(1990). Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 38:789-804 Sadism and Masochism in Neurosis and Symptom Formation Jon K. Meyer, M.D. and Fred M. Levin, M.D. MEYER NOTED THAT FREUD (1905) felt the basis of sadomasochism was the organism's capacity to experience any intense stimulation as sexually exciting. Through his early works, Freud considered masochism secondary to sadism; however, beginning with Beyond the Pleasure Principle(1920) Freud changed his mind and considered masochism to be primary. To Meyer, the major statement Freud made on the subject of the central position of masochism in neurosis was in "The Economic Problem of Masochism" (1924) in which Freud stated that "… contrary to all theory and expectation … a neurosis which has defied every therapeutic effort may vanish if the subject becomes involved in the misery of an unhappy marriage, or loses all his money, or develops a dangerous organic disease" (p. 166). Freud described three forms of masochism—erotogenic, feminine, and moral. The erotogenic form can be traced as follows: "The fear of being eaten by the totem animal (the father) origin [This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.] |
