Page:The Evolution of Modesty.djvu/26

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6 PSYCHOLOGY OF SEX.

chologists, and ethnographists, few or no attempts appear to have been made to reach a general synthetic statement of these facts and suggestions. It is true that a great many unreliable, slight, or fragmentary efforts have been made to ascertain the constitution or basis of this emotion.[1] Many psychologists have regarded modesty simply as the result of clothing. This view is overturned by the well-ascertained fact that many races which go absolutely naked possess a highly-developed sense of modesty. These writers have not realized that physiological modesty is earlier in appearance, and more fundamental, than anatomical modesty. A partial contribution to the analysis of modesty has been made by Professor James, who, with his usual insight and lucidity, has set forth certain of its characteristics, especially the element due to "the application to ourselves of judgments primarily passed upon our mates." Guyau, in a very brief discussion of modesty, realized its great significance and touched on most of its chief elements.[2] Westermarck, again, followed by Grosse, has very ably and convincingly set forth certain factors in the origin of ornament and clothing, a subject which many writers imagine to cover the whole field of modesty. More recently Eibot, in his work on the emotions, has vaguely outlined most of the factors of modesty, but has not developed a coherent view of their origins and relationships.

Since the present Study first appeared, Hohenemser, who considers that my analysis of modesty is unsatisfactory, has made a notable attempt to define the psychological mechanism of shame. ("Yersuch einer Analyse der Scham," Archiv fiir die Gesamte Psychologic, Bd. II, Heft 2-3, 1003.) He regards shame as a general psycho-physical phenomenon, "a definite tension of the whole soul," with an emotion superadded.

"The state of shame consists in a certain psychic lameness or inhibition," sometimes accompanied by physical phenomena of paralysis, such as sinking of the head and inability to meet the eye. It is a special case of Lipps's psychic stasis or damming up {psychischc Stauung), always

  1. ↑ The earliest theory I have met with is that of St. Augustine, who stairs i/>, Cwitate Del Bk. XIV, Oh. XVTT) that ereetions'of the penis never Occurred until after the Fall of Man. It was the occurrence of (lii> "shameless novelty" which made nakedness indecent. This theory tails to account For modesty in women.
  2. ↑ Guyau, Vlrreligion de VAvenir, Ch. VII.
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