Page:Fielding - Sex and the Love Life.pdf/48

 not taken up in these or similar pursuits, it will tend to vent itself in negative or destructive tendencies.

The turning of the impulses from primitive, egotistic modes of satisfaction to outlets that have cultural and social value is, therefore, a necessary process in the educational development of the individual.

There seems every reason to believe, however, that the transferring of impulses from one goal to another, is not an actual change in the nature of the impulse, but is merely a masked indulgence of the original craving. It is, of course, no less desirable on this account. The evidence of this is especially observable in adult life.

The new activity may be said to stand as a symbol of satisfaction of a former craving. The possibilities that are bound up in this process of sublimation of primitive impulses can scarcely be estimated. All the gigantic achievements of science and art and in every other field of human activity may be looked upon as higher forms of compensation for urges that have behind them a primitive energetic base.

Artistic and literary activities may be mentioned as particular forms of sublimation in which the sexual impulses often play a powerful determining rôle. The sexual motive is unquestionably the principal determiner in these important fields. The artistic conception is realized if the interest is turned from the genital zone to the form of the body as a whole; but the sexual basis is perfectly evident. However, it is a refined, socialized form of sexual interest.

On the other hand, in erotic literature, it is not so much sublimation that is achieved as direct compensation; that is, the author compensates for the impulse to sexual acts by describing them in minute or elaborate detail.

The energy behind all of this effort appears to be funda-