Thomas: Definition of the situation The higher animals, and above all man, have the power of refusing to obey a stimulation which they followed at an earlier time Response to the earlier stimulation may have had painful consequences and so the rule or habit in this situation is changed We call this ability the power of inhibition, and it is dependent on the fact that the nervous system carries memories or records of past experiences. At this point the determination of action no longer comes exclusively from outside sources but is located within the organism itself. Preliminary to any self-determined act of behavior there is always a stage of examination and deliberation which we may call the definition of the situation and actually not only concrete acts are dependent on the definition of the situation, but gradually a whole life-polity and the personality of the individual himself follow from a series of such definitionsThomas: Definition of the Situation • The higher animals, and above all man, have the power of refusing to obey a stimulation which they followed at an earlier time. Response to the earlier stimulation may have had painful consequences and so the rule or habit in this situation is changed. We call this ability the power of inhibition, and it is dependent on the fact that the nervous system carries memories or records of past experiences. At this point the determination of action no longer comes exclusively from outside sources but is located within the organism itself. • Preliminary to any self-determined act of behavior there is always a stage of examination and deliberation which we may call the definition of the situation. And actually not only concrete acts are dependent on the definition of the situation, but gradually a whole life-polity and the personality of the individual himself follow from a series of such definitions