In this paper Marañon begins with a definition of 'gesture' and then permits himself many different types of remarks concerning the gesture in individual and group life. Organized as a scientific paper, it is essentially an essay. As a scientific paper, it is a poor essay; as an essay, it is a poor scientific paper. However he does explore some of the characteristics of gesture on a rather superficial descriptive level (even though at times he calls upon Freud's explanations of mass psychology). There can be no doubt that the author is a keen observer of life and as such can certainly permit himself the luxury of setting down on paper his observations and conclusions and even end his paper with what must be his own Weltanschauung: 'To liberate us once and for all from the dominating gesture of the tamer, there is need for every man to set up within his inner consciousness his own dictator'. But loose psychological concepts applied to political, social, and individual life can be meaningful and persuasive only to those who are moved by the 'gesture' inherent in the written