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Some Similarities in the Mental Life of Primitive and Neurotic People. II. The Taboo and the Ambivalence of Emotional Excitations. Prof. Sigm. Freud.
Amenhotep IV (Echnaton). Notes on the Psychonalytic Interpretation of his Personality and on the Monotheistic Cult of Aton. Dr. Karl Abraham.
The Meaning of Salt in Folklore. E. Jones.
J.P. Jakobsen's “Niels Lyhne” and the Problem of Bisexuality. Hans Blueher.
Taboo and the Ambivalence of Emotional Excitations.—In this contribution Freud attempts to justify further the parallel he has drawn between taboo manifestations and the various symptoms of neurosis by a careful analysis of some of the specific beliefs and practices recorded in the authoritative descriptions of taboo.
In the previous contributions Freud had opportunity to draw certain inferences concerning the origins and meaning of taboos through a comparison with the compulsion neuroses which they resemble very closely. Of course a more satisfactory proof of their essential identity would be obtained if it were possible to draw these inferences directly from what we know about the taboos themselves. This is not possible on every point. For instance, the inference that taboo has its origins in a very early authoritative restriction from without is beyond direct proof. Unable to ascertain this important point directly we must turn to a minute analysis of the psychic situation out of which the phenomenon under investigation must have arisen, exactly as we do in the case of neuroses and their manifestations. In the case of the latter we proceed to subject to a painstaking critical analysis the presenting symptoms, that is, the compulsory acts and thoughts, all the
defensive reactions of the subject. The study of all these, in the case of neuroses, led to the discovery of ambivalent excitations or tendencies as their psychic source. That is, it was found that the various neurotic manifestations correspond to certain wishes and counter-wishes: certain wis