SOCIAL HEREDITY 189 



This illustration shows that all people are not equally 

 subject to suggestion. ''Suggestibility" varies not only 

 according to the toi)ic and according to the source from 

 which the proposition is communicated, but also with 

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

 "The least degree of suggestibility is that of a wide- 

 awake, self-reliant man of settled convictions, possessing 

 a large store of systematically organized knowledge 

 which he habitually brings to bear in criticism of all 

 statements made to liim."^" 



]\rcDougall points out that the dcgi-ce of suggestibility 

 is affectedby the following conditions:"' 



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

 hyi)nosis, normal sh'ep, and fatigue. Under these con- 

 ditions individuals readily respond to suggestions which 

 in normal w^aking hours they would ignore. 



(2) Deficiency of knowledge or convictions relating to 

 the topic in regard to which the suggestion is made, and 

 an imperfect organization of knowledge. The layman 

 gives credence to, and acts upon, the suggestion of the 

 churchman or the scientist because the matters with 

 which the ehurcliman and the scientist deal are beyond 

 the scope of his information. 



(3) The impressive character 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 character and native disposition 

 of the subject. Emotional people, or those of unstable 

 nervous temperament, are more liable to act with great 

 credulity upon the most extravagant suggestion, than 



»" ■McDoiioall, op. (■//., pp. OTOS. ■■■i IhhJ. 



