The Starkville news., 1915-05-21
Science In Daily Life.

Science In Daily Life.
During the last twenty years man
has been applying the sciences Of
physics and chemistry to his daily
Hfe.
Today we have q new science, unr
known twenty years ago, which is just
beginning to be applied to human life.
This science is called psychology
science Of hul.an behavior, Of thu
workings of the mind. Some Of the
uses to which it la already being put
indicate little Of it's great possibiA-
ties.
The government prohibits immigra
don into this country of mentally de-
fective individuals, individuals who
viii be unable to take care Of them
selves and earn living. But how can
such persons be detected7 Psychology
has developed mental tests which indj.
cate who are normal and who are not,
and It's tests are at present furnishing
for our government a guide In tkfs
matter ut Ellis island
some types or insane anu nenLaly
an enigma to physicians. Psychologists
have recently been successful In the
handling of some Of these types-no-
tably hysteria-because of their more
Intimate acquaintance with the laws
Of mental life.
Choosing a Boys Career.
Vocational guidance is q problem
which has come to the front within the
last ave years. And it Is to psychol-
ogy that all are looking for an answer
to the question, What career shOald
my boy pursue?'
Within the last three months one Of.
our foremost psychologists has ear
rted on psychological tests as to the
fitness Of clerks for their work In the
New York Cffice of large insurance
company. 1t was discovered that his
expert opinion based on his tests
agreed remarkably well with the opin
ton of the men in charge as to the At
ness of the employees. This means
that such tests, Ii used upon appIi-
eants for jobs, would indicate right
at the start which applicants would
make good" eventually and which
would mt According to recent New
York paper1, such tests are going to be
employed In the future in determining
the fitness Of applicants for positions
on the Pennsylvania railroad
Most Capable Of His Class.
Professor Breese of the University Of
Cincinnati q few months ago reported
the case of a young man who was fin
ishing his course In that institution
after having been there five years.
After a conference among his instruc.
tors, who knew his work in class and
In the shop, it was decided not to al
low him to graduate. But the psyche
logical tests made on all the seniors by
Professor Breese indicated that this
young man was possessed of superior
ability. Upon Breese's recommends
don alone was 1t finally decided to al
low him to graduate with his class.
Within one year from that time it was
evident to the whole faculty that this
young man was the most capable Of
his class. The psychological tests had
shown talents which Ave years Of close
observation on the part Of the faculty |
had not revealed.
Permanent Impressions.
The writer has been employed during |
the past three years in reporting to two
different advertising clubs what psy. |
chology has In store for advertising
The above illustrations are from the |
6elds Of industry, medicine, vocational
guidance and advertising Many 9th |
srs could be added II space permitted |
showing how problems In crime, so |
eiology, education. etc., are being sow
Cd through psychology our
steadily increasing knowledge Of The
laws of human behavior.