Emotions of Normal People

This masterful study, ‘Emotions of Normal People’ was penned by William Moulton Marston, who was a lecturer in Psychology at Columbia and New York University. It contains chapters dealing with the broader topics of normalcy and emotion, as well as more specialised debates such as the psychonic theory of consciousness, materialism and vitalism as well as the interactive principles of primary feelings and emotions. First published in 1928, Emotions of Normal People argued that individuals act along two axes, with their responsiveness being either passive or active relative to their perceptions of their environment as either favourable or antagonistic. Controversially, Marston posited that the masculine notions of freedom are inherently anarchic and violent, as opposed to feminine notions of love which lead to submission. This book provides a fascinating insight into a highly influential thinker; as controversial as he was prolific.