The Theory of PsychoanalysisJung, C. G. (Carl Gustav)
Science
The Theory of Psychoanalysis
Jung, C. G. (Carl Gustav)
Neuroses; Psychoanalysis; Psychology, Pathological; Sex
The simplest way to come to an understanding of this important event
would be by making an exact inquiry into the circumstances of the
moment. The first thing I did was to question the patient about the
society in which she had been at that time, and as to what was the
farewell gathering to which she had been just before. She had been at a
farewell supper, given in honor of her best friend, who was going to a
foreign health-resort for a nervous illness. We hear that this friend is
happily married, and is the mother of one child. We have some right to
doubt this assertion of her happiness. If she were really happily
married, she probably would not be nervous and would not need a cure.
When I put my question differently, I learned that my patient had been
brought back into the host’s house as soon as she was overtaken by her
friends, as this house was the nearest place to bring her to in safety.
In her exhausted condition she received his hospitality. As the patient
came to this part of her history she suddenly broke off, was
embarrassed, fidgetted and tried to turn to another subject. Evidently
we had now come upon some disagreeable reminiscences, which suddenly
presented themselves. After the patient had overcome obstinate
resistances, it was admitted that something very remarkable had happened
that night. The host made her a passionate declaration of love, thus
giving rise to a situation that might well be considered difficult and
painful, considering the absence of the hostess. Ostensibly this
declaration came like a flash of lightning from a clear sky. A small
dose of criticism applied to this assertion will teach us that these
things never drop from the clouds, but have always their previous
history. It was the work of the following weeks to dig out piecemeal a
whole, long love-story.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account