hydraulic model

any physiological or psychological model based on the analogy of fluid flowing through a system under pressure, such that pressure may build up in the system and seek release. Sigmund Freud’s model of the libido as an energy that can build pressure and seek release (catharsis) is a notable example. A more literal use of the hydraulic model was the erroneous concept of the nervous system introduced in the early 17th century by René Descartes, who believed that nerves were tubes through which animal spirits flowed from the brain to the muscles. According to this model, habits were formed when repeated use of the nerve tubes caused them to become distended and blocked.

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Psychology term of the day

November 22nd 2024

spirit photography

the attempt, popular in the late 19th century, to render visible the spirits of deceased individuals by photography. In particular, it was claimed that spirits often left faint imprints on photographs of their loved ones. The first alleged spirit photograph was produced in 1862 by the U.S. engraver William H. Mumler, who was subsequently tried (inconclusively) for fraud. Most of the supposed spirit images produced at this time seem to have been created using a simple process of double exposure or specially prepared plates.