THE EXCESS-VALUE IN BEHAVIOUR 157 



the survival to the phase of reproductive maturity of a population 

 adjusted in density to the natural productivity of a region. In 

 human populations, of course, invention has enormously increased 

 both productivity and density, but there is a limit in all cases. 

 Beyond this limit there is over-population, which is the result, 

 not only of excess-value of reproduction but also of self-preserva- 

 tion as it is expressed in preventive medicine, public sanitation, 

 *' safety first," etc. The effect of excess- value of essential 

 reproduction is minimized by birth-control (artificial and natural), 

 though along with this non-essential reproductive behaviour 

 may continue to exhibit enormous excess- value. The manifesta- 

 tions, in man, of excess-value of the urge to self-preservation 

 are illustrated by : 



The elixir of life ; sex-gland therapy ; Swift's monstrous 

 fable of the Struldbrugs, etc. 



Shelter. The elaboration of the burrow, nest, hive, etc., in 

 the lower animals ; the humanly constructed house, palace, etc. 

 Here there is obviously enormous excess of the essential con- 

 ditions of shelter from inclement nature. 



Dress. Clothing is essentially protection against inclement 

 nature, but even among savage peoples the protection receives 

 enormous over-elaboration and ornamentation — far in excess of 

 utility. 



Weapons. The damascening of a sword-blade or the jewelling 

 of the hih. 



Transport. The restaurants, ball-rooms and swimming baths 

 of an ocean-liner. 



Language y and writing, etc. '' Culture " in general ; the 

 " refined voice," exclusive accent, etc. And so on to an extent 

 easily explored by the student. 



Plainly these illustrations indicate that the behaviour that 

 originally satisfies an urge may come to exceed the motive. A 

 certain amount, or value, of the particular behaviour satisfies the 

 urge — as we have, so far, described the latter. But the mode of 

 behaving now becomes a motive in itself — thus there is an urge 

 to eat nice things apart from the requirements of assimilation. 

 Behaviour, itself, has created new needs and desires. 



