it will be noted that the acts re- 

 quired are nearly enough like the acts of the anecdotes to 

 enable one to compare the results of experiment by this 

 method with the work of the anecdote school. Finally, it 

 may be noticed that the method lends itself readily to ex- 

 periments on imitation. 



We may now start in with the description of the apparatus 

 and of the behavior of the animals. 1 



DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS 



The shape and general apparatus of the boxes which were 

 used for the cats is shown by the accompanying drawing of 

 box K. Unless special figures are given, it should be under- 

 stood that each box is approximately 20 inches long, by 15 

 broad, by 12 high. Except where mention is made to the 

 contrary, the door was pulled open by a weight attached to a 



1 The experiments now to be described were for the most part made in the 

 Psychological Laboratory of Columbia University during the year 'gy-'gS, 

 but a few of them were made in connection with a general preliminary 

 investigation of animal psychology undertaken at Harvard University in 

 the previous year. 



