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A STUDY OF ASSOCIATION IN INSANITY

BY

GRACE HELEN KENT, A.M.

AND

A.J. ROSANOFF, M.D.

KINGS PARK STATE HOSPITAL, N.Y.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PART I. ASSOCIATION IN NORMAL SUBJECTS.

§1. Method of Investigation

§2. The Normal Standard

§3. The Frequency Tables

§4. Normal Associational Tendencies

§5. Practical Considerations

§6. An Empirical Principle of Normal Association

PART II. ASSOCIATION IN INSANE SUBJECTS.

§1. General Survey of Pathological Material

§2. Classification of Reactions

§3. Non-Specific Reactions; Doubtful Reactions

§4. Individual Reactions; Explanation of Groups and Methods of
Application

      Normal Reactions
      Pathological Reactions
      Derivatives of Stimulus Words
      Partial Dissociation
      Non-Specific Reactions
      Sound Reactions
      Word Complements
      Particles of Speech
      Complete Dissociation
      Perseveration
      Neologisms
      Unclassified Reactions
       Normal Reactions
       Circumstantial Reactions
       Distraction
       Incoherent Reactions

§5. Order of Preference

§6. Errors Involved in the Use of Arbitrary Objective Standards

§7. Analysis of Pathological Material
       Dementia Præcox
       Paranoic Conditions
       Epilepsy
       General Paresis
       Manic-Depressive Insanity
       Involutional Melancholia; Alcoholic Dementia; Senile Dementia

§8. Pathological Reactions from Normal Subjects

§9. Number of Different Words given as Reactions

§10. Co-operation of the Subject

§11. Summary

Acknowledgments

INDEX TO FREQUENCY TABLES AND APPENDIX

THE FREQUENCY TABLES

APPENDIX TO THE FREQUENCY TABLES

PART I.

ASSOCIATION IN NORMAL SUBJECTS.

Among the most striking and commonly observed manifestations ofinsanity are certain disorders of the flow of utterance which appearto be dependent upon a derangement of the psychical processes commonlytermed association of ideas. These disorders have to some extent beenmade the subject of psychological experimentation, and the object ofthis investigation is to continue and extend the study of thesephenomena by an application of the experimental method known as theassociation test.

§ 1. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION.

In this investigation we have followed a modified form of the methoddeveloped by Sommer,[1] the essential feature of which is thestatistical treatment of results obtained by uniform technique from alarge number of cases.

[Footnote 1: Diagnostik der Geisteskrankheiten, p. 112.]

The stimulus consists of a series of one hundred spoken words, to eachof which the subject is directed to react by the first word which itmakes him think of. In the select

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