Chapter 7 Ide o - Mo tor Action Edward

T h e theory of ideo-motor action has been for a generation one of the stock ”laws” of orthodox psychology. It is taught as almost axiomatic in standard treatises-is made the explanatory principle for phenomena of suggestion, hypnotism, obsessions and the like-and is used as the basis for recommended practices in education, psychiatry, religion-even in salesmanship and advertising. In spite of contrary evidence brought forward by Kirkpatrick, Woodworth, Burnett, and others, probably nine out of ten of the members of this association believe, or think that they believe, in one or another form of this doctrine that an idea tends to produce the act which it represents or resembles or is ”an idea of,” or ”has as its object.” Against this most respectable doctrine I early rebelled, and I somewhat greedily seize this occasion, which requires that in courtesy you listen to me for an hour, to justify this apostasy and convert you also, if I