In this paper the relation between character measured by Rorschach test and the degree of physical maturation was duly considered with the result that the concrete structure of character which maturation prescribes was clarified. Those who were tested were 156 boys and 166 girls ranging from 2nd grades to 8th grades. The test of character was made by the use of 10 Hans Huber plates, the physical maturation being decided with the X-ray pictures of the carpal bones.
The results of character test tell that the fields upon which physical maturation has clearly influence are the number of responses, good form responses, movement responses, apperceptive type and W. answers of good form, while the fields upon which it has pretty influence are whole responses computed from plates and quality, colour responses, experience type and animal responses.
The qualities of character differentiating groups of higher and lower maturation (H-group and L-group) which can be under-stood from these results will be summarized as follows :
(1) The differences connected with undulations of intellectual faculties and peculiarity of intellectual activities were revealed in diverse results of test with distinct contrast.
The H-group showed rich imagination, quick and ardent association activities with clear and reasonable process, high competence for summarization and systematization, sufficient abilities for abstract thinking, high abilities to seize actuality, excellence in personal responses and abundant originality.
It follows, therefore, that those in H-group have generally high intellectual faculties.
L-group showed lower levels in every respect compared with the features mentioned above. In addition to that, poverty of idea, stiffness in mental activity, crudeness and superficiality in the way of thinking, together with imitative tendency were comparatively conspicuous in them.
(2) With respect to the features mentioned above, H-group showed, when confronted with difficulties, proper reasonable adaptability with their strong thinking power which means that they have high intellectual and social adaptability, while L-group failed in those intellectual and social adaptability, unreasonableness or inability of adaptation being their general tendency.
(3) H-group showed introversive tendency, while L-group showed comparatively high extrotensive tendency.
(4) H-group tended to fall into depressive mood, but to have stabilized emotion, whereas L-group which had the rather tendency of self-centricity tended to run into elated mood, low emotional adaptability and emotional immaturity with little stabilization in emotion, frequently showing impulsive outbursts etc.
(5) In those respects mentioned above, some sex differences were observed, but, in general, common tendencies or features were more conspicuously observed.
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