Before
beginning our consideration of the subject of
Mental Suggestion, let me call your attention to
the following general statements regarding
Mentative Induction (in which general subject is
included the sub-divisions called Personal
Magnetism; Mental Suggestion; and Telementative
Induction) respectively:
(1)
Mental States may be caused by Mentative
Induction.
(2) Such
induced mental states may be caused by the
Mentative currents of Personal Magnetism; or by
the Mentative currents of Telementation; or by
Mental Suggestion.
(3)
Mentative currents are waves or streams of
vibrant Mind-Power, emanating from the minds of
people, and carrying with them the vibrations of
mental states; the vibrations tending to induce
similar mental states in the minds of people
within the field of induction.
(a)
There are two poles of Mind-Power, i.e., the
emotive-pole, manifesting desire, feeling,
emotion, etc.; and the motive-pole, manifesting
will, etc.; the acting force, affecting other
minds, manifested by these two poles being
called Desire-Force and Will-Power,
respectively.
(b)
Desire-Force tends to awaken similar vibrations
in the minds of others, thus producing similar
desires--or it charms the wills of others and
causes them to carry out its desires--its action
and nature bearing a strong resemblance to
feminine mental power.
(c)
Will-Power tends to awaken desire in the minds
of others by sheer mastery and forcefulness--it
also acts in the direction of combating and
overpowering the wills of others, and taking
them captive--it also directs, masters,
concentrates, or restrains one's own
Desire-Force, on occasions--its action bears a
strong resemblance to masculine mental power.
(d) When
the mentative currents are emanated, and
Mentative Induction is manifested, when the
projector and recipients are in the personal
presence of each other, we use the term Personal
Magnetism. When the same manifestation occurs
when the projector and recipients are not in the
personal presence of each other, then we use the
term Telementative Induction. But the principle
employed is the same in each case--induction
through telementation being the operative
principle. In Personal Magnetism, however,
Mental Suggestion usually assists in the
induction of mental states.
For this
reason, Mental Suggestion should be studied in
connection with Personal Magnetism, being
supplementary thereto.
(4)
Mental Suggestion induces mental states, by
reproducing the original mental states of
others; or one's own previously experienced
mental states, including the experience of the
race-ancestors, inherited and recorded in the
sub-conscious minds of their descendants.
Suggestion
operates along the lines of acquiescence,
imitation, association, and repetition, always
acting through physical agents for inducing
mental states.
In
Personal Magnetism, the mentator pours out his
mentative currents, generated by his will or
desire, or both; either in a general way, or in
a concentrated, directed manner; in a personal
interview, and thus influences the mind of
others by induction--this is usually, or always,
accompanied by Mental Suggestion, using physical
agents, such as the voice, eye, manner, etc.,
which heighten the effect produced.
And,
now, with the understanding of the above-stated
general principles, let us proceed to a
consideration of the subject of "Mental
Suggestion."
Every
student of psychology and mental science has
heard and read much of that phase of mental
phenomena called "Mental Suggestion." Much has
been written and taught about it, and the term
has been claimed by some teachers to cover all
phases of mental influence. I do not entirely
agree with these extreme advocates of
suggestion, however, for I find much in the
subject that calls for a further explanation.
But,
nevertheless, I feel certain that mental
suggestion plays a most important part in almost
every instance of this class of phenomena and
must be seriously considered by all careful
students of the subject. Combined with mentative
induction by means of mentative currents, it
accounts for nearly every phase of the phenomena
of mental influence.
Therefore
I shall devote several chapters to the
consideration of its underlying principles, laws
and method of application. I feel that no one
can be a successful practitioner of
telementative influence or personal magnetism
who is not a good suggestionist, because the
very "knack" of projecting strong suggestions is
necessary for the forceful projection of
mentative energy and mental currents.
While
all who have examined the subject are aware of
the force and effects of mental suggestion, few
have found it possible to correctly define or
describe the term, or to explain it to others.
