80< I \l. hlTY 



illustration shows that all people are not equally 

 to suggestion. "Suggestibility" varies not only 

 according to the topic and ac to the source from 



which the proposition is coimmmi.-ated, hut also with 

 the condition of the suhjcct's brain from hour to hour. 

 'Mi.- It-ust degree of suggestibility i- that of a wide- 

 awake, s ait man of settled convictions, possessing 

 a large store of syst illy organi/. d knowledge 

 which he hahituall .:* to bear in criticism of all 

 stati-ni'-nN mad.- to him." ' 



McDougall points out that the degree of suggestibility 

 is affected by tin- following conditions:* 1 



(1) Abnormal states of the I. rain, such as hysteria, 

 )i\l>n<i>, normal sleep, and fatigu*-. I mitr these con- 

 ditions individuals readily respond to suggestions which 

 in normal waking hours they would ignore. 



iency of knowledge or convictions relating to 



pic in iv-ard to which the suggestion is made, and 



an imperfect organization of knowledge. The layman 



to, and acts upon, the suggestion of the 



churchman or the scientist because the matters with 



which tl Irnian and the scientist deal are beyond 



the scope of his information. 



(3) The impressive d of the source from 

 which the suggested proposition is communicated. The 

 child receives as true the stories which a parent tells it 

 The populace believes the prophecy of a leader. 



(4) Peculiarities of chit and native disposition 

 of the subj. "tional people, or those of unstable 



us ti-mp'-ramrnt, are more liable to act with great 

 credulity u|x>n the most extravagant suggestion, than 



l. op. rif . pp. 97-9S. 



