The unconscious : $b The fundamentals of human personality, normal and abnormalPrince, Morton
Science
The unconscious : $b The fundamentals of human personality, normal and abnormal
Prince, Morton
Psychology, Pathological; Subconsciousness
The first, that of X. Y. Z., I shall have occasion to refer to in more
detail in connection with the emotions and instincts in a later
lecture.[162] This lady, on the first night of her marriage, felt deeply
hurt in her pride from a fancied neglect on the part of her husband. The
cause was trivial and could not possibly be taken by any sensible person
as an adequate justification for the resentment which followed and the
somewhat tragic revenge which she practiced (continuous voluntary
repression of the sexual instinct during many years). But the fancied
slight had a meaning for her which did not appear on the surface. As she
herself insisted, in attempted extenuation of her conduct, “You must not
take it alone by itself but in connection with the past.” It appeared
that during the betrothal period there had been a number of experiences
wounding to her pride and leading to angry resentment. These had been
_ostensibly but not really forgiven_. The action of her spouse on the
important night in question had a meaning for her of a slight, because
it stood in relation to all these other antecedent experiences, and
through these only could its meaning (for her) be interpreted. As a
practical matter of therapeutics it became evident that the cherished
resentment of years and the physiological consequences could only be
removed by readjusting the setting—the memories of all the antecedent
experiences with their resentment.
The second instance was a case of hysteria of the neurasthenic type with
outbreaks of emotional attacks in a middle-aged woman. It developed
immediately, in the midst of good health, out of a violent and
protracted fit of anger, almost frenzy, two years ago, culminating in
the first emotional or hysterical attack. Looked at superficially the
fit of anger would be considered childish because it was aroused by the
fact that some children were allowed to make the day hideous by firing
cannon-crackers continually under her window in celebration of the
national holiday. When more deeply analyzed it was found that the anger
was really _resentment_ at what she considered unjustifiable treatment
of herself by others, and particularly by her husband, who would not
take steps to have the offense stopped. It is impossible to go into all
the details here; suffice it to say that _below the surface_ the
experiences of life had deposited _a large accumulation of grievances_
against which resentment had been continuous over a long series of
years. Although loving and respecting her husband, a man of force and
character, yet she had long realized she was not as necessary to his
life as she wanted to be; that he could get along without her, however
fond he was of her; and that he was the stronger character in one way.
She wanted to be wanted. Against all this for years she had felt anger
and resentment. She had concealed her feelings, controlled them,
repressed them, if you will, but there remained a general
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