Psychological Automatism: Essay of Experimental Psychology on the Lower Forms of Human Activity [4 ed.]

Table of contents :
Table of Contents

Preface from the third edition. 9
Preface of the second edition. 10
Introduction. 18

Part one. Total automation. 23

Chapter I. Isolated psychological phenomena. 23
I. Description of the phenomena caused during the cataleptic state. 24
II. Mechanical or physical interpretation of these phenomena. 28
III. Psychological interpretation. – The catalepsy equated with sleepwalking. 34
IV. A rudimentary form of consciousness. – The isolated sensation and image. 37
V. The nature of consciousness during catalepsy. 41
VI. Nature of consciousness during states analogous to catalepsy. 44
VII. Interpretation of the particular phenomena of catalepsy. 47
Conclusion. 53

Chapter II. Forgetting and the various successive psychological existences. 55
I. The different characteristics that have been proposed to recognize sleepwalking. 55
II. Essential characteristics of sleepwalking: forgetfulness upon awakening and alternating memory. 58
III. Varieties and complications of alternating memory. 64
IV. Study on a particular condition of memory and forgetting of images. 69
V. A condition of memory and forgetting for complex phenomena. 75
VI. Interpretation of forgetfulness upon awakening after sleepwalking. 78
VII. The various successive psychological existences spontaneous modifications of the personality. 83
VIII. The various successive psychological existences. – Personality changes in artificial somnambulisms. 88
Conclusion. 94

Chapter III. Suggestion and the narrowing of the field of consciousness. 96
I. Historical summary of suggestion theory. 97
II. Description of some psychological phenomena produced by suggestion. 99
III. Various psychological theories on suggestion. 112
IV. Amnesia and distraction. 123
V. The narrowing of the field of consciousness. 125
VI. Interpretation of the phenomena of suggestion. The reign of perceptions. 130
VII. The characteristic of suggestible individuals. 134
Conclusion. 141


Second part. Partial automation. 143

Chapter I. Subconscious acts. 143
I. Partial catalepsies. 143
II. Distraction and subconscious acts. 151
III. The posthynoptic suggestions. History and description. 155
IV. Performing suggestions during a new sleepwalking state. 158
V. Subconscious execution of post-hypnosis suggestions. 161
Conclusion. 169

Chapter II. Simultaneous anesthesias and psychological existences. 171
I. Systematized anesthesias. – History. 171
II. Persistence of sensation despite systematized anesthesia. 174
III. Systematized electivity or esthesia. 178
IV. Complete anesthesia or natural anesthesia of hysterics. 182
V. Different hypotheses relating to the phenomena of anesthesia. 187
VI. Psychological disintegration. 191
VII. Simultaneous psychological existences. 196
VIII. Simultaneous psychological existences compared to successive psychological existences. 202
IX. Relative importance of the various simultaneous existences. 208
X. Anesthesia and paralysis. 214
XI. Paralysis and contractures explained by psychological breakdown. 219
Conclusion. 225

Chapter III. Various forms of psychological breakdown. 227
I. The divination wand. – The explorer pendulum. – Reading thoughts. 227
II. Historical summary of spiritualism. 233
III. Hypotheses relating to spiritualism. 238
IV. Spiritism and psychological disintegration. 245
V. Comparison of psychics and sleepwalkers. 249
VI. Cerebral duality as an explanation of spiritualism. 255
VII. Impulsive madness. 258
VIII. Fixed ideas. – Hallucinations. 263
IX. Possessions. 267
Conclusion. 271
Chapter IV. Moral weakness and strength. 273
I. Psychological misery. 273
II. Lower forms of normal activity. 282
III. Judgment and will. 287
Conclusion. 292

Conclusion. 293
Appendix. 299