1: introspective self-consciousnessJames begins by criticizing an advertisement of Blank's Psychology, a publication which claims to explain the meaning of apperception and will do so for what I am sure in his day was a hefty price. He is critical because although the concept is simple and the implications powerful, the real utility lies with understanding how the mind works in the face of this concept:
2: mental perception; especially : the process of understanding something perceived in terms of previous experience
"In admitting a new body of experience, we instinctively seek to disturb as little as possible our pre-existing stock of ideas" (p. 78).This "law of economy" implies that it is not enough simply to know that the mind takes in new information and links it to existing data. We need to know that the mind is orderly and tries to maintain a sense of integrity in the face of new introductions and linkages to information because it is less taxing on the brain.
This powerful concept made me think about my own educational experiences. Oftentimes when I reject stnew information, I believe it may have been directly related to my inability to make room for new concepts due to my current understanding of the subject, misconceptions that I had from prior instruction or attitudinal positions based on my ignorance of other perspectives.
In my opinion, these concepts are universally applicable to both young and older learners. The "old fogyism" (p.78) of which James speaks is something definitely applicable to me as I pursue this doctoral degree.
Are there subject areas for which providing obvious and direct linkages more beneficial to you? -
References
Apperception. (2011). merriam-webster.com. Retrieved October 24, 2011, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apperception
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