Totem And Taboo Resemblances Between the Psychic Lives of Savages And Neurotics

He also studies different taboos which were popular in tribal life, for example, incest taboo. The scientist proves that the incest taboo is very similar to the rituals of compulsion among neurotics who are also struggling with their emotions in a similar way like primitive people were struggling with their desire of incest. As we see, the way made by original taboos is complicated but it gave the birth to such reactions on certain things that we experience in modern society. The ideas of Oedipal complex are also introduces in his research in the form we have it now and in the form in which it was present in primitive societies. At ancient times young boys had a strong desire to murder their father because they saw them as their competitors for the mothers' attention. The book is full of interesting suggestions and bright ideas and is definitely worth reading by those who are interested in psychology and in the basis of our modern society. Of course, Freud's ideas are often disputed today but it is difficult to deny his contribution into the development of psychology, religion studies and anthropology.