INDIVIDUALISTIC IMPULSES 77 



pugnacity, ambition, or emulation (the impulse to 

 excel), secretiveness, and flight (accompanied by 

 the emotion of fear). Curiosity is necessary for 

 the discovery of food, and also to protect oneself 

 from enemies. It is strong in defenceless animals, 

 such as deer and sheep, and is abnormally devel- 

 oped in some birds and mammals. In man it 

 may be allied with reason and the provident 

 impulses, and in their company may guide him to 

 the discoveries of science and mechanics, and to 

 the speculations of philosophy. 



The essence of these individualistic impulses is 

 selfishness, and they together with the emotions 

 that accompany them are condemned by society, 

 since they are not concerned with the welfare 

 of the community. The selfishness of individu- 

 ality is in itself rather a cold-blooded antagonism 

 to others than active animosity. But when 

 touched by another instinct that of cruelty it 

 develops into such emotions as anger, hate, re- 

 vengefulness, and that bitterest of all feelings 

 jealousy. When focussed in the mirror of self- 

 consciousness, it becomes vanity and self-conceit. 



We may include in this group the subconscious 

 impulse of young creatures to exercise their 

 muscles in play. This subsists in the conscious 

 life of maturer years, and underlies the attractive- 

 ness of athleticism, and of the physical culture, 

 which was so essential a feature of Greek civiliza- 

 tion, and found its renaissance amongst young 

 Englishmen. Like all instinctive impulses, it is 

 strengthened by habit : lawn tennis and golf may 

 now count their devotees in every country of 

 Europe and America, and football is rapidly 

 captivating the youth of India. 



SOCIAL. Gregariousness or sociability is mani- 

 fested by some plants as well as animals, and pines 



