Fig. 23.—Diagram showing times taken by a kitten to escape from the cage in twenty-four successive experiments.
Dr. Thorndike comments on the results of his experiments as follows:—
“When put into the box the cat would show evident signs of discomfort and of an impulse to escape from confinement. It tries to squeeze through any opening; it claws and bites at the bars or wire; it thrusts its paws out through any opening, and claws at everything it reaches; it continues its efforts when it strikes anything loose and shaky: it may claw at things within the box. It does not pay very much attention to the food outside, but seems simply to strive instinctively to escape from confinement. The vigour with which it struggles is extraordinary. For eight or ten minutes it will claw, and bite, and squeeze incessantly.... The cat that is clawing all over the box in her impulsive struggle will probably claw the string, or loop, or button so as to open the door. And gradually all the other non-successful impulses will be stamped out, and the particular impulse leading to the successful act will be stamped in by the resulting pleasure, until, after many trials, the cat will, when put in the box, immediately claw the button or loop in a definite way.... Starting, then, with its store of instinctive impulses, the cat hits upon the successful movement, and gradually associates it with the sense-impression of the interior of the box until the connection is perfect, so that it performs the act as soon as confronted with the sense-impression.... Previous experience makes a difference in the quickness with which the cat forms the associations. After getting out of six or eight boxes by different sorts of acts, the cat’s general tendency to claw at loose objects within the box is strengthened and its tendency to squeeze through holes and bite bars is weakened; accordingly it will learn associations along the general line of the old more quickly. Associations between licking or scratching and escape are similarly established, and there was a noticeable tendency to diminish the act until it becomes a mere vestige of a lick or scratch. After the cat gets so that it performs the act soon after being put in, it begins to do it less and less vigorously. The licking degenerates into a mere quick turn of the head with one or two motions up and down with tongue extended. Instead of a hearty scratch, the cat waves its paw up and down rapidly for an instant.”
Such experiments carried out on a different method give results in line with my own. The conditions are, however, somewhat unnatural, which I regard as in some respects a disadvantage. But we need experiments on different methods—the more the better,—and if the results they furnish are in accord, their correctness will be rendered the more probable. It is to be hoped that Dr. Thorndike will devise further experiments in which (1) the conditions shall be somewhat less strained and straitened, while the subjects are in a more normal state of equanimity (cannot “utter hunger” be avoided?), and (2) there shall be more opportunity for the exercise of rational judgment, supposing the faculty to exist. To establish the absence of foresight in the procedure of the cats, it is surely necessary so to arrange matters that the connections are clearly open—nay, even obvious—to the eye of reason. It appears that this consideration has not weighed sufficiently with Dr. Thorndike.
A series of experiments were made to ascertain whether instruction (in the form of putting the animal through the procedure requisite for a given act) was in any degree helpful. The conclusion is that such instruction has no influence. Those who have had experience in teaching animals to perform tricks will probably agree here—though some trainers give expression to a different opinion. It is, however, essential to distinguish carefully between showing an animal how a trick is done, and either stimulating its attention or furnishing accessory guidance (such as the occasional taps of the trainer’s whip when he wants a performing horse to kneel), or affording suitable conditions the results of which temporarily enter into the association complex. If the latter be eliminated the practice of trainers, I believe, bears out the general result of the experiments. Dr. Thorndike never succeeded in getting an animal to change its way of doing a thing for his. Nor was I, after repeated trials, able to modify the way in which my dog lifted the latch of the gate. He did it with the back of his head. I could not get him to do it (more gracefully) with his muzzle.
It may be said that the remarkable feats of performing animals imply the existence of faculties of a higher order than Dr. Thorndike and I are prepared to admit on the basis of our experiments. Mr. P. G. Hamerton many years ago described[64] how, in his own house, a cleverly trained dog would fetch in their right order the letters which spelt the English or German equivalents of common French words, and do other wonderful things. But the owner of the dog (M. du Rouil) admitted that there was a means of rapport between them which he was not prepared to divulge. It is just because the trainer has to lead up to and utilize chance experiences that such prolonged patience and care are required. The animal is but the instrument on which his clever trainer plays; an instrument of wonderful intelligence, but lacking in the higher rational faculty. The organized scheme is the master’s, not that of his willing slave. A rational being might not do more wonderful things; but he would learn them more rapidly and by a less wearisome method. As it is, the clever performing dog originates little or nothing, and repeats again and again the same stereotyped behaviour, which—if one witnesses the performance often—touches one with a profound sense of its lack of rational spontaneity.
As at present advised, therefore, I see no reason for withdrawing from the position provisionally taken up. The utilization of chance experience, without the framing and application of an organized scheme of knowledge, appears to be the predominant method of animal intelligence.