But I
feel assured that my theory of mentative
induction, and the two poles of Mind-Power will
enable you to form a very clear and
comprehensive knowledge of the underlying laws
of the subject, so that, understanding it, you
will be able to apply its method of application
to the best advantage.
"Mental
Suggestion" is the term used to designate the
process of inducing or exciting mental states
or ideas, by means of the imagination, by the
agency of words of actions; outward
appearances; or other physical symbols.
I divide
the phenomena of Mental Suggestion into two
general classes or phases, i.e., (1) Active
Suggestion, and (2) Passive Suggestion, as
follows:
By
Active Suggestion I mean the induction or
excitement of mental state or ideas in others by
means of positive command, affirmation,
statements, etc., bearing directly upon the
desired mental state.
By
Passive Suggestion I mean the induction or
excitement of mental state or ideas by the
subtle insinuation, introduction, or insertion
of ideas into the minds of others, which
insinuated ideas act in the direction of
inducing the desired mental state. Active
Suggestion is associated with the use of the
motive-pole of the mind of the suggestor; and;
Passive Suggestion is associated with the
emotive-pole of the suggestor. One is the
masculine method and the other the feminine.
And here
is a good place in which to direct your
attention to a very important fact concerning
the operation of suggestion in inducing mental
states in others. I allude to the fact that
suggestion operates along the line of "emotional
mentality," "feeling," or "imagination," and has
nothing to do with judgment, reason, argument,
proof, etc. It belongs clearly to the "feeling"
side of the mind, rather than to the "thinking"
side. One's reason may be appealed to by clever
reasoning, argument, logic, proof, etc, and an
effect gained--but this belongs to an entirely
different phase of mental action.
The
induction of mental states in others by means of
suggestion has to do entirely with the "feeling"
or "imaginative" phase of the mind. It deals
with the production of "emotional mentality"
rather than with "rational mentality." This is a
most important point, and one that should be
thoroughly understood by all students of the
subject.
It is
true that suggestion may accompany an appeal to
the reason or judgment of the person influenced,
and, indeed, is generally so used; but, strictly
speaking, it constitutes an appeal to a part of
the mind entirely removed from reasoning and
judgment. It is emotional, and imaginative
first, last, and all the time.
And it
operates along the same lines as the mental
induction produced by mentative currents, as we
shall see.
And now,
with this preliminary understanding, let us pass
on to a consideration of the meaning of the
terms used. There is nothing like a clear
understanding of the terms employed in treating
of a subject. If one understands the "exact"
meaning of the terms, he has progressed very far
to an "exact" understanding of the subject
itself, for the terms are the crystallized ideas
involved in the subject.
To
understand the full and complete meaning of the
terms of any subject is to know the whole
subject thoroughly, for no one can understand a
term thoroughly until he knows it in all of its
relations--all that pertains to it.
Let us
start with the word "suggestion" as used by the
writers on mental suggestion. Some authorities
give the broad, general definition of "anything
that is impressed upon the mind through the
senses,'' but this I consider entirely too
sweeping, for this definition would make the
term cover knowledge of all sort, no matter to
what part of the mind it appealed, for all
knowledge of the outward world is obtained
through the senses.
Other
authorities define the term as "anything
insinuated into the mind, subtly, cautiously,
and indirectly," this definition fitting nearly
the one favored by the dictionaries in defining
the word "suggestion" in its general sense,
which is as follows: "a hint; a guarded mention;
an intimation; something presented to the mind
directly; an insinuation; etc."
But this
last definition of mental suggestion does not
fit all the phases of the subject. It fits
admirably into the phase known as Passive
Suggestion, which operates by direct, forceful
command, statement, etc.
And so I
must give my own definition of the term to fit
my conception of and understanding of its
meaning. I, therefore, here define my use of the
term "a Mental Suggestion" as follows: A
physical agency tending to induce or excite
mental states or ideas through the
imagination. This is a broad definition,
which, I think, will cover all the observable
phenomena of Mental Suggestion.
