The following principles may be regarded as fundamental in the development of psychopathic or nervous ills:
I. The Principle of Embryonic1 Psychogenesis
The mental states of psychopathic or nervous ills are of an infantile, child type. In this respect the mental states simulate cancerous and other malignant2 growths of an embryonic character. The psychopathic mental states are not only of a childish character, but they are often associated with child experiences of early life. The psychopathic condition points to some early fear-producing experience, or fear awakening3 shock.
II. The Principle of Recurrence4
Fear experiences tend to repeat themselves in consciousness, and especially in the subconscious6 states of the child. This repetition or recurrence keeps alive the psychopathic fear nucleus7, and fixes it in the mind. Fixed8 fear systems become further[138] developed by the subsequent experiences of life. The aroused fear instinct may either become weakened or strengthened. When the conditions of life are unfavorable and adverse9, tending to further cultivation10 of the impulse of self-preservation11 and the fear instinct, the outcome is a psychopathic disposition12, ending in a nervous state with typical symptoms of some definite nervous trouble, formed by the latest or ultimate fear experiences.
III. The Principle of Proliferation and Complication
With the growth of the child the fear experiences increase and multiply. These experiences become associated with the original child nucleus of fear and thus a complexity13 of fear systems is built up. Worries, depressions, and anxieties help to increase and develop the psychopathic system of groups of fear experiences. The morbid14 state grows like an avalanche15 in its progress downwards16.
IV. The Principle of Fusion17 or of Synthesis
All the fear experiences become associated and grouped gradually around the original child fear experience which is often of a subconscious character. The long series of fear experiences becomes fused and synthesized by the central fear instinct and impulse of self-preservation, which are fundamental in every being, but which have been specially5 cultivated[139] by the course of events and experiences in the neurotic18 patient. The experiences become fused, synthesized, and systematized, forming one complex network of closely interrelated fear obsessions20 with the fear instinct and impulse of self preservation in the background.
V. The Principle of Contrast
Feelings and emotions follow by contrast. Excitement is followed by depression, enjoyment21 by disgust, exhilaration by disappointment. This is well brought out in the changes observed in the psychopathic self and fear states.
Fear may be followed by anger, especially against those who are sure to show no opposition22, or may even manifest fear. The excitement of fear in others is a way which diminishes fear in the patient and helps him to have confidence in himself, strengthening his impulse of self preservation.
The fear of the psychopathic may even resort to love so as to gain safety and protection from the tantalizing23 agonies of the fear instinct. That is why some physicians are deceived, and ascribe psychopathic troubles to love instead of to the real fundamental cause of all psychopathic disorders24, namely self-preservation and the fear instinct.
Similarly mysticism, a psychopathic malady25 of a social character, has its origin in the impulse of self-preservation and the fear instinct, and takes[140] refuge in “love” or in “union” with the Infinite which serves as a rock of protection, security, and salvation26 from all terrors of life. Psychopathic love is a neurotic fear delusion27. There is nothing more deceptive28 and delusive29 than psychopathic love,—for it takes its origin in self and fear.
VI. The Principle of Recession
Experiences are blotted30 out from memory in the course of time. A very small percentage of impressions is registered by the brain, a still smaller percentage can be reproduced, and out of them a very small percentage carries recognition as memory, that is, of impressions experienced before. Forgetfulness is therefore a normal physiological31 function characteristic of the brain and mind.
Forgetfulness depends on at least three conditions, lack of registration32, lack of reproduction, and lack of recognition.
There will correspondingly be at least three forms of amnesia33 or forgetfulness, amnesia of registration, amnesia of reproduction, and amnesia of recognition. The real problem of Psychology34 is not so much the lapses36 of memory, but the why and how of memory, and especially of recognitive memory.
This, however, we may establish as a law that when memory in regard to definite experiences weakens in the course of time, the lapse35 follows from recognition to reproduction, and finally to registration.[141] Recognition fails first, then comes the failure of memory reproduction, and finally memory registration of the special experience becomes blurred37 and wiped out. This may be termed the law of memory decay, or of memory regression. This is the principle of memory recession.
Some, though by no means all, child memories or infantile experiences follow this law of regression or recession. Child experiences, like all old experiences, tend to recede38 in their course of decay or of regression below the threshold of consciousness. The experiences are not recognized on reproduction, or are reproduced with great difficulty, or have even lost the function of being reproduced. When under such conditions, the experiences are said to have become subconscious, or have receded39 into the subconscious.
On the other hand some of those subconscious experiences, or subconscious memories may, under favorable conditions, once more regain40 their functions of reproduction and recognition, and become fully41 conscious. This may occur in various trance states, subconscious states, and in various psychopathic conditions.
Such states, however, rarely fix the experiences in memory, because the states are instable, temporary, and the memories lapse with the disappearance42 of the states. This principle of recession may be regarded as one of the fundamental facts of the Psychopathology[142] of the Subconscious. In fact, subconscious states may also be termed Recessive43 States.
