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The paper begins by raising two questions (1) How far is masochism of the essence of the female? and (2) How far have social conditionings influenced the formation of her masochistic trends? The tentative conclusion of the paper is that social conditioning is probably the more important factor of the two.
Rado and Deutsch have been of the opinion that masochism is essentially related to the nature of the female sexual life, although the two differ in opinion as to whether it is a normal manifestation. Horney believes that it is still to be proved that (1) sadism is connected with the clitoris, (2) that the girl renounces clitoris masturbation because of the discovery that she has no penis, and (3) that the sadistic libido then turns in against the self.
Do not the cultural conditions under which we live predispose women to a masochistic adaptation? The observation of masochistic tendencies during the course of analysis is the basis for the author's conclusions. Here she finds masochistic attitudes as a result of excessive need for attention and affection. Here she finds patients of both sexes who habitually have unhappy loves in which they are humiliated and badly treated; patients who with their great need of dependence nevertheless feel unworthy of love and so cannot be adequately aggressive. Since the problems underlying these pictures are not found exclusively in women the question is raised: 'under what social and cultural conditions do we find more frequently in women than in men'?
1The manifesting of inhibitions in the direct expression of demands and aggressions.
2The regarding oneself as weak and implicitly or explicitly demanding considerations on that basis.
3A becoming emotionally dependent on the other sex.
4A showing tendency to be self-sacrificing—submissive, to feel or be explored, to put responsibilities on the other sex.
5A using of weakness and helplessness as a means of wooing and subduing the other sex.
In this culture the following factors pred