Emotion 41 



influence of emotion only as it increases in 

 strength. Mantegazza also says that all expres- 

 sion is defensive, 1 and in another place that 

 emotion is defensive or sympathetic. The two 

 statements are not out of harmony. The 

 defensive expression is the more elementary 

 when the danger affects the individual directly. 

 When an interest in other individuals is 

 acquired, their dangers and suffering arouse 

 sympathy and excite the same or a stronger 

 emotion than if the danger threatened one's 

 own person. Emotion in either case arises 

 from contact with adverse elements, and in its 

 primary effects is destructive of fixed reactions. 

 Ribot 2 regards the emotions as a case of an 

 arrest of development. The parts of a living 

 being are so closely related that a change in 

 one involves also changes in other parts. 

 Every unexpected action throws a stress on 

 some part not structurally developed to sustain 

 it. The ensuing loss weakens the overtaxed 

 part and leaves relatively stronger other organs 

 whose functions are normal. A change of pro- 



1 Loc. cif. t p. 82. 



2 u Psychology of the Emotions," p. 264. 



