Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 2.djvu/41

 THE CASTRATION COMPLEX 197

IX

From somewhat scanty material, but on the basis of well-sub- stantiated facts, I believe I can also find some connection in the situation at the breast with the origin of a very obscure perversion, — namely, sadism. If I adhere to my belief that every erotic phantasy is based on a real experience, then it is evident that the basis i for cruelty is to be found in the beast of prey which mangles its

t victim and thus creates fixed paths between gratification through

I taking nourishment, and the expressions of the victim's pain,

■ humihation, and seizure. But what may be an explanation in the

case of beasts of prey does not apply to human beings, and there- fore we have to fall bade upon our tendency of making heredity
 * ! accountable for all that we do not know, of putting all guilt that

we do not wish to bear on our parent's shoulders, and of calling archaic what we do not wish to call infantile.

Our working hypothesis, that a real basis is to be found in ontogenesis, helps us over this difficulty. We find the situation of the beast of prey in possession of its living victim roughly pro- duced in the infant at the breast. If the mother during suckling has cracked nipples or pain due to other causes, then we have a real situation in which the child perceives expressions of pain in a person of whom he takes possession, and at the same time ex- periences most intense gratification. This genesis was actually con- firmed in one case.

Several varieties of sadism can be brought into line with this mode of origin. The above situation fits very well the algolagnic form. If kissing originates from the erotic part of sucking, then sadistic pleasure in biting can arise from the same source. With regard to the compulsion to wet or besmear somebody, the amuse- ment of many infants to slobber on the mother is to be con- sidered in conjunction with the excremental factors.

Finally there is pleasure in striking. A more careful con- sideration of the sucking erotism shows that it can be divided into two large complexes, namely, that of the nipple in which the mouth zone of the infant finds gratification, and that of the mamma in connection with which the little hand of the infant forms the reciprocal zone. This latter complex, mamma — little hand, we again find in flagellation mania, which primarily finds its object in the nates, i. e. the new edition of those other