Treatment of the psychological concept Interest (Lat. interest;
Fr. interet; Germ. interesse). The mental state called interest
has received much attention in recent psychological literature.
This is largely due to the German philosopher Herbart (q.v.).
The important position he has won for it in the theory of
education makes it deserving of some treatment in THE CATHOLIC
ENCYCLOPEDIA. Psychologists have disputed as to the exact
meaning to be assigned to the term and the precise nature of the
mental state. PSYCHOLOGY OF INTEREST.—Interest has been
variously defined as a kind of consciousness accompanying and
stimulating attention, a feeling pleasant or painful directing
attention—the pleasurable or painful aspect of a process of
attention—and as identical with attention itself. Thus it may be
said, I attend to what interests me; and, again, that to be
interested and to attend are identical. The term interest is
used also to indicate a permanent mental disposition. Thus I may
have an interest in certain subjec