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Milty's Mag, December 1941
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Milty's Mag Page seven ____________________________________________________ Phil Schumann runs into dangerous territory when he tries to account for individual likes and dislikes by means of the hypothetical difference of sensory perception which exist between individuals. I will grant the basic proposition: that it is impossible by means other than telepathy to prove that individuals perceive sensory stimuli in the same manner, or that that perceive them in different manners. But, he says in regards to the sense of taste: "...the effect experienced by the individual is different. Why should this not be true with the other senses? Of sight, feeling, sound, smell. It could be; it probably is." He has no right whatsoever to go beyond the "could be." And, in fact, even the "could be" is quite doubtful. Where he makes his mistake is in the following statement: "It is known for a certainty that all people's tastes differ. The case of conditioned reflexes does not enter into the matter." It appears that he considers conditioned reflexes to exist only in certain isolated cases, and that it is quite simple to disregard them with a flip of the typewriter key. But, on the contrary, conditioned reflexes are the basis of all learning, and since our complex likes and dislikes are the result of learning, we must consider conditioned reflexes. What we have is a problem with two variables. Differences of opinion between individuals bay be the result of conditioning, or they may be the results of inborn differences, i.e., differences in sensory perception. In order to discuss the matter, the two variables must be separated from each other. The best evidence psychology has, indicates (as I pointed out in the last issue of Milty's Mag) that inborn characteristics relate mainly to the simpler forms of mental processes, while higher sections of the brain come into play when learning begins. If we consider the most primitive likes and dislikes, it appears from the evidence that people do not differ so very much. Guilford (Genearl Psychology, Chapter XV) says, "The reasons for liking and disliking stimuli are numerous. Undoubtedly certain colors tastes, and odors are preferred to others because of inborn nervous dispositions. Pleasantness and unpleasantness have always been crude, though not infallible guides as to which stimuli should be sought after and which ones should be rejected....People the world over have about the same general preferences for different colors, with surprisingly few exceptions....In general, reds, greens, and blues are much preferred to oranges, yellows, and purples....Most animals have a 'sweet tooth'; even goldfish. Salt is pleasant in moderate quantities when desired. Sour and bitter are almost always unpleasant, though at the right intensities and in the right places they also are desired. It depends upon the intensity of the stimulus and the mood or desire of the individual." The opinion of psychology has gradually come about to the realization that the mind of a newborn infant is a complete blank, with no innate opinions, inclinations, or likings, other than the primitive ones mentioned above. All that the individual subse-
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Milty's Mag Page seven ____________________________________________________ Phil Schumann runs into dangerous territory when he tries to account for individual likes and dislikes by means of the hypothetical difference of sensory perception which exist between individuals. I will grant the basic proposition: that it is impossible by means other than telepathy to prove that individuals perceive sensory stimuli in the same manner, or that that perceive them in different manners. But, he says in regards to the sense of taste: "...the effect experienced by the individual is different. Why should this not be true with the other senses? Of sight, feeling, sound, smell. It could be; it probably is." He has no right whatsoever to go beyond the "could be." And, in fact, even the "could be" is quite doubtful. Where he makes his mistake is in the following statement: "It is known for a certainty that all people's tastes differ. The case of conditioned reflexes does not enter into the matter." It appears that he considers conditioned reflexes to exist only in certain isolated cases, and that it is quite simple to disregard them with a flip of the typewriter key. But, on the contrary, conditioned reflexes are the basis of all learning, and since our complex likes and dislikes are the result of learning, we must consider conditioned reflexes. What we have is a problem with two variables. Differences of opinion between individuals bay be the result of conditioning, or they may be the results of inborn differences, i.e., differences in sensory perception. In order to discuss the matter, the two variables must be separated from each other. The best evidence psychology has, indicates (as I pointed out in the last issue of Milty's Mag) that inborn characteristics relate mainly to the simpler forms of mental processes, while higher sections of the brain come into play when learning begins. If we consider the most primitive likes and dislikes, it appears from the evidence that people do not differ so very much. Guilford (Genearl Psychology, Chapter XV) says, "The reasons for liking and disliking stimuli are numerous. Undoubtedly certain colors tastes, and odors are preferred to others because of inborn nervous dispositions. Pleasantness and unpleasantness have always been crude, though not infallible guides as to which stimuli should be sought after and which ones should be rejected....People the world over have about the same general preferences for different colors, with surprisingly few exceptions....In general, reds, greens, and blues are much preferred to oranges, yellows, and purples....Most animals have a 'sweet tooth'; even goldfish. Salt is pleasant in moderate quantities when desired. Sour and bitter are almost always unpleasant, though at the right intensities and in the right places they also are desired. It depends upon the intensity of the stimulus and the mood or desire of the individual." The opinion of psychology has gradually come about to the realization that the mind of a newborn infant is a complete blank, with no innate opinions, inclinations, or likings, other than the primitive ones mentioned above. All that the individual subse-
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