Castration

by Ivan Ward

Phallic symbolism and castration themes are common in human history. Psychoanalysts affirm that the castration complex is continually met with in analytic situations. Yet it seems an unbelievable idea.

Drawing experience from myth, clinical practice and the sexual theories of children, Freud established the castration complex as a crucial determinant of human sexual behaviour and personality development. In this book, Ivan Ward reaffirms the truth of Freud's contentious vision. Using an array of clinical, biographical and cultural references, he describes the symptomatic reality it explains and shows the influence of castration anxiety in the most unlikely areas of our everyday lives. From fashion to football, in art and science, through jealous rages and moments of genius, the effects of the castration complex are ever present and incalculable.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 1999

About the author

Ivan Ward is the Director of Education at the Freud Museum, London, the series editor of 'Ideas in Psychoanalysis' and author of 'Phobia' and 'Introducing Psychoanalysis'.

Reviews

[Lastborncat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't say good or bad due to lack of knowledge. Interesting nonetheless. I felt metaphysically castrated before reading, now I want to castrate my father.

[Donald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book to get a simple introduction to Freud's concept of the castration complex/castration anxiety. After finishing the book, I decided that either a) Freud's concept doesn't make much sense and is rooted in loosely connected anecdotes and incredibly odd literary/cultural analysis or b) that Ivan Ward doesn't know what he is talking about and misrepresented the idea. Maybe a combination of both a and b.

In any case, I am not convinced that this idea of castration anxiety is useful for explaining anything, but I'm pretty sure being an old-school Freudian would be a hoot.