ABSTRACT
We turn now to the description of the types of personality as they correspond to the circular and schizophrene groups. Just a few words on the technical side. As is the case with every important question of an anamnesic nature, so with characterology, it is essential to avoid suggestive questioning as far as possible. Written self-portrayals of intelligent patients are of special value for this reason. In order, however, to get a systematic survey over a large series we have no other resource than direct viva voce questioning of the immediate members of the family, and after that, of the patients themselves. If we ask a peasant woman “Was your brother nervous and peace-loving, energetic, etc.?” we shall often get a vague and uncertain reply. If, on the other hand, we ask: “What did he do when he was a child, if he had to go alone into the dark hay-loft?” or, “How did he behave himself when there was a row up at the pub on a Sunday evening?” then perhaps this same woman will give us concise and unequivocal information which, with its fresh liveliness, bears the stamp of trustworthiness on it. One must be perfectly familiar with the life of the simple man, the peasant, and the workman, and one must put oneself completely in his place, so that by one’s investigations one elicits in concrete pictures his experiences in the school, in church, and at the pub, from one end of the week to the other, rather than a scheme of peculiarities of character.