I use
the word "physical" to distinguish suggestive
agents from the "mental" agents inducing mental
states by the operation of mentative currents,
telementation, etc. Of course this distinction
will not please those who would claim all
"mental" action as a form of the "physical," or
vice versa.
But as I
have to draw the line somewhere, I prefer to
draw it between the "physical" agent and the
"mental," and I think that the majority of my
readers will approve of this position.
The word
"agent" means, of course, "an acting power or
cause," etc. The word "inducing," as I have used
it, has been defined in the previous lesson. The
word "excite" means "to call into activity in
any way; to rouse to feeling; to kindle to
strong emotions," The imagination is "that phase
of mind which creates mental images, or objects,
or sensation previously experienced."
In my
use of the term "physical" in the above
definition I include all words, spoken, written,
or printed; mannerisms and physical actions of
all kinds; physical; characteristics and
appearances, etc., etc. All of these physical
manifestations act as "agents" inducing mental
states under favorable circumstances.
By
"mental states'' I mean "states of feeling or
emotion." By "ideas," I mean "images of objects
conceived of by the mind."
It may
be urged that the use of "words, spoken, written
or printed," may be employed, and are employed,
in every appeal to the mind of another, whether
the appeal be along the lines of suggestion or
argument, reason, etc. Certainly!
And in
that sense they act as suggestions. Arguments
appeal to judgment and reason--but not to
feeling, emotion or imagination which are, on
the contrary, excited or induced by suggestions
or other forms of emotional induction.
One may
present an idea to the mind of another, in a
bold, forcible, logical manner, accompanied by
argument or proof, but this is an appeal to
reason and judgment, not to "feeling or
emotion," which belong to an entirely different
field of the mind. Then again, many personal
appeals, which are apparently made to reason,
are really made to the emotional side.
One may
subtly insinuate into an argument or
conversation an appeal to the feelings or
emotion of the hearer, in the shape of an idea
in the nature of a hint, or indirect mention.
Such
idea will be "felt" by the listener, who will
accept it into his mind, and before long he will
regard it as one of his own thoughts--he will
make it his own. He will think that he "thought"
it, whereas, really, he simply "feels" it, and
the "feeling" is induced. This is a case of
"suggestion."
In
ordinary social intercourse you will find that
women are adepts in this subtle form of
insinuative suggestion, as compared to men.
Men will
blurt out statements and ideas, and attempt to
"prove" them, but the woman will gently
"insinuate" the idea into the mind of the other
person, so that, "without having proven a fact,
she will have managed to create a definite idea
of feeling in the mind of the other by
"suggestion." I think I need not give examples
of this fact--it is apparent to all who have
mingled with people.
And
really this "suggestion" resembles the mental
suggestion of the psychologists very much. It is
true that the practitioner of mental suggestion,
in his ''treatments," often makes use of direct,
forceful statements, such as: "You are strong,
cheerful, well and happy," but you will notice
even here that he does not "argue the point," or
attempt to "prove" his statements.
He
simply affirms and asserts the fact, and by
constantly repeated suggestions he finally
causes the mind of the other person to accept
the statement. So you see a "suggestion" may be
either a subtle insinuation or a bold, positive
statement--but it is never an argument, or
process of proof.
The word
"impression" is good, as applied to the effect
of a suggestion, but I prefer to stick to my
terms, and therefore I shall consider that the
effect of mental suggestion is caused by
induction. "What," you may say, "I thought that
induction was a term used when a mental state
was set up in one by mentative currents from the
mind of another?"
Yes,
this is true, but my last statement is true
also. An induced mental state is one set up by
outside influence of some kind, whether that
outside influence be a mentative current or by
suggestion through a word, a look, a sight or
anything else. The word "induce," you know,
means: "to lead; to influence; to prevail on; to
effect; to cause," etc. And any mental state
that is induced by an outside influence comes
clearly under the term.
Any
physical agent that tends to induce a feeling in
the mind of another may be called a suggestion.
Even the well-known instance mentioned in the
textbooks on psychology comes under this rule.
In that
instance it is related that a soldier was
carrying some bundles and a pail to his
barracks, when some practical joker yelled to
him in an authoritative voice, "Attention!"
