Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 3: Analysis of the Sexual Impulse; Love and Pain; The Sexual Impulse in WomenEllis, Havelock
Science
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 3: Analysis of the Sexual Impulse; Love and Pain; The Sexual Impulse in Women
Ellis, Havelock
Sex; Sex (Psychology)
It is not necessary for the present purpose that either of these two
opposing theories concerning the origin of the customs and feelings we are
here concerned with should be definitely rejected. Whichever theory is
adopted, the fundamental psychic element which here alone concerns us
still exists intact.[72] It may be pointed out, however, that we probably
have to accept two groups of such phenomena: one, seldom or never existing
as the sole form of marriage, in which the capture is real; and another in
which the "capture" is more or less ceremonial or playful. The two groups
coexist among the Turcomans, as described by Vambery, who are constantly
capturing and enslaving the Persians of both sexes, and, side by side with
this, have a marriage ceremonial of mock-capture of entirely playful
character. At the same time the two groups sometimes overlap, as is
indicated by cases in which, while the "capture" appears to be ceremonial,
the girl is still allowed to escape altogether if she wishes. The
difficulty of disentangling the two groups is shown by the fact that so
careful an investigator as Westermarck cites cases of real capture and
mock-capture together without attempting to distinguish between them. From
our present point of view it is quite unnecessary to attempt such a
distinction. Whether the capture is simulated or real, the man is still
playing the masculine and aggressive part proper to the male; the woman is
still playing the feminine and defensive part proper to the female. The
universal prevalence of these phenomena is due to the fact that
manifestations of this kind, real or pretended, afford each sex the very
best opportunity for playing its proper part in courtship, and so, even
when the force is real, must always gratify a profound instinct.
It is not necessary to quote examples of marriage by capture from
the numerous and easily accessible books on the evolution of
marriage. (Sir A.B. Ellis, adopting MacLennan's standpoint,
presented a concise statement of the facts in an article on
"Survivals from Marriage by Capture," _Popular Science Monthly_,
1891, p. 207.) It may, however, be worth while to bring together
from scattered sources a few of the facts concerning the
phenomena in this group and their accompanying emotional state,
more especially as they bear on the association of love with
force, inflicted or suffered.
In New Caledonia, Foley remarks, the successful coquette goes off
with her lover into the bush. "It usually happens that, when she
is successful, she returns from her expedition, tumbled, beaten,
scratched, even bitten on the nape and shoulders, her wounds thus
bearing witness to the quadrupedal attitude she has assumed amid
the foliage." (Foley, _Bulletin de la Société d'Anthropologie_,
Paris, November 6, 1879.)
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