The Professor’s Experiment

The Professor of Psychology had paid a visit to his friend’s house. The friend’s son had already become notorious for his mischief—not only within the family but also among the neighboring households.

“He has become an awful headache for me,” lamented the child’s father. “I just don’t know how to handle him anymore.”

“Do not worry,” consoled the Professor. “I will deal with him psychologically and mend his ways.”

The Professor befriended the child, and for a couple of days, the boy showed himself to be remarkably gentle and sober. His parents were happy, and the Professor felt a sense of pride in his approach.

On the third day, early in the morning, the child confided to the Professor, “You see, I have a great desire to eat a worm. It might be bad if the desire remains suppressed for too long.”

The optimistic Professor searched his garden and eventually found a loathsome but harmless worm. He offered it to the boy, who eagerly exclaimed, “Professor! You must share it with me!”

The Professor, wanting to help the child confront his desires, cut the worm in half. With his eyes shut tight, he swallowed one half. Instantly, the boy cried out, “O Professor! That was the half I desired to eat. Now that you have eaten it, I won’t mind if you eat the other half too!”

Feeling overwhelmed by the situation, the Professor caught the very next train for his home, realizing that not all experiments yield the desired results.