THOUGHT-CULTURE/PART 7
CHAPTER VII.
REPRESENTATION
Sensation
and Perception, as considered in the preceding chapter, are what are called by
psychologists "Processes of Presentation." By Presentation is meant
the direct offering to the consciousness of mental images or objects of
thought. If there were no faculty of the mind capable of retaining and re-presenting
to the consciousness the impression or record of Perception, we could never
progress in knowledge, for each percept would be new each time it was presented
and there would be no recognition of it as having been previously perceived,
nor would there be any power to voluntarily recall any percept previously
acquired. In short, we would be without that power of the mind called Memory.
But,
fortunately for us as thinkers, we possess the power of Representation; that is,
of reproducing past perceptions and experiences in the shape of mental
images or pictures, "in the mind's eye," so to speak, which
relieves us of the necessity of directly and immediately perceiving an
object each time we desire or are required to think of it. The processes
whereby this becomes possible are called the processes of Representation, for
the reason that by them past experiences of Perception are re-presented
to the consciousness.
The
subject of Representation is closely bound up with that of Memory. Strictly
speaking, Representation may be said to be one phase of Memory; Association of
Ideas another; and the authorities prefer to treat the whole subject under the
general head of Memory. We have written a work on "Memory" which forms
one of the volumes of the present series, and we have no intention, or desire,
to repeat here the information given in that work. But we must consider the
subject of Representation at this point in order to maintain the logical unity
of the present general subject of Thought-Culture. The student will also
notice, of course, the close relation between the processes of Representation
and those of the Imagination, which we shall consider in other chapters of this
work.
Memory has
several phases, the usual classification of which is as follows: (1)
Impression; (2) Retention; (3) Recollection; (4) Representation, and (5)
Recognition. Each phase requires the operation of special mental
processes. Impression is the process whereby the impressions
of Perception are recorded or stamped upon the subconscious field of mentality,
as the impress of the die upon the wax. Retention is the
process whereby the sub-consciousness retains or holds the
impressions so received. Recollection is the process by which
the mind re-collects the impressions retained in the sub-consciousness,
bringing them again into consciousness as objects of knowledge. Representation is
the process whereby the impressions so re-collected are pictured or
imaged in the mind. Recognition is the process
whereby the mind recognizes the mental image or picture so
re-presented to it as connected with its past experience.
As we have
stated, we have considered the general subject of Memory in another volume of
this series and, therefore, shall not attempt to enter into a discussion of its
general subject at this place. We shall, accordingly, limit ourselves here
to a brief consideration of the phase of Representation and its cultivation.
Representation,
of course, depends upon the preceding phases of Memory known as Impression,
Retention and Recollection. Unless the Impression is clear; unless the
Retention is normal, there can be no Representation. And unless one recollects there
can be no Representation. Recollection (which is really a re-collection of
percepts) must precede Representation in the shape of mental images or
pictures. Recollection re-collects the mental materials out of which the image
is to be constructed. But, as Brooks says: "It is not to be assumed that
knowledge is retained as a picture; but that it is recreated in
the form of a picture or some other mental product when it is recalled."
The process is analogous to the transmutation of the sound-waves entering the
receiver of a telephone, into electrical-waves which are transmitted to the
receiver, where they are in turn re-transmuted to sound-waves which enter the
ear of the listener. It will be seen at once that there is the closest possible
relation between the processes of Representation and those of Memory—in fact,
it is quite difficult to draw a clear line of division between them. Some make
the distinction that Representation furnishes us with an exact reproduction
of the past; while Imagination combines our mental images
into new products. That is, Representation merely reproduces;
while Imagination creates by forming new combinations; or
Representation deals with a reproduction of the Actual; while Imagination deals
with the Ideal.
Wundt
speaking of this difficult distinction says: "Psychologists are accustomed
to define memory images as ideas which exactly
reproduce some previous perception, and fancy images as
ideas consisting of a combination of elements taken from a whole number of
perceptions. Now memory images in the sense of this definition simply do not
exist.... Try, for instance, to draw from memory some landscape picture which
you have only once seen, and then compare your copy with the original. You will
expect to find plenty of mistakes and omissions; but you will also invariably
find that you have put in a great deal which was not in the original,
but which comes from landscape pictures which you have seen somewhere
else."
While we
generally speak of Representation picturing the recollected
percepts, still, we must not make the mistake of supposing that it is concerned
with, or limited to, only mental pictures. We are able to represent not
only visual percepts but also sounds, smells, tastes or feelings, often so
vividly that they appear as almost actually existent. We may also even represent,
symbolically the processes of reasoning, mathematical operations, etc. In short
nearly, if not all experiences which are possible in Presentation are also
possible in Representation.
The phase
of Representation, in the processes of Memory, is of course subject to the
general laws of the Cultivation of Memory which we have stated in detail in our
previous volume on that subject. But there are some special points of
development and cultivation which may be considered briefly in this place. In
the first place the importance of Attention and clear Perception, as necessary
precedents for clear Representation, may be emphasized. In order to form clear
mental images of a thing we must have perceived it clearly in the first
place. The advice regarding the use of the Attention and Perception given in
preceding chapters need not be repeated here, but special attention should be
directed toward them in connection with the processes of Representation. If we
wish to cultivate the Representative faculties, we must begin by cultivating
the Presentative faculties.
Then again
we must remember what we have said elsewhere about the facts of development
through (1) Use; and (2) Nourishment, in all mental faculties. We must begin
to use the faculties of Representation in order to exercise
them. We must give them nourishment in the shape of objects of
mental food. That is to say we must furnish these faculties with materials with
which they may grow and develop, and with exercise in order to strengthen the
mental-muscle and also to give the faculties the opportunity to "acquire
the knack." The exercises and methods recommended in our chapter on
Perception will furnish good material for the Representative
faculties' growing requirements. By perceiving the details of
things, one is able to reproduce clear mental images of them. In studying an
object, always carry in your mind the fact that you wish to reproduce it
in your mind later. In fact, if you have the opportunity, let your mind
"repeat it to itself" as soon as possible after the actual occurrence
and experience. Just as you often murmur to yourself, or else write down, the
name of a person or place which you have just heard, in order that you may
recollect it the better thereafter, so it will be well for you to
"mentally repeat" to yourself the experiences upon which you wish to
exercise your Representative faculties.
As to the
matter of development and cultivation by Use, we would advise that you begin
gradually to train your mind to reproduce the experiences of
the day or week or month, at intervals, until you feel that you are developing
a new power in that direction. Tonight, if you try you will find that you can
reproduce but a very small part of today's happenings with any degree of
clearness. How clearly can you image the places you have been, the appearances
of the people you have met, the various details of persons and things
which you perceived during the experiences of the day? Not very clearly,
we dare say. Try again, and you will find that you will be able to add new
details. Keep it up until you feel tired or think that you have exhausted all
the possibilities of the task. Tomorrow, try it again, and you will find that
the second day's experiences are more clearly reproduced in your mind. Each day
should find you a little more advanced, until you get to a place where the
normal degree of power is attained, when the advance will be slower.
Then, at
the end of the week, review its experiences. Do the same the following week. At
the end of the month, take a hasty mental trip over the month's experiences.
And so on. Exercise, in moderation, along these lines will work wonders for
you. Not only will it develop the Representation, but your powers of
observation and your general memory will be found to be improved. And,
moreover, in "chewing the mental cud" you will think of many things
of interest and importance in connection with your work, etc., and your general
mental efficiency will be increased for the faculties of the mind are
interdependent and share benefits with each other.
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