232 PSYCHOLOGY AND PREACHING
habit-formation will see to that. If the suggestion be re peated by different persons at irregular intervals, in such a way as to avoid making the impression of collusion, the sug gestive effect is heightened. We are familiar with the stock illustration of the power of a suggestion repeated in this way. A man walks down the street in the morning feeling in excellent health. He meets a friend who remarks, " Why, what is the matter? You do not look at all well this morning." From time to time throughout the day other friends make the same or similar remarks concerning his appearance. In the evening the man returns home looking and feeling unwell. There is added to the cumulative effect of mere repetition the massive effect of collective sugges tion. The same declaration made by two men is more im pressive than the declaration made twice by one man ; and the repetition of a statement by a thousand persons may be overwhelming, while a thousand repetitions of it by one person might be wholly ineffective. Beyond a certain point, which is soon reached, repetition by the same person ceases to add force, if it does not excite suspicion or disgust. But the greater the number of persons who concur in the affirmation of any proposition, the greater becomes its sug gestive power. However, collective suggestion will receive consideration later on and need not be dwelt upon here.
5. Suggestion aims at immediate or speedy effects. Its effectiveness is usually in proportion to the immediateness of the response. The reason is obvious. In normal sug gestion the lapse of time increases the opportunity for bringing out all relevant considerations and for a rational examination of the idea suggested, in which it may be in telligently rejected; or if thoughtfully adopted, its accept ance will be the result not of suggestibility but of rational activity. It is noticeable that those who rely upon sugges tion as a method of influencing others usually insist upon immediate action, while those who instinctively resist this kind of influence usually insist upon postponement of action, and it is a healthy instinct. The desire to postpone action
�� �
