Website owner:  James Miller

Various mental abilities

   Memory.  There are different kinds of memory: visual memory, 
       memory for facts, memory for experiences, memory for 
       feelings, memory for music, short-term memory, long-term 
       memory, etc..  Memory is probably related to what a person 
       is interested in, how interested he is in it, etc. (i.e. a 
       person remembers what he is interested in, what attracts 
       his attention, what he specifically notes). 

   Reasoning Ability.  Reasoning ability is a skill that probably 
       improves with effort and mental discipline.  It is 
       something that is easily clouded and impeded by emotional 
       slants and tendencies of the mind.  Some people don't think 
       --- they feel.  Life is a panorama of feelings and 
       sensations for them.  They are very susceptible to 
       impressions, atmosphere, etc..  These tendencies tend to 
       impede and obstruct Reason.  In general Reasoning Ability 
       is very dependent on Personality Type, Experience and 
       Knowledge.  Also it can be very severely impeded by Fear, 
       as in the confusion of Panic (Panic arising from time 
       tests, someone watching over your shoulder, etc.). 

   Being observant of physical surroundings.  The minds of some 
       people are naturally directed towards what is going on 
       around them (the physical vicinity around them).  They hear 
       every sound and see everything that happens.  Other people 
       are almost totally oblivious to what is going on around 
       them.  Their mind is directed inward on abstract ideas, 
       hopes, plans, dreams, etc..  The person whose mind is 
       directed outward on his physical surroundings tends to be 
       very observant and is generally an active, alert type of 
       person.  The person whose mind is directed inward tends to 
       be a Thinker, Philosopher, or Dreamer.  These represent two 
       opposing mental tendencies.  I suspect that the difference 
       between them is simply one of mental habit.  By habit, one 
       person's mind works in the one way and another person's 
       mind works in the other way.  It is probably also very much 
       a matter of where one's interest lies, what one finds 
       interesting, what one enjoys.  Some people are very fond of 
       reflecting, pondering or dreaming; other people get more 
       pleasure from observing what is going on around them. 

   Ease in learning.  Some people learn very easily and rapidly.  
       They pick things up very quickly and with little effort.  I 
       think this trait is very much related to Personality and a 
       person's general outlook on life.  I think it is a direct 
       consequence of certain personality traits.  What traits?  
       Self-confidence.  Credulousness (i.e. tendency to accept 
       and believe without question).  A balanced outlook on life.  
       Absence of inner fear and anger.  Belief in people.  A 
       trusting disposition.  A habit of looking at things as a 
       whole and not being interested in details.  A natural 
       inclination to hurry.  All these things I think.  There is 
       an opposing type of mind.  What is it?  It is the 
       skeptical, cautious, careful, analytical type of mind.  
       This type of mind questions everything, examines everything 
       closely, trusts nothing, and plods along at its own slow 
       pace.  It has a certain stubbornness and perverseness 
       associated with it that makes it balk at skimming over 
       things too rapidly and easily.  It accepts things slowly 
       and passes judgment slowly.  It won't be hurried.  This 
       type of mind probably arises out of several things: the 
       trait of conscientiousness, carefulness, and scrupulousness 
       in a personality; out of a natural inclination to go slowly 
       (disinclination to hurry); and also other things such as an 
       untrusting disposition, a tinge of stubbornness and 
       rebellion, etc.. 

   Oct 1977