the foundations of personality-第47章
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crude kind is very variable both in force； time of appearance and reaction to discipline and unquestionably arises from the changes in the sex organs。 Both to enhance and repress it are aims of the culture and custom of each group； and the lower groups have given actual sexual intercourse a mystical supernatural value that has at times and in various places raised it into the basis of cults and religions。 Repressed； hampered； canalized； forbidden； the sex impulses have profoundly modified clothes； art； religion； morals and philosophy。 The sex customs of any nation demonstrate the extreme plasticity of human desires and the various twists； turns and customs that tradition declares holy。 There have been whole groups of people that have deemed any sexual pleasure unholy； and the great religions still deem it necessary for their leaders to be continent。 And the absurdities of modesty； a modified sex impulse； have made it immoral for a woman to show her leg above the calf while in her street clothes；＇1＇ though she may wear a bathing suit without reproach。 ＇1＇ This is； of course； not quite so true in 1921 as in 1910。
Whatever a desire is basically； it tends quickly to organize itself in character。 It gathers to itself emotions； sentiments； intelligence； it plans and it wills； it battles against other desires。 I say IT； as if the desire were an entity； a personality； but what I mean is that the somatic and cerebral activities of a desire become so organized as to operate as a unit。 A permanent excitability of these nervous centers as a unit is engendered； and these are easily aroused either by a stimulus from the body or from without。 Thus the sex impulse arises directly from tensions within the sex organs but is built up and elaborated by approval of and admiration for beauty； strength and intelligence； by the desire for possession and mastery； by competitive feeling； until it may become drawn out into the elaborate purpose of marriage or the family。 What is the ego that desires and plans？ I do not know； but if it is in any part a metaphysical entity of permanent nature in so far it does not become the subject matter of this book。 For as a metaphysical entity it is uncontrollable； and the object of science is to discover and utilize the controllable elements of the world。 I may point out that even those philosophers and theologians to whom the ego is an entity of supernatural origin deny their own standpoint every time they seek to convince； persuade or force the ego of some one to a new belief or new line of action； deny it every time they say； 〃I am tired and I shall rest； then I shall think better and can plan better。〃 Such a philosopher says in essence； 〃I have an entity within me totally and incommensurably different from my body；〃 and then he goes on to prove that this entity operates better when the body is rested and fed than otherwise！ For us the ego is a built…up structure and has its evolution from the diffuse state of early infancy to the intense； well…defined state of maturity； it is elaborated by a process that is in part due to the environment； in part to the inherent structure of man。 We may postulate a continuous excitement of nerve centers as its basis； and this excitement cognizes other excitement in some mysterious manner； but no more mysterious than life； instinct or intelligence are。 These excitements struggle for the possession of an outlet in action； and this is what we call competing desires； struggle against temptation； etc。 Sometimes one desire is identified with the ego as part of itself； sometimes the desire is contrasted with the ego and we say； 〃I struggled with the desire but it overcame me。〃 Common language plainly shows the plurality of the personality； even though the man on the street thinks of himself as a united 〃I；〃 even an invisible 〃I。〃 One of the fundamental desires； nay the fundamental desire； is the expansion of the self； i。 e。； increased self…esteem。 When the infant sprawls in his basket after his arrival in this world； it is doubtful if he has a 〃me〃 which he separates from the 〃non…me。〃 Yet that same infant； a few years later； and through the rest of his life； believes that in his personality resides something immortal； and has as his prime pleasure the feeling of worth and growth of that personality； and as his worst hurt the feeling of decay and inferiority of that personality。 Let us watch that infant as it sprawls in its little bed； the darling of a pair of worshiping parents。 In that relationship the child is no solitary individual； society is there already； watching him； nourishing and teaching him。 Already he is in the； hands of his group who； though seeking his happiness； are nevertheless determined that he shall obtain it their way。 And from then to the end of his life that group will in large measure offer him the criteria of values； and his self…esteem will； in the majority of cases； rest upon his idea of their esteem of him。 In the brooding mother； in the tender father lie dormant all the judgments of the time on the conduct and guiding motives of the little one。 The baby throws his arms about； kicks his legs； rolls his eyes。 In these movements arising from internal activities which； we can only state； relate to vascular distribution； neuronic relations； visceral and endocrinic activities； is the germ of the impulse to activity which it is the function of society and the individual himself to shape into organized useful work。 Thus is manifested a native； inherent； potentiality； which we may call the energy of the baby； the energy of man； a something which the environment shapes； but which is created in the laboratory of the individual。 The father and mother are delighted with the fine vigorous movements of the child； and there is in that delight the approval that society always gives or tends to give to manifestations of power。 We tend involuntarily to admire strength； even though misdirected。 The strong man always has followers though he be a villain； and in fact the history of man is to a large extent based on the fact that the strong man evokes enthusiasm and obedience。 This impulse to activity is an unrest； and its satisfaction lies in movement； in other words there is a pleasure or a relief in mere activity。 The need of discharging energy； the desire to do so； the pleasure and satisfaction in so doing constitute a cornerstone of the foundation of life and character。 This desire for activity； as we shall call it henceforth； is behind work and play； it fluctuates with health and disease； with youth and old age； it becomes harnessed to purpose； it is called into being by motives or inhibited by conflict and indecision and its organization is the task of society。 Men differ in regard to the desire for activity； with a range from the inert whose energy is low to the dynamic types that are ever busy and ever seeking more to do。 The child's first movements are aimless； but soon the impressions it receives by striking hands and feet against soft and hard things bring about a dim knowledge of the boundaries of itself； and the kinesthetic impulses from joints and muscles help this knowledge。 The outside world commences to separate itself from the 〃me；〃 though both are vague and shadowy。 Soon it learns that one part of the outside world is able to satisfy its hunger； to supply a need； and it commences to recognize the existence of benevolent outside agencies； and it also learns little by little that its instinctive cries bring these agencies to it。 I do not mean that the baby has any internal language corresponding to the idea of outside agency； benevolence； etc。； but it gets to know that its cries are potent； that a breast brings relief and satisfaction。 At first it cries； the breast comes； there is relief and satisfaction； and it makes no connection or no connection is made between these events of outer and inner origin。 But the connection is finally made；desire becomes definitely articulate in the cry of the baby； which thus becomes a plea and a summons。 Anticipation of good to come appears and with it the germ of hope and forward looking； and there is realization or disappointment； joy or anger or sorrow。 Thus desire is linked up with satisfaction in a definite way； ideas and feeli
