Volume 1

Impotence in the male : the psychic disorders of sexual function in the male / by Wilhelm Stekel ; authorized English version by Oswald H. Boltz.

  • Wilhelm Stekel
Date:
1940
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Impotence in the male : the psychic disorders of sexual function in the male / by Wilhelm Stekel ; authorized English version by Oswald H. Boltz. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    stantly able to establish that I was dealing with parapathiacs who attempted to solve mental conflicts through displacement of them into the mechanical. Every invention, then, is an attempt to overcome a conflict; every invention, liberation in a false sphere. Several examples, perhaps, will make my point more obvious. The statement to be proved is as follows: Inventions are translations of mental (mostly sexual) problems into the language of technique. Several examples will bring us nearer to a solution of the problem. Case i. A patient consults me on account of insomnia. Each night he tosses restlessly about in his bed. As a matter of fact, he ought to be grateful to his malady, because it has helped him to solve several inventions. At first, during the sleepless nights, he constructed a “distant-ignitor” which is already patented. “What sort of an invention is it?” “You see. I lie in my room and all at once am able to ignite a gas flame in the third room where my cousin [female] sleeps.” Further conversation with him yielded the following facts: Without realizing it or better still “without wanting to realize it,” the man was in love with his married cousin. He wanted to in¬ fluence her heart and trusted that his thoughts, to which he at¬ tributed omnipotence, would accomplish this. Against this love were erected strong inhibitions. The cousin’s husband was his paternal friend, who raised him in place of his father, opened his house to him, and gave him a home and a fine position. The patient’s cousin was faithful, loving, and clung to her husband with great love. His own infatuation was hopeless. But is there any limitation to a loving heart? At night his wishes fluttered about the bed of his beautiful cousin. He wished to inflame her and by all means wanted to force her through the power of his love. The invention took care of that. The “distant-ignitor” was invented. He was then able to pene¬ trate all rooms, overcome all hindrances, and reach his love in order to unite with her. The invention had still another beneficial result. He had to leave the business of his cousin and became a wealthy man. Therefore, this invention in every respect was the solution of a severe conflict. Case 2. Another parapathiac came to me one day overwhelmed with joy. He had made a wonderful discovery. Terror would