776 Dynamic Theory. 



person and one of good stomach, or between a person subject to griefs 

 and disappointments and one with whom life has been agreeable. We 

 constantly judge the general character by the expression and speech of 

 a man as gloomy or surly, or kind or light-hearted, or simple or cun- 

 ning, or bold or cowardly, brutal or benevolent, sour tempered or sweet, 

 busy or at leisure, in prosperity or adversity, intelligent or stupid, 

 humble or arrogant. Besides the more or less constant and steady ex- 

 pression which the ordinary tension of the muscles gives, every stimu- 

 lation of the cerebral centers which control these muscles causes a dis- 

 turbance of the tension, and consequently of the expression, so that 

 we can often get an idea of the sort of organs under stimulation for the 

 time being, by the change in the expression. Thus we judge whether 

 a person is angry or pleased, or bored or grieved, or anxious or careless, 

 impatient or satisfied. We form our judgments not alone from the ex- 

 pression of the facial muscles but from that of the muscles of the 

 limbs which give attitude to the bod} and character to the movements. 

 If a man is humble or arrogant, positive or negative, mild or fierce, he 

 shows it in his carriage and posture; and the usual and natural posture 

 is liable to exaggerations or modifications when the organs are stimu- 

 lated. When a man is provoked to resentment, his rigid and indignant 

 attitude, his flashing eyes and scowling face, plainly indicate the fact. 

 We know very well what sort of difference in cerebral action is indi- 

 cated between the dog who makes himself as small as possible and re- 

 treats with his tail between his legs, and the one that stands rigid, 

 shows his teeth, and raises the hair on his back. The attitude of in- 

 dignation is caused by a state of certain cerebral organs and, as we say, 

 is their expression. If the excited state of the organs becomes more 

 intense, the' result will probably be angry words, ' ' I have a great mind 

 to knock you down," and these are the natural expressions of that state. 

 If the excitement increases, the result may be blows, and there is no 

 reason why these are not the natural expressions of that state of ex- 

 citement. A blow is an act of the will, and it is in this case produced 

 by an excess of the same sort of stimulation which in less intense de- 

 grees produces the words, postures, and expressions we term emotional. 

 Thus emotion and will belong to the same catenation, and are not to be 

 reckoned as antagonistical principles, but as antecedent and consequent. 

 The emotion then is to be regarded as a will former, and the stronger 

 the emotion, the more vehement the will. I have seen a story of a 

 timid little boy who was obliged to go to bed in a dark room. He found 

 by experience that he could frighten himself across the forbidding 

 tract which lay between the door and his bed, by the cry of, rats ! under 

 the stimulation of which, he was accustomed to make the rush. Sol- 

 diers in battle likewise fortify their determination by emotional stimu- 

 lation, in the shape of battle cries, huzzahs, martial music, etc. 



