ATDTDA (2): Subtle Psychology (wayward thoughts)

[Tim Strzechowski]

Had I world enough and time, I'd love to investigate further some of the subtle aspects of psychology mentioned in the book thus far.

In the opening of Chapter Three (p. 21), Lindsay mentions to Miles that "As Master-at-Arms, my own view of human nature is necessarily less hopeful."  I find that an interesting observation that Pynchon drops into their conversation, because there are (I'm sure) lots of psychological studies that have been done on disciplinary behavior and its effects on the authority figure/disciplinarian rather than its effects on the recipient of the discipline.  An example that comes to mind: how does being a prison guard affect that guard's behavior over time?  

How does this psychological dichotomy line up with Lindsay's personality (or, at least, what we know of it thus far)?

In the section we're looking at today Foley says, "Guess you can hear that whole hootenanny from where you are.  Bet you there's even guests known to catch insomnia from it, eh?  but there's equally as many find it strangely soothing.  No different here at the Palmer House, if you think about it.  Racket level runs about the same" (pp. 31 - 2).  I'm reminded of growing up on the South Side of Chicago, where our home was near train tracks, and the nightly horns -- which some would probably find annoying -- somehow made the house feel like "home."  Is there a psychological term for that phenomena?

(Now as a suburbanite I no longer hear trains, but I do get the lovely muffled thumping car radio bass of suburban gangsta wannabe passersby in the night.)

Anyways ...

Are these two stimulus/response moments important to the novel? 

How do they compare with stimulus/response moments in his other novels?