Level of Aspiration Phenomena in Mentally Deficient Persons1

Abstract

YEARS AGO Lewin (12) proposed a theory of nientai deficiency based upon the results of studies dealii^ with the behavior of normal and retarded children m situations cancented with the resumption of interrupted tasks, the process of satiation, and the acceptance of substitute activity The basic ideas are: (a) that individuals beccRtne differentiated into ps)rchological r^ions (tension systems), and (b) that these r^ions are separated by functional botmdaries which differ in degree of rtgtdity (permeability) The mentally defiaent person is said to be less differentiated than the normal person of the same chronolc^cal age (and in this respect resanbles a younger normal person) Also, the functional boundaries between the differentiated regions are said to be more ngid in the mental defective than m normal persons having the same degree of differentiation.Put into more conventional terms, the theory states that the mental defective does not discnminate among events as readily as the normal person of the same chronological age; consequently, he fits his experiences into a more limited set of categories than does the normal person However, if two events are discnminated (l e , are put into different categones), then the occurrena of one of these events has little effect upon future behavior with respect to the otherThe concept of rigidity as that property of a functional boundary which prevents communication between neighboring regions has been * The authors wish to thank Mr. Hanrcf A Steveu, SttperintoMtent of the Southern Wisccmsin Colony and Training School, Unicm Grove, Wisconsin, for his assistance and cooperation in carrying out this study