According to functional psychology, development in the life of the individual is marked by a series of crises. Meaning grows out of con scious behavior, but behavior becomes conscious only when a maladjust ment exists between the individual and his environment. Consciousness becomes most alert and active when there is a need for adjustment. Under ordinary conditions instincts and habits direct the conduct of the individual but when a new Situation presents itself these forms of control are inadequate and must be directed by consciousness. Instincts and habits tend to maintain that level of behavior already established, but it is the factor of consciousness which accounts for present standards of conduct; it is this extraordinary form of control which inhibits instincts, breaks up old habits, and initiates new modes of behavior. These crises may thus be regarded as the essential causes of the individual's mental attitude, his sentiments, and concepts, as well as the characteristic organization of his thinking. This principle holds in social evolution as well as in individual adaptation. A problem presenting itself requires that the individual or the community change the old habits, customs, and thought and estab blish new modes of behavior suitable to the new situation. Any event, institution, or idea which facilitates or hinders this adjustment receives attention and is given significance. Thus historians are beginning to realize that the unity of history is best attained if the great problems which the people encounter are made the basis of discussion and if the historical events and characters are given importance according to the part they have played in the larger social adjustments. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.