Emotions of Normal People

by William Moulton Marston

This fascinating volume contains a comprehensive treatise on human emotion, with chapters on love, submission, dominance, consciousness, and more. Written in simple, accessible language and full of interesting explorations of theorems and original expositions, this volume will be of considerable value to those with a keen interest in psychology, and would make for a great addition to collections of allied literature. The chapters of this volume 'Normalcy and Emotion', 'Materialism', 'Vitalism and Psychology', 'The Psychonic Theory', 'Of Consciousness', 'Motor Consciousness as the basis of Feeling and Emotion', 'Integrative Principles of Primary Feelings', etcetera. William Moulton Marston (1893 - 1947), also known by the pen name Charles Moulton, was an American psychologist, inventor and comic book writer who created the character Wonder Woman. We are republishing this antiquarian volume now complete with a new prefatory biography of the author.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Relationships, Comics

440 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

Dr. William Moulton Marston (May 9, 1893 – May 2, 1947), also known by the pen names Charles Moulton and William Marston, was an American psychologist, feminist theorist, inventor, and comic book writer who created the character Wonder Woman. Two women, his wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston and Olive Byrne (who lived with the couple in a polyamorous relationship), served as exemplars for the character and greatly influenced her creation.

He was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2006.

Reviews

[Boston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rough read, but fascinating. Marston's theories have not been folded into mainstream psychology, but his DISC theory and suggestions for personal change are foundational to personal development psychology, positive psychology, and organizational psychology. Summarizing this book is nearly impossible because it proposes a language all its own with the "psychonic theory of emotion". I'll say this, though: Marston's later work is much more accessible. "Try Living," for example, directs his theories toward a wider audience in layman's terms.

A note to Wonder Woman fans: I highly recommend digging into Marston's work, even if it seems impenetrable. His observations of gender-specific behavior and his belief in humanity's as-yet unrealized potential is inspiring and his Wonder Woman stories are essentially a platform for sharing these ideas. Taken together, they offer a marvelous path to living a more fulfilling and fun-filled life.

[Your_Average_Magical_Girls_Fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The holy text that all WW fans should read and know, since this is the real deal and not The Hikiteia crap by Greg Rucka about Wonder Woman being forced by fear of retailation to do something...anyway, this book is full of interesting ideas on thematics like penitentiary reform, teaching, politics functioning and democratic process, inner improvement and even cultural anthropology. BUT...there is a big but, which is the reason of the not perfect score: time has unfortunately proved that Marston's final ideas about women free from all men's influence as being absolutely altruistic and less prone to fight between themselves failed to materialize, and you don't need to look any further than some protegé/members of the feminist movement (Killary Clinton, Naomi Wolf and the late Gloria Steinem stealing the show in that regard) to realize the fact. That said, what Marston emotionally and sexually prescribes - especially the stress about love more as a giving act than a receiving one - and the audacity with which he does it against every overimposed social norm of the period is highly commendable and inspiring, as well as the level of knowledge he displays in neurology and psychology is simply astonishing, with this one hardly to be found in other comic writers. You might also notice that the parts in which he describes the dominance/compliance/dominance cycle and the abnormal emotions were clearly an HUGE influence on Star Wars and the Cosmic works of Jim Starlin in Marvel, for how much they might deny it or laugh at Wonder Woman herself (absolute shame on you, Jim).
And to all people still giving shit to the author for his strong Femdom and BDSM addiction (which he clearly had), you can go back and read for the billion time one of Alan Moore's acclaimed rape scenes, which surely are not as crude as a psycologist and scientist who did not want (almost) any kind of violence whatsover in the ideal love relationship, which had to be 100% consensual between those forming it...AMAIRAIT?!
Edit: rating raised of one star because for how much I find flawed the argument about women being altruistic, I 100% agree with Marston on the main problems of men - or, better said, the common social and sexual model of men and manliness - and the indications he gives as a solution.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

order this asap

[Nan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Had to skim most of this, as the language was a bit pedantic and I was only interested in certain sections. Didn't like it much.

[Arianna Manzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, first published in 1928, explores human emotions, particularly focusing on how they affect behavior. Marston, a psychologist and the creator of the Wonder Woman comic character, is known for his work on the theory of emotions and his development of the DISC personality assessment, which is based on four main emotional drives.

In Emotions of Normal People, Marston proposes that human behavior is largely shaped by emotions, and he outlines a system for understanding these emotions in a scientific way. His work laid the foundation for later studies on emotions and behavior in psychology.

William Moulton Marston's ideas from Emotions of Normal People continue to have a significant impact on modern psychology, particularly in areas related to understanding emotions and behavior. Some of his key contributions that resonate today include:

Emotions and Behavior: Marston emphasized the relationship between emotions and behavior, asserting that emotional drives influence how people act. This idea is foundational in modern psychology, particularly in areas like emotional intelligence and behavioral psychology. Today, psychologists recognize that emotions play a crucial role in decision-making, motivation, and social interactions, which are explored in various theories like Daniel Goleman's emotional intelligence model.

The DISC Personality Theory: Marston's DISC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness) model, which he introduced in Emotions of Normal People, has been highly influential. While it was originally part of his theory on human behavior, it was later refined and became the basis for widely-used personality assessments today. DISC is used in corporate settings, personal development, and counseling to understand and improve communication and interpersonal dynamics. It breaks down personalities into four categories, helping people understand how they behave under different emotional conditions.

The Importance of Positive and Negative Emotions: Marston’s view that both positive and negative emotions are necessary for balanced behavior foreshadows modern approaches to emotional regulation. While negative emotions like fear and anger might be seen as undesirable, contemporary psychology recognizes that they can be adaptive and helpful in certain contexts, such as survival instincts or motivating change. This is evident in fields like positive psychology, which explores how people can harness both positive and negative emotions for personal growth.

Power Dynamics and Influence: In his writings, Marston also touched on how emotions influence power dynamics in relationships and social structures, which aligns with modern research in social psychology. Today, the study of power, influence, and persuasion is central to areas like leadership, marketing, and communication, with psychological theories (such as those by Robert Cialdini) demonstrating how emotions and authority affect decision-making.

Pioneering Work on Gender and Emotions: Marston's work was ahead of its time in recognizing the emotional differences between genders, though some of his views were quite traditional. His ideas on how men and women react emotionally to different situations influenced later gender studies and work in feminist psychology, even if his conclusions have since been criticized for reinforcing gender stereotypes.

While some of Marston's ideas were considered controversial and have been criticized over time, particularly his views on women and gender, his work continues to provide a foundation for understanding emotions in both personal and professional contexts.

[Hari Seldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marston didn't create the theory of the DISC Assessment, but his theory was the base of it. If you like the DISC Profile and want to know more about the theory behind it, this book is a good choice. Not a fantastic theory, but it's interesting to read.