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Thought Stimulation : Under What Conditions Does It 



Occur? 



By Robert Hessler. 



This is a subject of interest to nearly every one, but more especially 

 to educated persons, as I found in discussing it with several hundred in- 

 dividuals. In a general way one may divide human beings into two 

 classes : the educated and the uneducated. The uneducated usually pay 

 hut little attention to what is going on in the mind, what sort of thoughts 

 they have, while on the other hand those who write or otherwise utilize 

 their thoughts may pay much attention to the subject. Indeed, the latter 

 may at times be worried because they can not think and cannot write, or 

 because they "run out of" thoughts and vainly "rack their brains" for new 

 ones. In the very beginning we must distinguish clearly between getting 

 new thoughts or new ideas and the ability to write them out. In other 

 words, to get the germ or plot of a story and then to write out the story 

 to best advantage are two widely different things. 



The difference between these two classes of individuals is shown 

 very strongly in the matter of dreams. The ignorant pay considerable 

 attention to their dreams, but only from the standpoint of "What does it 

 mean?" They look upon a dream as an omen, while a writer may utilize 

 a dream as a plot for a story, the dream being of actual value to him. 

 Poets constantly tell about their dreams and of having dreamed. Again, 

 we see this difference in attitude in the matter of the subconscious or 

 automatic action of the mind, especially at night. There may be a great 

 rush of thoughts. Many worry simply because they are unable to sleep 

 on account of the "curious thoughts," while a writer may jot down a 

 number of them and utilize them in his work. 



The subject of thought stimulation may be studied from different 

 standpoints, depending on the individual's occupation and training and 

 the object of his investigation. Thus, the psychologist may approach it 

 from a standpoint entirely different from that of the neurologist or of the 

 alienist, while the viewpoint of a story writer may differ from all others. 

 My standpoint may quite naturally be said to be mainly that of a physi- 

 cian interested in a study of chronic ill health as distinguished from ac- 



