Psychology of sex - Total No. of Records in System :: 2032

THE SEXUAL IMPULSE IN YOUTHceived of as the individual's natural enemy, against whichhe defends himself, from the beginning, with his wholepersonality." Such a view at all events harmonizes with acommon attitude in culture, even in primitive culture,whether or not we are entitled to pushit back to childhood.The proper attitude towards sexuality in the child is,therefore, one of watchful hygiene, which must always beunobtrusive. The childish erotic impulses are often unconscious,and nothingisgained by rendering them consciousor by concentrating attention on them. It isnecessary to guard against the child doing any manifestinjury to himself or others. It also seems desirable in somecases to warn the mother not only against too great ananxiety to punish a child exhibiting these manifestations,but also against any excess of physical tenderness whichmay unduly arouse the emotions of susceptible children.It is above all necessary to cultivate an understanding ofthe child's nature. Adults are prone to attribute their ownfeelings to children. Many acts of children, which toadults appear to reveal vicious sexual motives, often haveno sexual motive at all, but spring merely from the playimpulse or from the desire for knowledge. This fallacyhasdoubtless been favored in recent years by unguardedadherents of psycho-analytic doctrines.It is unfortunate that the students of childhood haveoften been people who have gained their knowledge fromthe study of neurotic subjects."All the general conclusionsderived from the study of the present day type ofneurotic," Otto Rank remarks in his Modern Education,"must be received with great caution, for under other conditionsMan reacts differently." He adds that the presentday child cannot be compared with primitive Man and