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First, we should like to say how we have tried to approach this report, a formidable task in view of the breadth and diffuseness of the topic of the psychoanalytical concept of aggression. To add to the project, this has been an extraordinary programme by reason of its extensiveness, namely five prepublished papers with their subsequent discussion, then three panels and at least half of the 52 papers given at simultaneous scientific sections devoted to the main theme, not to mention the 30 small simultaneous discussion groups on different aspects of the psychoanalytical concept of aggression. In all, a multitude of contributors and discussants have taken part in the development of and improvizations upon the main theme at this Congress. So, if our report is truly an overview in some respects and an underview in others, we trust that you will bear with us.
It has been our aim to be impartial observers, but, as we know, perception is not a one-way passive experience, but an active two-way process, in which the observer's own beliefs, expectations, etc. play a part, when meeting the incoming data and stimuli. Here we are already touching on one important phenomenon included in the concept of aggression: the 'aggredi', i.e. the subject's approach to an object, a precondition for both positive or negative, impulsive- or ego-directed aims. We hope you will find that our approach is of the latter, constructive order.
Another limitation needs to be mentioned. Whilst we share a good deal of common ground, our task of providing an integrated summary did not obliterate differences of view. We shall state these, however, only when a major point is at stake.
We make no claim to being exhaustive; this would be virtually impossible. We could not be in all places in a programme with so many simultaneous events. Nor could we include the contributions of all the recorders of the small discussion groups. Rather we have tried to be selective, picking out certain areas and obvio