The Ego and the Conception of Reality: René Laforgue. Int. J. Psa., XX, 1939, pp. 403–407.

There are certain egos which do not perceive reality in the average way but in a much more archaic way. Strangely, Laforgue believes that those egos have 'not got enough libido at their disposal, both as regards quantity and quality'. In the anal phase, the ego perceives the world differently than in the genital phase; it works more with projections, is more theoretical and rigid and the perceptions are formed in a more schematic and static manner. The supposed interrelations between erotogenic zones and rigidity or mobility of thinking are not further investigated. Laforgue proceeds rather to coördinate certain social phenomena directly to the supposed erotogenically determined antagonism of thinking. 'It generates mental conflicts on the individual plane and wars on the social and political plane.' He hopes that a good ego psychology which studies these differences will 'be of assistance to the younger generation in its struggle to adapt itself to the hard realities that the present day must learn to face'. Social realities which are reflected in the antagonisms of qualities of thinking, are not mentioned.