SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGYCHAPTER Ithe nature and scope of social psychologySocial psychology, as the writer conceives it, studies the Sodal Psy-psychic planes and currents that come into existence J^jJof among men in consequence of their association. It seeks sodal planes to understand and account for those uniformities in feel- and curient* ing, belief, or volition - and hence in action - which are due to the interaction of human beings, i.e., to social causes. No two persons have just the same endowment. Looking at their heredity, we should expect people to be far more dissimilar and individual than we actually find them to be. The aligning power of association triumphs over diversity of temperament and experience. There ought to be as many religious creeds as there are human beings; but wc find people ranged under a few great religions. It is the same in respect to dress, diet, pastimes, or moral ideas. The individuality each has received from the hand of nature is largely efTable of Contents CONTENTS; CHAPTER I; PACE; The Nature and Scope of Social Psychology i Social psychology treats of planes and currents Relation of social psychology to sociology proper A common environment or experience does not produce social planes Race traits are not social planes Such planes arise from interactions Social psychology explains both society and the individual Divisions How planes of sentiment regarding slavery formed Factors in the formation of religious planes Imitation vs Affinity; CHAPTER II; Suggestibilityu; The higher psychic growths imply association Much of one's mental content comes from others Psychic resonance Sub-human suggestibility Nature men Culture men (^Suggestibility in relation to age^ j£mpera-ment, and sex Women more suggestible than meD In the normal state indirect suggestion succeeds best Effect of fasting; of fatigue and hysteria Nordau's theory An alternative explanation