Life — April 11, 1912 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (April 11, 1912) The page features **Dr. Morton Prince's psychological essay** titled "Life's Psychological Problems: How the Colonel Came to Do It." The accompanying illustration shows a man's head in profile with visible brain imagery, depicting Prince's analysis of Colonel Roosevelt's subconscious mind. The text discusses **Theodore Roosevelt's third-term candidacy**, examining his psychological motivations. Prince argues Roosevelt's actions stem from subconscious drives rather than conscious reasoning—suggesting the Colonel's supporters are unaware of deeper psychological forces influencing his decision to run. The piece satirizes both Roosevelt's ambitions and the era's newfound fascination with Freudian psychology, using pseudo-scientific analysis to mock political motivation while simultaneously poking fun at psychological determinism itself.