December 19, 1913] 



SCIENCE 



891 



similar to, if not actually connected with, punc- 

 tuation, the visualization process. It will be 

 found by questioning various individuals, that 

 the orientation of many persons for very far 

 distant points, as they usually think of these 

 places, is in error to the extent of 30°, 90° or 

 even 180° (or half circle). Fig. 3 is a diagram 

 drawn to illustrate what is meant by an 

 " imaginary map." In this figure the solid 

 lines represent the map as it actually is. The 

 dotted lines represent the map as the subject 

 is accustomed to think of it. An important 

 fact in this connection has been found, namely, 

 that those individuals who have " imaginary 



been attempted. A few of the more common 

 types will be given which will help to empha- 

 size the fact that this so-called imaginary map 

 which accompanies the " ego-centric " or car- 

 dinal point method of orientation unquestion- 

 ably contributes to the difficulty that man 

 experiences in finding his way home in an 

 unfamiliar region. 



Various Types of Imaginary Maps. — The 

 common types are described below. A com- 

 plete classification would be difficult since the 

 types must grade into one another, but most 

 of those mentioned appear to be common 

 forms. 



-< 



Fig. 3. Diagram to Explain the Imaginary 

 points of the compass, and is the map which the 

 cate the map as the subject is accustomed to think 



maps," are readily confused in regard to local- 

 ity, are apt to become lost in the forests, and 

 usually are subject to confusion as to direc- 

 tion when emerging from theaters, subways, 

 etc. On the other hand, those individuals who 

 through careful early education or from travel 

 are accustomed to thinh of far distant places 

 in the proper directions, are much less apt to 

 be confused in regard to locality. This is 

 readily evident from the accompanying sta- 

 tistics. An extensive analysis of the precise 

 forms of the erroneous conceptions with respect 

 to the direction toward distant places has not 



Orientation Map. The solid lines indicate the 

 subject knows to be correct. The dotted lines indi- 

 of it when far distant places are casually thought of. 



The types will be classed as individuals. 



Type A. — Those persons who have an 

 " imaginary map " of fairly consistent " devia- 

 tion " from the correct direction for the entire 

 circuit of the compass. (A common type.) 

 The " deviation " refers to very distant places, 

 and in this class amounts to from 20° to 180°. 

 It is the angle between the true directions of 

 distant places and the directions that the sub- 

 ject casually thinks these places lie in. 



Type B. — Those who have different " imagi- 

 nary maps " in different localities. The fol- 

 lowing example of an actual case will illustrate 



