Mcdougall's hormic theory and its influence on subsequent psychological thought

Abstract

The purpose of this study has been to investigate as fully as possible the background and the developments ofthe hormic theory and its effective influence upon present day psychology. II. Historically, the hormic principle is traceableback to Plato and mainly to Aristotle. Philosophically, its roots cannot be isolated from Hobbes's and Locke's principleof Empirical Associationism, a principle based largely upon the premise that there are psychological laws which describewhat man would think, what he could know, and what he might do. Such a trend of thinking was to some extent confoundedwith Descartes mechanism which later McDougall decried on the ground that it does not account for the individual's freewill. III. With the advent of Darwin's theory of evolution (1859) the climate of thought in Britain was propitious f orthe new outlook and Psychology m particular profited tremendously from its novel interpretations. Seizing upon newconcepts implied in the evolutionary creed, McDougall efficiently introduced the hormically, motivational Psychology. IV, Unlike the mechanistic contentions, the dynamic hormic theory emphasises the nature of the organism's behaviour; i,e, nature endows the individual with a remarkable constitution which purposively produces or attempts to produce the right kind of behaviour and the appropriate type of mental attitude. Motivation therefore emerges from within and brain is the source of the intellect, of thinking, of ideas as well as it is the organ of motivation, Ethological and biological observations as well as modern Psychological techniques have favourably endorsed McDougall's hormic position, V, What gives the hormic theory supremacy over the rival ones is that it maintains a kaleidoscopic, voluntary explanation of behaviour and retains in its philosophy spirituality, rationality and the purposefulness of life. It has been found, besides other major characteristics, that in its present implications and psychological applications, the hormic theory has now experimental support, is viable and highly influential.

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