achievement. One needs but to say that, in the case of an unfamiliar sequence of syllables, only about seven can be grasped in one act, but that with frequent repetition and gradually increasing familiarity with the series this capacity of consciousness may be increased. So, for example, a series of 16 syllables, which have been thoroughly memorised, may be present in a single conscious act. Accordingly this “explanation” is freely available. Those for whom it was of value in the case of association by simultaneity or immediate succession can employ it fully as well for our case of indirect sequence. And because of the modest requirements which in psychology are so often imposed upon explanations, this view will doubtless for a long time serve to make dim the vision and so prevent the frank recognition of this as one of the most wonderful of all riddles, and it will also act as a hindrance in the search for its true understanding.
Section 40. Reverse Associations
Of the many problems which spring out of the results presented I have been able for the time being to investigate only a few and these by means of only a small number of experiments.
As a result of the frequent repetition of a series—a, b, c, d…—certain connections—ab, ac, ad, bd, etc.—are formed. The idea a, whenever and however it returns to consciousness, has certain tendencies of different strength to bring also with it to consciousness the ideas b, c, d. Are now these connections and tendencies reciprocal? That is, if at any time c and not a is the idea by some chance revived, does this have, in addition to the tendency to bring d and e back with it, a similar tendency in the reverse direction towards b and a? In other words:—As a result of the previous learning of a, b, c, d, the sequences a, b, c; a, c, e, are more easily learned than any grouping of equal length of syllables previously unknown such as p, q, r.…Is the same thing true of the sequences c b a, and e c a? As a result of manifold repetition of a series are associations also formed in the reverse order?
The views of the psychologists seem to be divergent upon this point. One side call attention to the undoubted fact that in spite of complete mastery of, say, the Greek alphabet a person
