| Description |
1 online resource (xxiii, 344 pages) |
| Summary |
"What is it (over and above external conditions) that causes the terrible misery in our social life, of which the dramatists and novelists have so much to say and which breaks out in the form of strikes and anarchy, and lies widespread, just beneath the surface, in the form of superstitions, depressions, unreasonable fears, or of "hatred, malice and all uncharitableness"? Why is it that some persons are so much more overwhelmed than others by the recitals of the horrors of the war? People afflicted with these tendencies present, frequently, the same front to the community that is presented by the happiest and most prosperous of men. But they present this front, in many cases, not from deliberate and reasoned choice, but because, separated in feeling from their assumedly happier or more successful fellows, they feel impelled to seek, as if through a sort of "protective colouration", to preserve every outward sign that is possible, of good health, good fellowship and success. Close observers realize more or less of what is going on with such persons, and the more intelligent of these observers see also that the facts and doctrines that have been brought out through the psychoanalytic movement afford a better explanation of these situations than is provided in any other way. The present book does not make it one of its main purposes to take up these social problems; but the author has a keen sense for the analogies to which I have referred, and in both parts of his treatise--that is, in the part in which the history and fundamental doctrines are laid down, and in that in which the compulsions and obsessions are more specifically studied--he gives illustrations which every social student may well take to heart, of the varied and significant modes of action of men's unconscious motives. And yet so difficult is the subject; so hard is it to really grasp these elusive motives that play so large a part in all our lives, to exchange a "knowledge about" them for a real "acquaintance with" them, that there will be room and welcome, during many years to come, for any book that deals consciously and clearly with the problems here involved. The present volume fulfills these requirements admirably within the limits which the author sets for himself, and inspires confidence by evidences of abundant knowledge and of conscientiousness in forming judgments. Dr Frink is evidently writing for physicians and those who are ready to take the physician's point of view. This has always been Freud's method, also. Dr Frink discusses "the sexual problem" clearly, in a simple and straightforward manner, proposing at the same time a new name, in order to call attention afresh to the very important generalization, that when one uses the word "sexual" one should have in mind all the connotations that go with the word "love", understood as he defines it. It is true that other emotions are repressed besides those classifiable as sexual. But the point mainly at stake is the pragmatic one that the sexual emotions involve a peculiarly large number of dominant, unreasoning passions, of a sort that each individual is least willing to acknowledge (or else, it may be, is over-zealous in asserting) and the subtle signs of which it is especially important that the student of medicine should train himself to detect. This book examines neuroses and other disorders, and the use of psychoanalytic treatment in persons so afflicted"--Introduction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved) |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 334-341) |
| Notes |
Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212 MiAaHDL |
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Print version record |
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digitized 2011 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve pda MiAaHDL |
| In |
PsycBooks |
| Subject |
Neuroses.
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Psychoanalysis.
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Neurotic Disorders
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Psychoanalysis
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Psychoanalytic Theory
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psychoanalysis.
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Neuroses
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Psychoanalysis
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| Form |
Electronic book
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