63 



The order, according to Baldwin's method, in which this 

 transition from the "purely physiological" takes place is 

 indicated in the acquisition of the elements of speech and 

 hand-writing: "In the stage of adjustive reaction before the 

 rise of conscious imitation, 1 we find hearing of sounds with 

 some very simple associations, also suggestive adaptation of 

 movements of the tongue, hands, etc., under the direct stimulus 

 of associations, pleasures, and pains, etc. Second, in the stage 

 of simple imitation, we find full recognition of objects and 

 musical tunes, some slight power of song in individual children, 

 imperfect articulation, increasing co-ordination of movements, 

 though still without effort, or volition. Third, in the epoch of 

 persistent imitation, we find full understanding of speech, the 

 rapid acquisition of co-ordinated movements in speaking and 

 writing, and also visual sign interpretation which leads on to 

 the ability to read." 2 



In like manner Baldwin deals with the genesis of volition. 

 Its rise may be summarized as follows: "Now just as in the 

 child the phenomena of suggestion become more and more 

 complex from the physiological reflex type to the ideo-motor, 

 deliberative, and to the final, the persistent type, which is 

 volition ; so, in the animal series, there is a corresponding 

 development. Volition is found only in animals having idea- 

 tion, memory, desires." 3 In favour of this view Baldwin cites 

 "the facts of brain development, as comparative embryology 

 and early brain anatomy supply them." 4 "The rise of voli- 

 tion," he says, "is but another illustration of the one law of 

 motor development." 5 Again, from experiments which 

 Baldwin performed in connection with hand movements, he 

 concluded that "right-handedness in the child is due to the 

 differences in the two half-brains", 6 and that "this inherited 

 brain one-sidedness also accounts for the association of speech, 

 and the musical faculty". 7 These statements are further 

 verified by a quotation from Baldwin's 'Social and Ethical 

 Intrepretations in Mental Development' wherein he says: 

 "The reflex, automatic, and instinctive activities are regu- 

 lated by the spinal and lower cerebral plexuses; while the 

 higher and more complex activities involving conscious super- 

 vision, volition, and all that is involved in the process of the 



'The rise of conscious imitation in the child is said to occur during the 

 sixth or seventh month. O.C. p. 279. 

 2 O.C. p. 388. 

 3 O.C. p. 366. 

 4 O.C. p. 399. 

 *O.C. p. 408. 

 6 O.C. p. 71. 

 7 Ibid. 



