THE LAWS OF RECALL

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CHAPTER IV

THE LAWS OF RECALL


[Sidenote: _The Law of Integral Recall_]

Law I. The primary law of recall is this: _The recurrence or
stimulation of one element in a complex tends to recall all the others._

In our explanation of "complex" formation we necessarily cited instances
that illustrate this principle as well, since _recall is merely a
reverse operation from that involved in "complex" formation_.

[Sidenote: _What Ordinary "Thinking" Amounts to_]

For example, in running through a book I come upon a flower pressed
between its pages. At once the memory of the friend who gave it to me
springs into consciousness and becomes the subject of reminiscence. This
recalls the mountain village where we last met. This recalls the fact
that a railroad was at the time under process of construction, which
should transform the village into a popular resort. This in turn