"American incest patterns" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wilson James P.)

SUMMARY OF CASE HISTORY TWO

Left a widow at the age of thirty-eight, Odelia R. suffered from strong anxiety feelings brought about by her acute loneliness and need for a man. She had always been a subservient type of woman who required the strong touch of a strong man. Without the presence of a strong man to guide her, Odelia R. began to suffer from a mild case anxiety hysteria. Freud characterized this disorder to a neurosis caused by anxiety and phobic reactions.

In the case of Odelia R. this disorder was caused by loneliness, the inability to function properly without a strong man's direction, and also from lack of sexual activity. Even in her sex life, the case subject required a strong man to take charge. Without the presence of this strong man she began to experience distressing feelings of apprehensiveness, the feeling that something terrible was going to happen. She actually suffered from physical distress. Occasionally, she described such symptoms as a pounding of the heart, difficulty in breathing, excessive perspiration, trembling and dizziness.

These anxiety reactions were responses to dangers she felt but did not recognize. However, Odelia R.'s mother-in-law did recognize the symptoms. She realized that her daughter-in-law required a strong man to replace the loss of her husband. And since the older woman was incest-oriented, she recommended without hesitation that Odelia R. commence a sexual relationship with her own son in Ted R., the older woman recognized a strong figure who not only resembled his father physically but manifested many of his characteristics.

In such an instance, the problem for the treating psychologist is to determine whether or not an incestuous relationship does more harm than good in the case of Odelia R., it was determined that she chose the only course of action possible under the circumstances. Her anxiety neurotics were very definitely affecting her happiness and effectiveness. She found herself unable to function, to get through the day. This is not at all uncommon in women who were totally dependent in a marriage. With the death of her husband, she could be described as a ship without a rudder. She required direction, and purpose. Without her husband to cling to, she became a totally hapless individual. When she took her son as her lover, she found purpose again, direction and a strong hand to guide her. She became an effective, functioning individual again.

Of course, this incestuous relationship was merely a temporary course of action. When she later met a man her own age who was strong enough to guide, she lost the need for her son, and he turned to girls his own age. But as a temporary solution, the incestuous relationship between Odelia R. and her son was helpful and effective.