Page:Jung - The psychology of dementia praecox.djvu/70

no longer the whole personality, as alongside of it there exists another being, living in its own way and therefore inhibiting and disturbing the development and progress of the ego-complex, for the symptom-actions very frequently take up time and exertion which are thus lost to the ego-complex. We can readily imagine how the psyche is influenced when the complex increases in intensity. The most lucid examples are always furnished by the sexual complexes. Let us take as an instance the classical state of being in love. The lover is possessed by his complex. All his interests hang only on this complex and the things belonging to it. Every word, every object recalls to him his sweetheart (experimentally even apparently indifferent word stimuli excite the complex). The most insignificant objects are guarded like priceless jewels, corresponding to their value in the complex. The whole environment is considered sub specie amoris. Whatever does not suit the complex glides by; all other interests sink to nothing, hence there results a standstill and a temporary reduction of the personality. Only that which suits the complex excites affects and is psychically elaborated. All thought and action move in the direction of the complex. Whatever is not impressed into this direction, is repudiated, or is accomplished with superficiality, unemotionally, and without any care. In attending to indifferent affairs there will appear the most peculiar compromise-productions; in business letters, lapses referring to the love-complex slip in, and in conversation one finds suspicious mistakes. The flow of objective thought is constantly interrupted by the incursions of the complex. Many pauses of thought result which are filled in by episodes of the complex. This well-known paradigm shows clearly the influence of a strong complex on the normal psyche. We see how all psychic energy is entirely bestowed on the complex at the expense of all the other psychic material which in consequence remains unused. All the other stimuli which do not suit the complex undergo a partial apperceptive dementia and emotional reduction. Even emotional tone becomes inadequate. Insignificant things, like little ribbons, dried flowers, pictures, billets-doux, hair, etc., are treated with the greatest care, while vital questions are often treated laughingly or indifferently. On the other hand the slightest remark touching the complex even remotely, immediately excites violent anger