Following the suggestion, which induced in him
the "feeling" preceding certain habitual
actions, he dropped his pail and bundles with a
crash and stood at "attention," with eyes front,
chin out, protruding breast, stomach drawn in,
and bands at his sides with little fingers
touching the seams of his trousers. That was a
suggestion! Do you see the point?
The
lives of all of us have been molded largely by
induction through suggestion. We accepted this
suggestion, or that one, and it changed the
whole current of our lives. Certain things
induced certain feelings--called into activity
certain mental states--and action followed close
upon the heels of feeling.
There
are varying degrees of suggestive power just as
there are varying degrees of what is called the
"suggestibility" of persons--that is the
tendency to accept suggestions. There are people
who scarcely ever act from motives originating
within themselves, but whose entire lives are
lived out in obedience to the suggested ideas
and feelings of others.
The
development of the Will-Power regulates the
degree of suggestibility. The man of the strong
will is not so easily affected by a suggestion
as is one whose will is weak, and who accepts
without resistance the suggestions coming from
all sides.
But note
the apparent paradox, persons of weak will may
have their wills so developed and strengthened
by scientific suggestive treatment that they may
become veritable giants of will.
The
careful student may feel inclined to ask me, at
this point, why I speak of suggested "ideas,''
when I have said that suggestion has to do with
mental states of feeling and emotion. Are not
"ideas," he asks, something connected with
thought rather than with feeling? The question
is a proper one, and I must meet it.
The word
"idea" comes from the Greek word, meaning "to
see." In its general use it means a mental
image, or a general notion or conception held in
the mind." An idea is "symbolic image held in
the mind." It is a symbol of something thought
or felt.
Ideas
are not formed by thought alone--feeling
contributes its share of these mental images. To
tell the truth, the majority of people scarcely
"think" at all, in the highest sense of the
word. Their reasoning and logical faculties are
very rudimentary. They accept their ideas at
second hand or second-hundred hand--their
thoughts must be pre-digested for them by
others, and the handed-down "idea" is the
result.
The
majority of ideas held in the mind of the race
arise from feeling and emotion. People may not
understand things, but they have experienced
feelings or emotions regarding them, and have
consequently formed many ideas and ''ideals''
therefrom.
They do
not know "just why" an idea is held by
them--they know only that they "feel" it that
way. And the majority of people are moved,
swayed and act by reasons of induced "feelings,"
rather than by results of reasoning. I am not
speaking of intuitional feelings now, but of the
plain, everyday, emotional feeling of people.
Do you
know what a feeling is? The word, used in this
sense, means: a mental state; emotion; passion;
sympathy; sentiment; susceptibility; etc. And
"emotion" means an excitement of the feelings.
Feelings belong to the instinctive side of our
mind, rather than to the rational or reasoning
side.
They
spring up from the subconscious strata of the
mind, in response to the exciting cause coming
from without. The instinctive part of our minds
are stored with the experiences, feelings,
emotions and mental states of our long line of
ancestors, reaching away back to the early
beginnings of life. In that part of the mind are
sleeping instincts, emotions and feelings, our
inheritance from the past, which await but the
inducing cause to call them into activity.
The
reason or judgment, by means of the will, act as
a restrainer, of course, according to the degree
of development of the individual. And these
outward agents, if of a "physical" nature, are
suggestions of all kinds.
Look
around you at the world of men and women. Then
tell me whether they seem to be moved
principally by reason or feeling. Are their
actions based upon good judgment and correct and
careful reasoning?
Or are
they the results of feeling and emotion? Do
people do things because the things are
considered right in the light of reason, or do
they do them "because they feel like it?"
Which
produces the greatest motive force--an appeal to
the reason of a number of people, or an appeal to
their feelings and emotion? Which sways a
gathering of people; the votes of a people; the
actions of a mob-- reason or feeling? Which moves
even you, good student, reason or feeling? Answer
the questions honestly, and you will have the key
of suggestive influence!
