the foundations of personality-第63章
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ery one is against him； he builds up； when some major purpose becomes balked； a specific belief that so and so or this or 〃that group is after me。〃 〃They are trying to injure or kill me〃 because they are jealous or have some antagonistic purpose。 Here we find the half…baked inventor； whose 〃inventions〃 have been turned down for the very good reason that they are of no value； and who concludes
＇1＇ All the great swindlers show how the lust for gain plus the wiles of the swindler overcome the caution and suspicion of the 〃hard…headed；〃 The Ponzi case is the latest contribution to the subject。 that some big corporations are in league with the Patent Office to prevent him from competing with them； here we have the 〃would…be〃 artist or singer or writer whose efforts are not appreciated； largely because they are foolish； but who believes that the really successful （and he often names them） hate and fear him； or that the Catholics are after him； or perhaps the Jews or the Masons。 In its extreme form the paranoic is rare just as is the extremely trusting person of saintly type。 But in minor form every group and every institution has its paranoic； hostile； suspicious； 〃touchy；〃 quick to believe something is being put over on him and quick to attribute his failure to others。 In that last is a cardinal point in the compass of character。 Some attribute their failure to others； and some in their self…analysis find the root of their difficulties and failures in themselves。 Under the feeling of injustice a paranoid trend is easily aroused in all of us； and we may misinterpret the whole world when laboring under that feeling； just as we may； if we are correct； see the social organization very clearly as a result。 Therein is the danger of any injustice and seeming injustice； As a result condemnation is extreme； wrongly directed and with little constructive value。 We become paranoid； see wrong where there is none and enemies in those who are friendly。 The over…trusting； over…confidential are the virtuous in excess； and their damage is usually localized to themselves or their families。 They tell their secrets to any one who politely expresses an interest； they will hand over their fortunes to the flattering stranger； to the smooth…tongued。 Sometimes they are merely unworldly； absorbed in unworldly projects； but more often they are merely trusting fools。 Man the weak； struggling in a world whose forces are pitiless； whose fairest face hides grim disaster； has sought to find some one； some force； he might unfailingly trust。 He raises his hands to heaven； he cries； 〃There is One I can trust。 Though He smite me I shall have faith。〃
CHAPTER XIV。 SEX CHARACTERS AND DOMESTICITY Originally reproduction is a part of the function of all protoplasm； and in the primitive life…forms an individual becomes two by the 〃simple process〃 of dividing itself into halves。 Had this method continued into the higher forms most of the trouble as well as most of the pleasure of human existence would never occur。 Or had the hermaphrodite method of combining two sexes in the one individual； so frequent in the plant world； found its way into the higher animals； the moral struggles of man would have become simplified into that resulting from his； struggles with similar creatures。 Literature would not flourish； the drama would never have been heard of； dancing and singing would not need the attention of the uplifter； dress would be a method of keeping warm； and life would be sane enough but without the delicious joys of sex…love。 Why are there two sexes？＇1＇ I must refer the reader to the specialists in this matter； but can assure him that no one knows。 With the rise of Mandel's theory of heredity； it has been assumed that such a scheme offers a wider variety of possible character combinations。 At present it is safe to say that no one can give a valid reason for the existence of male and female； and that while this elaboration of the reproducing individual into two parts may be necessary for some purpose； at first glance it appears like an interesting but mysterious complication。 ＇1＇ See Lloyd Morgan's book on sex。
I refer the reader to textbooks in anatomy and embryology； and to the specialists on sex like Krafft…Ebbing； Havelock Ellis and Ploss for details as to the differences between man and woman。 There are first the essential organs of generation； differing in the two sexes； the ovary furnishing the egg； the testes furnishing the seed or sperm； then the organs of sexual contact； the secondary sex characteristics； such as stature； distribution of hair； deposits of fat； shape of body and especially of the pelvis； the voice； smoothness of skin； muscular development； etc。 There is an orderly evolution in the development of sex characters which starts with earliest embryo life and goes on regularly until puberty； when there is an extraordinary development of latent characters and peculiarities。 After puberty maturity is reached by easy stages； and then comes involution or the recession of sex characters。 This is reached in woman rather suddenly and in man more gradually。 The completely differentiated man differs from his completely differentiated mate in the texture of his hair； skin； nails； in the width and mobility of pupils； in the color of his sclera； etc。； as well as in the more essential sex organs。 Indeed there are very essential bodily differences that are obviously important though not well understood。 One is that the bodily temperature of man is slightly higher than that of woman； and that he has five million red blood corpuscles to every cubic millimeter of his blood； while she has four and a half million； that his brain weighs considerably more but is not heavier proportionately； that her bodily proportions resemble those of the child…form＇1＇ more than do his； which some interpret as a point of superiority for her； while others interpret it as a sign of inferiority。 On the whole； the authorities consider that man is made for the discharge of energy at a high rate for a short time； he is the katabolic element； while woman stores up energy for her children and represents the anabolic element of the race。 ＇1＇ See Havelock Ellis。
As a corollary to the above； it is necessary to know that each human being （and also each higher animal） starts out with the potential sex organs of both sexes； and that each individual becomes sexually differentiated at about the eleventh week of intra…uterine life。 Moreover every male has female organs； and every female has male organs； though in the normal conditions these are mere vestiges and play no part in the sex life of the person。 Yet this indicates that the separation of male and female is not absolute； and logically and actually a male may have female characters； physically and mentally； and vice versa a female may resemble the male in structure and character。 The sex relations have in the racial sense reproduction as their object； but it is wise to remember that in the whole living world only man knows this； and he has known it for only a relatively short time。 Furthermore； in youth； when the sexual life is at its intensest； this fact； though known； is not really realized； and in the individual's plans and desires parenthood figures only incidentally； if at all。 Society； in its organization； places its emphasis on child…bearing； and so indirectly reproduction becomes a great social aim rather than an individual purpose。 1。 The feeling of parenthood is； as every one knows； far stronger in woman than in man。 But here again generalizations are of no use to us； since there are women who develop only a weak maternal feeling； while there are men whose intensity of response to children is almost as great as any woman's。 Undoubtedly occupation in other than the traditional woman's field is weakening the maternal feeling or is at least competing with it in a way that divides the modern mother's emotions and purposes and is largely responsible for her restless nervousness。 This I think may safely be stated： that industry； athleticism； education； late marriage； etc。； are not making for better physical motherhood。＇1＇ On the contrary； the modern woman has a harder time in bearing her children； and worst of all she is showing either a reluct
