Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 2.djvu/59

 NORMAL PSYCHOLOGY 215

made to distinguish between the concepts 'Feeling '—as original psychic energy — 'Emotion' — as an applied form of this energy — and 'Attention' — as a process that accompanies the emotions. Emotion itself is that part of mental process which has not kept pace with objective reality; it is an anachronism which calls up the past again. It seeks to perform something which should have been done in the past; its only enemy is logical thought. Persev- eration, as a striking result of displaced affect, together with outer displacements of form and inner displacements of content, are all considered with special reference to complex indicators.

The path of displacement is the same as that of analogy ; every affect that has lost its connection with the process of develop- ment endeavours — along this path — to regain its place in develop- ment. Analogies are thus treateed as if they were essential similar- rities. Clinical examples and a short analysis of a passage from Schillers ' Wallenstein ' facilitate the comprehension of tliis in some respects rather difficult work. • WeiGfeld's article (34) contains some essential criticisms of

Jung's libido theory. Emphasis is laid on the absence of quality and the independence of objects that characterise affect (will).

According to Reik (26), the discharge of affect results in a conscious increase of self-feelings, while the retention of affect results in an unconscious increase of Narcissism. Retention and accumu- lation of affect correspond to certain somatic processes of the sexual life.

Fankhauser's monograph (3) does not in reahty contain so much original matter as appears at first to be the case. Affect is — according to this author (cf. e. g. Miiller-Freienfels) — in psychological terms an attitude assumed by the Ego with regard to each idea that is « presented; it includes already an intellectual judgement. On the ' physiological side affect is a production of nervous energy as the

result of the activity of certain neuroses (cf Breuer andFreud), Connected with the affective processes is the production of certain cliemical substances in the brain (cf. Freud's idea of the chemistry of sexual processes). A latent affective condition is called by Fankhauser an affective attitude.

Joy-sorrow, suspicion-confidence, approval-disapproval are regard- ed as the elements of the affective fife. These elements are supposed ' to exhibit characteristics similar to those of Hering's complement-

ary colours; but as the facts of colour vision are incorrectly de-