The association of psycho-neurosis with mental deficiency / by Charles S. Myers.
- Charles Samuel Myers
- Date:
- [1923?]
Licence: In copyright
Credit: The association of psycho-neurosis with mental deficiency / by Charles S. Myers. Source: Wellcome Collection.
11/12 page 265
![frock, skirt, coat, drawers, bloomers, petticoat, shoes, stockings, stays, chemise, case, typewriter, table, vase, chair, lamp, garden, trees, shed, pen, ink, fire, glass, window, paper, pencil, box, garden, plants, comb, brush, box, motor, oilcan, puzzle, matches, coat, cap, act, rain, field, town, country, walk, play, shops, wheel¬ barrow, table, books, typewriter, bookcase, chair, trees, shop, sweets. (Time=8 min. 39 sec. ) Throughout these tests of May, 1923, he showed remarkable improvement in his attitude towards the experiments and his general behaviour has continued to improve, although he is still always easily “ upset/’ whereupon he becomes difficult to manage. [Since this was written, however, he has left the School, as he was getting too old for it and had, on one occasion, attempted to embrace one of the matrons.] Conclusion In these two cases we see the influence (a) of the emotion of fear; (b) of infantile “sexual” feeling; (c) of interest and curiosity, associated with thoughts (i) on the before- and after-life, and (ii) on sexual differences and women’s underwear. In the first case the original experience—the funeral—was not repressed ; in the second—seeing his mother in her bedroom—it was readily recoverable in the hypnoidal state. In the first case it was associated with a defective development of attention, flight of ideas, loquacity, openness to strangers, cheerfulness and mis¬ chievousness ; in the other it was associated with taciturnity, moroseness, selfishness and hoarding. In the latter, removal of the repression and brief “ re-education ” induced an appreciable improvement in intelligence and especially in his ability to make the best use of his mental powers. In both cases the all-distracting complex ” was practically undisguised. Its affect led in both cases to constant intrusion of the theme into the current of everyday thought ; in the first case to constant inquiry, and in the second case to peeping through keyholes in order, apparently, to gratify curiosity. Psycho-therapeutic treatment was attempted in the second case, and led to very definite intellectual and moral improvement. In normal children such themes would most likely have been repressed or disguised, and the associated impulses more or less controlled. But in the mentally defective child, criticism and control must prove far less potent. Thus, in her instruction of](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30623844_0011.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
