A PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH TO AUTOKINESIS

Analysis has shown that autokinesis constitutes a complex group of phenomena. Certain autokinetic movements ('paradoxical', i.e. experienced displacement without movement or vice versa) could not be adequately recorded by the 'tracing method', very often employed, or by other forms of purely physical registration. Autokinesis ought to be divided into a 'free' type (which may be 'paradoxical') and a 'restricted' type (always 'non-paradoxical'). 'Free' movements were experienced either in a plane perpendicular to the line of vision or as 'ad-ab' movements. 'Restricted' movements were described as either 'swinging' or 'undulating'.