Meetings of the Psychoanalytic Association of New York

DISCUSSION: Dr. Martin Blum compared this presentation with Dr. Ross's earlier paper on the theory of genital primacy. In that work, Dr. Ross had expressed skepticism about the theory which holds that only mature persons can

achieve orgasm, that those with mature personalities have better orgasms, and that orgasms exert a further maturing influence on those already mature enough to have them. Dr. Blum noted that Dr. Ross now seemed to be suggesting a theory of love primacy; it is as if the very propositions Dr. Ross had questioned when applied to the orgasm were now being used in his discussion of love. Dr. Blum felt that love should be treated as a "final common pathway which can be approached from different psychological starting points" and which can be a vehicle for genital, pregenital, and nongenital impulses. He took exception to the concept that "maturity is a sine qua non of loving," as well as to the definition of love Dr. Ross had proposed: that love is a regression to the symbiotic stage "in the presence of sound identity formation and ego integration." Dr. Blum pointed out that symbiosis is usually thought of as incompatible with these higher functions of the ego. He felt that the emphasis on regression to the symbiotic phase was more appropriate to a discussion of the orgasm, since the regressive aspects of orgastic functioning were well documented. He contended that since love is qualitatively different from the orgasm, "any formulation which too closely fits the one will, of necessity, fail to catch the essence of the other." Denying the link between maturation of the ego and the ability to love, Dr. Blum stated: "Different personalities love differently, each according to its nature. I have … seen patients with significant difficulty in maintaining ego integration and personal identity who nonetheless loved their partners sincerely and loyally, if not without difficulties. If maturity is not the prerequisite for falling in love, neithe