VII. The Principle of Dissociation
Recessive states, becoming marginal and subconscious, lapse from voluntary control, they cannot be recalled deliberately44 and consciously by the activities of voluntary, recognitive, associative memories, constituting the mental life of personality, and hence may be regarded as mental systems in a state of dissociation. The lapsed45 states are present subconsciously46 when not completely blurred and obliterated47 by the process of decay or regression.
Dissociated, subconscious states, when affected48 by the impulse of self-preservation and the fear instinct, tend to become parasitic49, and like malignant growths may suck the life energy of the affected individual. Under such conditions we have psychopathic, subconscious, dissociated states.
VIII. The Principle of Irradiation and Diffusion50
In the dormant51, subconscious states the fear instinct gradually extends to other subconscious states. The fear instinct acts like a malignant growth, like a fermenting52 enzyme53. The subconscious fear instinct gradually infiltrates54, diffuses55, irradiates its affective state throughout the subconscious life of the patient, finally giving rise to a psychopathic[143] disposition with its selfishness, apparent repressions56, apprehension58, anxiety, anguish59, terror, and panic. This may also give rise to the general psychopathic character of doubt, indecision, and conflicting states, all being determined60 by the underlying61 fear instinct.
IX. The Principle of Differentiation62
With the growth of the impulse of self preservation and with the development of an exaggerated fear instinct, the individual becomes more and more neurotic and psychopathic. This general, neurotic, mental state attaches itself to various events in the life of the individual. The psychopathic disposition keeps on progressing from one event to another. Each one may be regarded as a separate fear state, or phobia. Finally the disposition may settle on the last event in the patient’s life experience. This last event may often become the nucleus, or rather the apparent nucleus of the neurosis.
The last experience appears to be central. As a matter of fact there is a great number of fear states or of phobias in the neurotic patient. A few only appear to predominate in the network of fear events. The network of fears is woven into an incongruous whole by the impulse of self-preservation and the fear instinct. This network becomes differentiated63 into a tangle64 of numerous fear states.
[144]
X. The Principle of Dominance
The last fear states or Ultimate Fear States which stand out clearly and distinctly in the patient’s mind become the leading, the dominant65 abnormal, pathological states. The patient thinks that they are the real source of all his troubles, and if they were removed he would be cured. As a matter of fact the ultimate states are not causes, but occasions. The real causes of the psychopathic constitution are the exaggerated impulse of self-preservation and the intensified66 fear instinct.
XI. The Principle of Dynamogenesis
Recessive, and especially dissociated systems, being dormant subconsciously, may become envigorated, may accumulate emotion, and when the opportunity comes, may react to external stimuli68 with vigor67 and energy. The attacks may occur like epileptic fits. They often so well simulate epileptic maladies that even good clinicians have classed such attacks under the term of larval epilepsy, psychic69 epilepsy, hystero-epilepsy, or psychic equivalent of epilepsy. This subconscious energy manifestation70 may be termed Dynamogenesis.
XII. The Principle of Inhibition
Self-preservation and the fear instinct inhibit71 associated mental systems, producing morbid states.[145] Morbid mental states, however, are not produced by inhibitions, or repressions. It is only when the inhibitive72 factors are self and fear that a true morbid mental state, or neurosis arises. To regard self repression57 as a bad condition and leading to diseases is to misapprehend the nature of man, to falsify psychology, and to misrepresent the development of humanity. The self should not become hypertrophied. Self-preservation should not become overgrown. The self must be kept within limits. The self impulse should be kept under control by the individual. For true happiness is to be a law unto oneself. As the great Greek thinkers put it: Happiness is in self rule. The unruly are miserable73. In fact, self-control is absolutely requisite74 to mental health, to sanity75. Self-repression is requisite for happiness. Self-repression never leads to disease. It is only when self-repression is produced and dominated by selfishness and fear that morbid states of a psychopathic, neurotic character are sure to arise. It is not inhibitions that produce fear, but it is fear that produces inhibitions. To ascribe neurosis to self-repression and to conflict is like attributing malaria76 or tuberculosis77 to air and light.
XIII. The Principle of Mental Contest and Discord78
Mental states associated with intense emotions tend to take a dominant lead in consciousness. This,[146] however, may be totally opposed by the general character of the individual. In such cases the whole mental set, being in opposition to the total individuality, is in contest with the character of the person who is then in state of discord. A mental set in contest with the make-up of the person is usually inhibited79, becomes subconscious, and as a rule fades away from the mind, often leaving no trace even in memory, conscious or subconscious. In some cases where a compromise is possible, a reconciliation80 is effected. The mental set is assimilated, and disappears from consciousness as an independent, functioning state.
