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the origin and nature of emotions-第11章

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e subjected by phylogenetic association to a specific stimulation analogous to that which attended the ancestral consummation。  Moreover; a happy marriage has many times been followed by a cure of the exophthalmic goiter which appeared in the wake of such an experience。

The victims of Graves' disease present a counterpart of emotional exhaustion。  That the emotions in Graves' disease are abnormally acute is illustrated by my personal observation of the death of a subject of this disease from fear alone。 Whatever the exciting cause of this disease; the symptoms are the same; just as in fear; the phenomena are the same whatever the exciting cause。

Figures 12 and 16 show the resemblance between the outward appearances of a patient with Graves' disease and of a person obsessed by fear。 Fear and Graves' disease have the following phenomena in common: Increased heart…beat; increased respiration; rising temperature; muscular tremors; protruding eyes; loss in weight; Cannon has found an increased amount of adrenalin in the blood in fear and Frankel in Graves' disease; increased blood…pressure; muscular weakness; digestive disturbances; impaired nervous control; hypersusceptibility to stimuli; in protracted intense fear the brain…cells show marked physical changes; and in Graves' disease analogous changes are seen (Figs。 13 C and 15)。 In Graves' disease there seems to be a composite picture of an intense expression of the great primitive emotions。 If Graves' disease be a disease of the great primitive emotions; or rather of the whole motor mechanism; how is the constant flow of stimulation of this complicated mechanism supplied?  It would seem that there must be secreted in excessive amount some substance that activates the motor mechanism。  The nervous system in Graves' disease is hypersusceptible to stimuli and to thyroid extract。 It might follow that even a normal amount of thyroid secretion would lead to excessive stimulation of the hypersusceptible motor mechanism。

This condition of excessive motor activity and hyperexcitability may endure for years。  What is the source of this pathologic excitation? The following facts may give a clue。  In suitable cases of Graves' disease; if the thyroid secretion is sufficiently diminished by a removal of a part of the gland or by interrupting the nerve and the blood supply; the phenomena of the disease are diminished immediately; and in favorable cases the patient is restored to approximately the normal condition。 The heart action slows; the respiratory rate falls; the restlessness diminishes; digestive disturbances disappear; tremors decrease; there is a rapid increase in the body weight; and the patient gradually resumes his normal state。  On the other hand; if for a period of time extract of the thyroid gland is administered to a normal individual in excessive dosage; there will develop nervousness; palpitation of the heart; sweating; loss of weight; slight protrusion of the eyes; indigestion; in short; most of the phenomena of Graves' disease and of the strong emotions will be produced artificially (Figs。 15 and 23)。 When the administration of the thyroid extract is discontinued; these phenomena may disappear。  On the other hand; when there is too little or no thyroid gland; the individual becomes dull; stupid; and emotionless; though he may be irritable; while if a sufficient amount of thyroid extract be given to such a patient he may be brought back to his normal condition。

Hence we see that the phenomena of the emotions may within certain limits be increased; diminished; or abolished by increasing; diminishing; or totally excluding the secretion of the thyroid gland。

Graves' disease may be increased by giving thyroid extract and by fear。 It may be diminished by removing a part of the gland; or by interrupting the blood and nerve supply; or by complete rest。 In addition; at some stage of Graves' disease there is an increase in the size and in the number of the secreting cells。 These facts regarding the normal and the pathologic supply of thyroid secretion point to this gland as one of the sources of the energizing substance or substances; by means of which the motor phenomena of animals are executed and their emotions expressed。

Anger is similar to fear in origin and; like fear; is an integration and stimulation of the motor mechanism and its accessories。 Animals which have no natural weapons for attack experience neither fear nor anger; while the animals which have weapons for attack express anger principally by energizing the muscles used in attack。 Although; as has already been stated; the efficiency of the hands of man has largely supplanted the use of the teeth; he still shows his teeth in anger and so gives support to the theory that this emotion is of remote ancestral origin and proves the great persistence of phylogenetic association。  On this conception we can understand why it is that a patient consumed by worrywhich to me signifies interrupted stimulation; a state of alternation between hope and fearsuffers so many bodily impairments and diseases even。 This hypothesis explains the slow dying of animals in captivity。 It explains the grave digestive and metabolic disturbances which appear under any nerve strain; especially under the strain of fear; and the great benefits of confidence and hope; it explains the nervousness; loss of weight; indigestionin short; the comprehensive physical changes that are wrought by fear and by sexual love and hate。 On this hypothesis we can understand the physical influence of one individual over the body and personality of another; and of the infinite factors in environment that; through phylogenetic association; play a role in the functions of many of our organs。 It is because under the uncompromising law of survival of the fittest we were evolved as motor beings that we do not possess any organs or faculties which have not served our progenitors in accomplishing their survival in the relentless struggle of organic forms with one another。 We are now; as we were then; essentially motor beings; and the only way in which we can meet the dangers in our environment is by a motor response。 Such a motor response implies the integration of our entire being for action; this integration involving the activity of certain glands; such as the adrenals (Cannon); the thyroid; the liver; etc。; which throw into the blood…stream substances which help to form energy; but which; if no muscular action ensues; are harmful elements in the blood。 While this motor preparation is going on; the entire digestive tract is inhibited。  It thus becomes clear why an emotion is more harmful than action。

Any agency that can sufficiently inspire faith;dispel worry; whether that agency be mystical; human; or divine; will at once stop the body…wide stimulations and inhibitions which cause lesions which are as truly physical as is a fracture。 The striking benefits of good luck; success; and happiness; of a change of scene; of hunting and fishing; of optimistic and helpful friends; are at once explained by this hypothesis。 One can also understand the difference between the broken body and spirits of an animal in captivity and its buoyant return to its normal condition when freed。

But time will not permit me to follow this tempting lead; which has been introduced for another purposethe proposal of a remedy。

Worries either are or are not groundless。  Of those that have a basis; many are exaggerated。  It has occurred to me to utilize as an antidote an appeal to the same great law that originally excited the instinctive involuntary reaction known as fear the law of self…preservation。

I have found that if an intelligent patient who is suffering from fear can be made to see so plainly as to become firmly convinced that his brain; his various organs; indeed his whole being; could be physically damaged by fear; that this same instinct of self…preservation will; to the extent of his conviction; banish fear。 It is hurling a threatened active militant danger; whose injurious influences are both certain and known; against an uncertain; perhaps a fancied; one。  In other words; fear itself is an injury which when recognized is instinctively avoided。  In a similar manner anger may be softened or banished by an appeal to the stronger self…preserving instinct aroused by the fear of physical damage; such as the physical injury of brain…cells。 This playing of one primitive instinct against another is comparable to the effect produced upon two men who are quarreling when a more powerful enemy of both comes threateningly on the scene。

The acute fear of a surgical operation may be banished by the use of certain drugs that depress the associational power of the brain and so minimize the effect of the preparations that usually inspire fear。 If; in addition; the entire field of operation is blocked by local anesthesia so that the associational centers are not awakened; the patient will pass through the operation unscathed。

The phylogenetic origin of fear is injury; hence injury and fear cause the same phenomena。  In their quality and in their phenomena psychic shock and traumatic shock are the same。  The perception of danger by the special senses in the sound of the opening gun of a ba
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