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criminal psychology-第28部分

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This becomes clearer when one notices how often habit facilitates very complex action:the habits of animals; the high steps of horses; the pointing of pointers; the sucking of calves; etc。 It is difficult for us in falling to make opposite movements to stretching out the arms; even in bed; we draw on our gloves unconsciously。 Gratiolet says: ‘‘Whoever energetically denies some point; etc。; shuts his eyes; if he assents he nods and opens his eyes wide。 Whoever describes a terrible thing shuts his eyes and shakes his head; whoever looks closely raises his eye…brows。 In the attempt to think the same thing is done or the eye…brows are contracted both make the glance keener。 Thence follows the reflex activity。''

With regard to the second。 Dogs who are quarrelling with cats assume the appearance of battleif they are kindly…minded they do the opposite; although this serves no purpose。 M。 Taylor'1' says; that the gesture language of the Cistercians depends considerably on antithesis; e。 g。; shrugging the shoulders is the opposite of firmness; immovability。

With regard to the direct activity of the nervous system; examples are paling; trembling (fear; terror; pain; cold; fever; horror; joy); palpitation of the heart; blushing; perspiring; exertion of strength; tears; pulling the hair; urinating; etc。 With these subdivisions it will be possible to find some thoroughfare and to classify every phenomenon。

We want to discuss a few more particulars in the light of Darwin's

'1' Taylor: Early History of Mankind。

 examples。 He warns us; first of all; against seeing'1' certain muscle movements as the result of emotional excitement; because they were looked for。 There are countless habits; especially among the movements of the features; which happen accidentally or as the result of some passing pain and which have no significance。 Such movements are often of the greatest clearness; and do not permit the unexperienced observer to doubt that they have important meanings; although they have no relation whatever to any emotional condition。 Even if it is agreed only to depend on changes of the whole face; already established as having a definite meaning; there is still danger of making mistakes; because well accredited facial conditions may occur in another way (as matters of habit; nervous disturbances; wounds; etc。)。 Hence in this matter; too; care and attention are required; for if we make use of any one of the Darwinian norms; as; for example; that the eyes are closed when we do not want to see a thing or when we dislike it; we still must grant that there are people to whom it has become habitual to close their eyes under other and even opposed conditions。

We must grant that; with the exception of such cases; the phenomena are significant during examinations; as when we show the accused a very effective piece of evidence; (e。 g。: a comparison of hand…writings which is evidential;) and he closes his eyes。 The act is then characteristic and of importance; particularly when his words are intended to contest the meaning of the object in question。 The contradiction between the movement of his eyes and his words is then suggestive enough。 The same occurs when the accused is shown the various possibilities that lie before himthe movement of the examination; the correlations and consequences。 If he finds them dangerous; he closes his eyes。 So with witnesses also; when one of them; e。 g。; deposes to more; and more harmfully; than according to our own notion he can explain; he will close his eyes; though perhaps for an instant only; if the inevitable consequences of his deposition are expounded to him。 If he closes his eyes he has probably said too much; and the proper moment must not be missed to appeal to his conscience and to prevent more exaggerated and irresponsible assertions。

This form of closing the eyes is not to be confused with the performances of persons who want to understand the importance of their depositions and to collect their senses; or who desire to review

'1' J。 Reid: The Muscular Sense。 Journal of Mental Science; XLVII; 510。

 the story mentally and consider its certainty。 These two forms of closing the eyes are different: the first; which wants to shut out the consequences of testimony; is much shorter; the latter longer; because it requires a good deal of time to collect one's senses and to consider a problem。 The first; moreover; is accompanied by a perceivable expression of fear; while the latter is manifest only by its duration; what is most important is a characteristic contemporary and perceivable defensive movement of the hand; and this occurs only in the cases where the desire is to exclude。 This movement occurs even among very phlegmatic persons; and hence is comparatively reliable; it is not made by people who want undisturbedly to study a question and to that end shut their eyes。

In a similar way there is significance in the sudden closing of the mouth by either the accused or the witness。 Resolution and the shutting of the mouth are inseparable; it is as impossible to imagine a vacillating; doubting person with lips closely pressed together; as a firm and resolute person with open mouth。 The reason implies Darwin's first law: that of purposeful associated habits。 When a man firmly resolves upon some deed the resolution begins immediately to express itself in movements which are closely dependent upon bodily actions。 Even when I suddenly resolve to face some correctly… supposed disagreeable matter; or to think about some joyless thing; a bodily movement; and indeed quite an energetic one; will ensue upon the resolutionI may push my chair back; raise my elbows; perhaps put my head quickly between my hands; push the chair back again; and then begin to look or to think。 Such actions; however; require comparatively little bodily exertion; much more follows on different types of resolutionsin short; a firm resolution requires a series of movements immediately to follow its being made。 And if we are to move the muscles must be contracted。 And it is; of course; obvious that only those muscles can be set in action which are; according to the immediate situation of the body; free to move。 If we are sitting down; for example; we can not easily make our feet conform to the movement of a march forward; nor can we do much with the thighs; hence the only muscles we can use are those of the face and of the upper limbs。 So then; the mouth is closed because its muscles are contracted; and with equal significance the arms are thrust outward sharply; the fist clenched; and the fore…arm bent。 Anybody may try the experiment for himself by going through the actions enumerated and seeing whether he does not become filled  with a sense of resolution。 It is to be especially observed; as has already been indicated; that not only are mental states succeeded by external movements; but imitated external movements of any kind awaken; or at least plainly suggest; their correlated mental states。

If; then; we observe in any person before us the signs of resolution we may certainly suppose that they indicate a turn in what he has said and what he is going to say。 If they be observed in the accused; then he has certainly resolved to pass from denial to confession; or to stick to his denial; or to confess or keep back the names of his accomplices; the rendezvous; etc。 Inasmuch as in action there is no other alternative than saying or not saying so; it might be supposed that there is nothing important in the foregoing statement; the point of importance lies; however; in the fact that a _*definite_ resolution has been reached of which the court is aware and from which a departure will hardly be made。 Therefore; what follows upon the resolution so betrayed; we cannot properly perceive; we know only that it in all likelihood consists of what succeeds it; i。 e。 the accused either confesses to something; or has resolved to say nothing。 And that observation saves us additional labor; for he will not easily depart from his resolution。

The case is analogous with regard to the witness who tells no truth or only a part of the truth。 He reveals the marks of resolution upon deciding finally to tell the truth or to persist in his lying; and so; whatever he does after the marks of resolution are noted; we are saved unnecessary effort to make the man speak one way or another。

It is particularly interesting to watch for such expressions of resolution in jurymen; especially when the decision of guilt or innocence is as difficult as it is full of serious consequences。 This happens not rarely and means that the juryman observed is clear in his own mind as to how he is going to vote。 Whatever testimony may succeed this resolution is then indifferent。 The resolved juryman is so much the less to be converted; as he usually either pays no more attention to the subsequent testimony; or hears it in such prejudiced fashion that he sees everything in his own way。 In this case; however; it is not difficult to tell what the person in question has decided upon。 If the action we now know follows a very damaging piece of testimony; the defendant is condemned thereby; if it follows excusive testimony he is declared innocent。 Anybody who studies t
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