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(1952). International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 33:439-443

Metapsychological Considerations on the Concept of Work

Barbara Lantos

In an earlier paper, called 'On Work and the Instincts', I expressed the observation that although in our analytical practice disturbances of working capacity come next in importance to disturbances of sexuality—the question of what work is, is not treated as a problem. We look upon work as an obvious necessity, the mastering of which is a proof of good adaptation to reality, whereas its neurotic disturbances indicate failure in this adaptation.

I was impressed to find the same considerations in Hendrick's paper on 'Work and the Pleasure Principle' where he says: 'Work itself remains a challenging problem. Though working capacity is obviously a most important result of normal ego-organization, its essential contribution to biological survival, its utility to the individual and to society have been taken more or less for granted when no pathology is involved. Work has naturally been accepted by analysts as an essential function which is automatically restored when a neuro

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