Psycho-Analysis (Paperback)

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. 1920. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III REPRESSIONS The Pleasure-Principle and the Reality-Principle--The Egocentric Impulses and Development of the Social Impulses--Conflict between the " Primitive" Impulses, and the Restrictions imposed by Civiliza- tion--Creation of Repressions--Necessity for Subli- mation--The Neurotic. The Pleasure-Principle and the Reality-Principle. The Egocentric Impulses and the Social Impulses. In the previous chapter it was noted that the Psyche was realized by Freud as the stage whereon is enacted the Intra-psychical Con- flict between the more primitive and the more evolved human impulses. In the course of that conflict, and to serve its purpose, the Repressions are created. It is necessary to return now to the discussion of the two great principles of Psychic life (already noted in Chapter II)--namely, the Pleasure-Principle and the Reality-Prin i ciple--in order to see how they operate in determining the psychic conflict. It has been shown (see supra, p. 45) that the Pleasure-principle is the primitive human impulse, having feeling as its predominant motivating-factor. It is present at the beginning of life, and manifests itself strikingly and obviously in the infant-stages of the individual, in the physical, mental, and feeling spheres. It is represented in the early purely egocentric impulses, which are perpetually seeking pleasure, the pleasure of nutrition, the sensation of many kinds of physical functioning, and so forth. It is clear that these egocentric impulses are essential to self-preservation and self-development, and that they must resist at all costs that which fails to subserve the ego's ends, that which brings pain and loss--lack of pleasure. But it is important to note in this connexion that so-called pain may subserve the individual's pleasu...