Questions About Sexuality and the Psychology of Love

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What exactly did Freud mean by saying" the behavior of a human being in sexual matters is often a prototype for the whole of his other modes of reaction in life?"

Santi TLDR - Freud means that desire's structure and materialization (often sex) reveal much about how a person acts consciously.

Long-form answer - Freud th…moreTLDR - Freud means that desire's structure and materialization (often sex) reveal much about how a person acts consciously.

Long-form answer - Freud thought we have three intrapsychic structures that serve different functions: Id (unconscious desires, seeks pleasure), Superego (poses limits such as morality and self-consciousness/shame), and the Ego (mediates between both, fulfilling desires in socially accepted but disguised/distorted ways). In fulfilling a sexual desire, these intrapsychic structures are present, as in the rest of life. For example, I might have a severe need for sex (Id) but internalized social ostracization (Superego) makes me accomplish such wishes in socially acceptable ways (Ego), such as private masturbation. According to Freud, this is a "prototype" of how our libidinal/desire-based structure works. Depending on personal childhood experiences (Oedipus complex), the inner workings of this prototype may vary considerably, but that's a discussion for another time!(less)

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