When, however, the opposing or contesting mental set is based on a fundamental impulse and accompanying instinct, such as the impulse of self-preservation and the fear instinct, a total inhibition is not always possible, even a compromise may not be successful, because the mental set is in association with the core of the individual,—namely self-preservation. The contesting mental set remains81, in what Galton terms, “the antechamber of consciousness.” The mind is in a state of tension, in a state of anxiety, in restless, uneasy discord, due to the fear instinct, the companion of the impulse of self-preservation. The contesting mental set, charged with intense fear emotion, presses into the foreground of consciousness, and a contest, a discord, ensues in[147] the mind of the individual, a contest, a discord, a conflict which keeps the person in a state of indecision and lack of will power.
The partly inhibited, contesting mental set, when not fading away, may thus remain in the mind, and act like a splinter in the flesh, giving rise to a state of discomfort82. This is just what happens when the individual has not been trained to assimilate fear states, and is unable to adjust fear reactions to the welfare of total psycho-physiological life activity.
In cases where the impulse of self-preservation and the fear instinct have become aroused, the contesting fear set of mental states presses again and again to the foreground of consciousness. When no compromise of the contesting states can be brought about, when the fear set cannot be assimilated, the mind is in a state of restless discord. It is not, however, the discord that produces the neurosis, it is the impulse of self-preservation and the fear instinct that constitute the cause of the psychopathic, neurotic condition.
XIV. The Principle of Diminishing Resistance
In proportion as the neurotic attacks keep on recurring83 the formed pathological system is gaining in energy and in ease of manifestation. The psychopathic attacks with their symptoms emerge[148] at an ever diminishing intensity84 of stimulation85. The resistance of healthy normal associations is ever on the decrease until a point is reached when all power of resistance is lost. The conscious and subconscious groups which enter into the psychopathic system, forming the neurosis, get control over the patient’s life, and become an uncontrollable, psychopathic obsession19.
XV. The Principle of Modification86
The patient attempts to control or alleviate87 his fear state by a totally different fear state. In the long run this is a losing game. For the general fear disposition becomes ultimately reinforced. Finally he may land in the mystic regions of love or of an Infinite Love in which he expects to find safety, protection, and salvation from the miseries88 of exaggerated self impulse and intensified fear instinct. Such a course, however, leads to a swamp in which the patient’s individuality becomes engulfed89 and obliterated. The end is mental suicide.
These fundamental principles of neurosis-development should be kept in mind in the examination and study of psychopathic cases. The cases adduced in this volume will help one to understand the mechanism90 of the main factors and principles of neurosis.
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1
embryonic
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| adj.胚胎的 | |
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malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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recurrence
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| n.复发，反复，重现 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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subconscious
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| n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的) | |
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nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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complexity
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| n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物 | |
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morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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fusion
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| n.溶化；熔解；熔化状态，熔和；熔接 | |
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neurotic
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| adj.神经病的，神经过敏的；n.神经过敏者，神经病患者 | |
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obsession
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| n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感) | |
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obsessions
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| n.使人痴迷的人（或物）( obsession的名词复数 )；着魔；困扰 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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disorders
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| n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调 | |
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malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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delusive
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| adj.欺骗的，妄想的 | |
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blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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physiological
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| adj.生理学的，生理学上的 | |
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registration
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| n.登记，注册，挂号 | |
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amnesia
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| n.健忘症，健忘 | |
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psychology
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| n.心理，心理学，心理状态 | |
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lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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lapses
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| n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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recessive
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| adj.退行的，逆行的，后退的，隐性的 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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lapsed
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| adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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subconsciously
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| ad.下意识地，潜意识地 | |
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obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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parasitic
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| adj.寄生的 | |
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diffusion
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| n.流布；普及；散漫 | |
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dormant
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| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
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fermenting
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| v.（使）发酵( ferment的现在分词 )；（使）激动；骚动；骚扰 | |
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enzyme
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| n.酵素，酶 | |
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infiltrates
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| n.（使）渗透，（指思想）渗入人的心中( infiltrate的名词复数 )v.（使）渗透，（指思想）渗入人的心中( infiltrate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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diffuses
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| （使光）模糊，漫射，漫散( diffuse的第三人称单数 )； （使）扩散； （使）弥漫； （使）传播 | |
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repressions
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| n.压抑( repression的名词复数 )；约束；抑制；镇压 | |
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repression
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| n.镇压，抑制，抑压 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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underlying
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| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
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differentiation
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| n.区别，区分 | |
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differentiated
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| 区分，区别，辨别( differentiate的过去式和过去分词 )； 区别对待； 表明…间的差别，构成…间差别的特征 | |
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tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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stimuli
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| n.刺激（物） | |
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psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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inhibit
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| vt.阻止，妨碍，抑制 | |
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inhibitive
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| a.起抑制作用的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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malaria
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| n.疟疾 | |
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tuberculosis
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| n.结核病，肺结核 | |
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78
discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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79
inhibited
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| a.拘谨的，拘束的 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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81
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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82
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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84
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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85
stimulation
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| n.刺激，激励，鼓舞 | |
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86
modification
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| n.修改，改进，缓和，减轻 | |
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87
alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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89
engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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