Psychoanalytic Perspective on Taboos

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses psychoanalytical perspectives of taboos. It describes human behavior compared to primal urges and the human ability to restrain behavior. The paper then looks at the nature and purpose of social taboos as a mechanism of social control and their importance in society. It specifically discusses the views of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and Alfred Adler.

Table of Contents:
Modern Neo-Freudian Psychoanalytic Perspective
Primal Urges and Social Control
The Nature and Purpose of Social Taboos as a Mechanism of Social Control
The Human Animal and Implications of Contemporary Evolutionary Science

From the Paper:

"With regard to most criminals whose crimes reflect choices rather than bona fide symptoms of psychological disease, the principal difference between law abiding members of society and criminals is simply the degree to which formalized rules and laws and informal social norms and taboos are effective at eliminating unwanted conduct. Generally, criminals differ from non-criminals only in their choices to act on their natural impulses despite the consequences; in most cases, however, non-criminals share many of the same underlying impulses, but choose not to act on them out of fear of the social consequences they entail. Ultimately, human beings are simply a more complex form of animal life whose superior intelligence allows them to enforce socially beneficial rules through formal law and informal mores and taboos. Without them, our conduct would be far less distinguishable from that commonly observed in other animals."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adler, A. (1927) Understanding Human Nature. Center City: Hazelden
• Gerrig, R, Zimbardo, P. (2005) Psychology and Life. 17th Edition. New York: Allyn & Bacon.
• McWilliams, N. (2004) Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's Guide. New York: Guilford.
• Mitchell, S., Black, M. (1995) Freud And Beyond: A History Of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought. New York: Basic Books.
• Spotnitz, H. (1995) Psychotherapy of Preoedipal Conditions: Schizophrenia and Severe Character Disorders. New York: Aronson.

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