THE AFTER-WAR DISEASE-

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 December 1920, Page 4

THE AFTER-WAR DISEASE-

» (By a Psychologist.) ' Ever since the armistic we have had pointed out to us a hundred and one different circumstancesfas being each the main cause for the prevailing unrest. This unrest seems to prevail more among the manual workers of the world than among the ether classes. Actually this is not so. Unrest merely shows itself among the former more readily, by such evidences as strikes and threats of strikes, on what would, before the war, have been insufficient grounds. But to those who are interested in human nature and the psychological make-up of mankind another factor is apparent, an inherent quality—if such it may be called —of the human mind. A strict disciplinarian would call it laziness. That is too harsh a term. "Lethargy" perhaps comes nearer to a true description of it. All of us feel at times that our work becomes burdensome. We feel inclined to hurry through whatever must be done to-day and to put off the rest till to-mor-row. Our mental energy feels inadequate for the task before us. Now man is by no means a rational being, as any psychologist will tell us. But inwardly he likes to think that his actions and opinions are governed purely by reason. That being so, he will always find scores of reasons for any prejudice, particular course of action, or feeling. Hence, when this feeling of "lethargy" comes to us we attempt to justify it. We are not well —just as a touch of liverishness. We are getting stale, because we need a holiday. We are overworked, or the weather is close and depressing. Anything, in fact.which can possibly account for our feeling of "lethargy." But let us be candid with ourselves. When do we feel this ''lethargy" most ? After a period of busy activity, with every moment occupied from morn till night? On the contrary, it is during and particularly after a time when things have been rather slack; or when we have returned from a holiday; it is then that we feel "lethargic." If, however, this factor has always existed in the human mind why should it show itself more now than before the war? Because it has increased. Now the very circumstances — already enumerated —which lead to its temporary outbursts will, if continued or oft repeated, inevitably lead "to its prolonged increase. During the war these circumstances were abundant. Men in the army often had —very necessarily—long periods of "masterly inactivity." Many of those at home were engaged on war work of shorter hours and much higher renumeration than their previous employment. Everyone underwent a certain amount of nervous strain. All this has lead to an increase of the general susceptibility to "lethargy." Thus we clutch at the slightest pretext for relieving temproarily of our duties. The simplest pretext of such a case is seen in the 'one day strike' as a protest against the Rent Act or the like. A worked by an able advocate and signed by several thousand people would be a far more efficient protest. But no. It must be ' one day strike* —" lethargy" has us in its grip. The remedy ? Time and a clear recognition of the causes by a frank confession of our very human weaknesses;?.