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What is called the primal scene is a central concept in psychoanalysis. The pathogenicity of the primal scene has been regarded as an essential determinant in different forms of psychopathology. Various nervous disturbances such as inhibition of learning, sexual dysfunction, sleep, disturbances, nightmares and night-terror, and various character traits such as curiosity and the possession of a researching and investigative mind etc., have been comprehended as having their dynamic origin in early primal scene experiences (Blum, 1979).
Psychoanalysts (Pederson-Kragh, 1949; Grotjahn, 1957) have utilized this concept to explain why it is that criminal literature, films and TV-series depicting enigmatic murders are so popular and fascinating. It is maintained that the basic element in a fascinating murder story must in some way or other unconsciously stimulate and activate the underlying primal scene experiences of the reader or audience. This element is a criminal act between two people being played out in secrecy where the one is later found murdered.
In the unconscious fantasy life of the reader or audience, this bloody and secret crime represents a displaced and disguised version of the parents' secrete sexual acts which they as children misinterpreted as something dangerous and criminal, as a mortal combat. This repressed infantile comprehension of sexuality will accordingly confuse sexuality with something criminal such as rape or murder.
The second and third elements which have to be incorporated in a murder mystery are a detective, and his observations of seemingly inessential details, his perseverance, suspiciousness and excellent capacity to see connections, through which the mystery is solved. The two elements