“DUAL PERSONALITY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 393, 29 June 1928, Page 4

“DUAL PERSONALITY”

AN EXCUSE FOR SHORTCOMINGS In these days of intense introspee tion, the natural inclinations of the or, dinary human being become distorted out of all recognition, and sentiments and tendencies are often clothed is complex words which arouse rather than allay the lower instincts. It has become the fashion to lay sB our nasty little faults and failings st the door of ‘‘dual personality." That second, mysterious part of our nature is supposed to act almost without our knowledge, and to do things which cause the higher part to lift its hands iu horror and roll its eyes in sanctimonious concern. But of course it can’t be helped. It is just that dull personality! The proverb which tells us that ifr norance is bliss could be well applied to dual personality, for if knowledge is to be used a 3 an excuse for lack ot principle, the less we know the bet ter. Personality—not dual personality—is one of the thousand priceless gifts bestowed on mankind, and it has not two, but a thousand sides. We know very little concerning the mind, which IS personality, but the most prejudiced person will admit that he or she reacts in quite a different manner te different people. We do not —perhaps we cannot —show the same side ot ourselves to everyone. To some we are charming; to others sarcastic; M a certain friend we are all that is true and reliable, while another may com sidsr us clever but uncertain, and some may be unable to put up with ul at any price. And, to a certain degree, we live up to what our frieondl think us, showing the personality that is expected of us, though occasionally we may upset the whole bag of tricks by revealing some utterly unsuspected side. Hs \ often do we near people say, ‘‘l was amazed —I never thought she was like that.” As a matter of fact there is no knowing what we may do in different circumstance* but we can control ourselves if w» wish to. The fact that we have so many sides does not relieve us of responsibility, and the normal woman, however much she tried to stifle it, is perfectly able to distinguish between right and wrong. This idea about "dual par* 3onality” is but an excuse, a dangerous excuse, for shortcomings.