136 Heredity and Child Culture 



mental and moral life may be long forgotten, 

 their effects are held in the subconscious mind, 

 and it may be years before a submerged emo- 

 tion finds outlet in an indirect or surprising 

 manifestation. An emotion or feeling sup- 

 pressed in one way may find '' sublimation," ac- 

 cording to the psychologists, in an entirely dif- 

 ferent direction. 



All this emphasizes the importance of early 

 training. It is much better and easier to try 

 to form good habits than reform bad ones. 



Fathers and mothers with unstable character 

 and flighty moods will find their children devel- 

 oping the same characteristics from imitation. 

 Fussy, neurotic parents must realize their re- 

 sponsibility and try to control their nervous in- 

 stability for the sake of their children if not for 

 themselves. Children must be guarded, as far 

 as possible, from severe emotional shocks. 

 Their lives must be made as happy as circum- 

 stances will permit. The play instinct should 

 always be developed. It must be remembered 

 that apparent egoism or intense shyness may 

 be only manifestations of defense reactions. 



