Masculine Shame: From Succubus to the Eternal Feminine

by Mary Y. Ayers

How does the image of the succubus relate to psychoanalytic thought? Masculine From Succubus to the Eternal Feminine explores the idea that the image of the succubus, a demonic female creature said to emasculate men and murder mothers and infants, has been created out of the masculine projection of shame and looks at how the transformation of this image can be traced through Western history, mythology, and Judeo-Christian literature. Divided into three parts areas of discussion Through a process of detailed cultural and social analysis, the author places the image of the succubus at the very heart of psychoanalytic thought, highlighting its presence in both Freud’s Medusa and Jung’s visions of Salome. As such, this book will be of great interest to all those in the fields of analytical psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 21, 2011

Reviews

[Brandon Burt · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book had a lot of interesting points however they weren't backed up with any empirical evidence or supporting rationality. The book discredits any logical reasoning of psychoanalysis which people like Jung and Freud delved into the deepest levels of unconsciousness to understand. The book came off as overly sympathetic to women who can be poisonous just as men can be terrible creatures. There is definitely plenty of evidence in the real world to indicate women using their sexuality for gains and domination which is where the succubus archetype comes from it's not a projection of guilt from men. It showed a lack of understanding for a negative side of women. Both sexes can clearly be very flawed in their gender orientated dichotomous psyches. I would encourage people to recognize and understand the potentialities of the negative sides of their masculine and feminine being and to straw away from this book.

[David]

I found this completely unreadable. The author's thesis is unsupported by any empirical arguments.

[5uccubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is the dark feminine inspiration for the femme fatale, castrator, dominatrix, vixen bogey, witch, enchantress, blood sucker, seductress, villainess, scarlet woman, beguiling abomination, preening temptress, predator, demon bride, impure female, Hell’s rose, or black widow.

More recent names might be bimbo, eye candy, career bitch or feminist.