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PAVLOV'S ARTIFICIAL NEUROSIS 



Pavlov conditioned a dog to come whenever a certain signal appeared and to run 

 away whenever another signal was presented. Then the elliptical go-away signal 

 was gradually shortened and fattened. When the dog could not distinguish the two 

 signals, he acted like a person who does not know whether he is coming or going 



in any direction, turning rapidlv now one way now another; he yelled and 

 whined, and gave every indication of being very unhappy indeed. What had 

 happened to change this well- trained dog into a raving "neurotic"? 



Many people get into this state because they do not learn early enough that 

 throughout life we simply miL<:t make decisions. The child must learn that he 

 cannot have everything, that he cannot eat his cake and have it, too. A mul- 

 titude of choices does not mean that we can eat several meals at once or wear 

 four hats at once just because we can afford them. Human life is the richest 

 life, but we should not be embarrassed bv our riches. 



Through experience a child can learn that he likes vanilla better than 

 strawberry, or the other way round. It certainly is not always easy to make 

 decisions, but we have to learn the relative worth to us of the many possibili- 

 ties. No set rules will assure happiness. Sometimes we hesitate because we 

 have to choose between something of value now and a future value. Many 

 try to live by the rule "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die." It 

 must seem silly to take chances with a future, which is necessarily uncertain, 



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