Fundamental Conceptions of Psychoanalysis (Paperback, UK ed.)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1921. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF EVERY-DAY LIFE We do not have to go far to be convinced how significant a role the unconscious plays in life. The proof is at our door. All the "little" mistakes that we all are constantly making, lapses in talking, writing, etc., our so called forgetting and absent-mindedness show very definitely to what a surprising extent our thoughts and actions are influenced by the unconscious. If we have our eyes open, examples of such unconscious manifestations may be found on all sides. I shall cite some to you out of a vast number that have come to my attention from time to time, and I hope they will prove sufficiently interesting to stimulate you to observation in your own daily lives. Mr. L., a newspaper man, once assured me that he could disprove Freud's theory of forgetting with very little effort. He proceeded at once to tell me that he had octinff casion to write to his friend living in Boston, and ame upon addressing the letter he found he forgot his last name, and that it was only after a considerable amount of thought that he could recall that it was Murphy. He continued to declare quite warmly that it was strange and surprising that he should thus forget the name of a friend, formerly his school mate and chum, whom he could not associate with absolutely any disagreeable or painful experience. We proceeded to analyze the case. I asked him to tell me something about his friend whom he designated as Jack. He associated his name with Murphy of Tammany Hall and though the former was a Republican he felt that that was no reason why he should dislike the name Murphy. After associating for a little while, he ended by saying: "You see, then, doctor, there is absolutely nothing disagreeable connected with the name." But I urged him to con...