PROBLEM IN PSYCHOLOGY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 29 July 1933, Page 5

PROBLEM IN PSYCHOLOGY

A correspondent to the Educational Supplement of “The Times” submits the following problem in psychology: — By far the biggest duffer of the* geometry class was a boy who, strangely enough, was making every endeavour lo excel, in order to please his mother, although he had neither ability nor liking , for the subject. His father, a builder, had been killed in an Accident while at work. During a general conversation one dinner time a master mentioned that an architect required some knowledge of geometry in his work. At the next geometry lesson the ! boy was certainly quicker at solving some problems, something lie had never 1 managed before. He came first in the examination at the end of the term, and, although moved into a higher class for certain reasons, lie picked up the back work and. came first again at the end of the next term. I suggest that an interest in geometry, wjouhl enable him to identity himself with bis father tlie more perfectly, and so satisfy an unconscious longing. If this is wrong, j perlmps someone could supply the cor- i root .explanation, and also tell us if ability is always linked up with an interest' which appeals to some instinct.