Page:Mind (Old Series) Volume 11.djvu/83

72 H. M. STANLEY : expression. The expression, on the other hand, is the reflex or result of the emotion ; it is the survival of the associated past actions which were originally consequent on a given emotion. This law of survival accounts for much that Prof. James seeks to account for by his theory ; it gives account of the expressions not as causative, but as identifying them with common actions. To be consistent then, Prof. James must make all actions determine emotions, since expressions are reduced to actions. His theory is the reverse of Mr. Spencer's by making emotions peripherally not centrally initiated. This leads us naturally to consider Darwin's third law, the principle of superfluous energy issuing in expressive actions, which is also insisted on by Prof. Bain and Mr. Spencer. If expressions are resolved into actions, the law of action, efflux of energy, is the law of expression. If actions be viewed as centrally initiated, we know that there must be accumulation of nervous energy sufficient to discharge itself along muscles, Aic. Nervous energy, as the concomitant of mental excitement, will, says Mr. Spencer, discharge itself along lines of least resistance, along the smaller muscles and those most habitually used. From the latter law arise what we may term individual expressions, due to the habits of the individual ; for example, under slight nervous tension one man will move his legs, another his arms. Emotions then lead often unconsciously and in a motiveless manner to usual activities. The term ' expression ' had best, we think, be distinguished from action in the proper sense. A man may be walking fast from excitement, and the walking would then be called an expression ; but the running of a man to catch a train would hardly be called an expression. Teleological action is then set off from expression. But unteleological action cannot always be termed expression, so far as it is merely instinctive, and not indicative of conscious life at all. Expression is an indefinite region between instinctive and teleological action ; it is action, but degraded action of the survival or habitual type. Darwin's second principle, that of antithesis, is in reality not a principle, but a fact. We act in expressing emotion in opposite ways, not because the ways are opposite, but inevitably from opposite stimuli. It is merely a natural fact that opposite emotions find opposite expressions. A principle of likeness would on the same basis be required, but this like that antithesis is a fact, not a principle. Prof. Bain insists upon three principles of expression spon- taneity, diffusion, and pleasure and pain. Spontaneity is to be taken into account by way of subtraction from expression. A man in delirium manifests a great variety of movements which are not expressive, because there is nothing to express. In the play of children there is overflow of nervous energy into natural channels, but the movements are not properly expressive. Prof. Bain maintains that in joy, for instance, this element must be