A STUDY OF SEXUAL BEHAVOUR

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27670, 28 May 1955, Page 3

A STUDY OF SEXUAL BEHAVOUR

S” “f Society. A Psychological »“l P y Kenneth Sj" Pe !f r Letcher. Fredenck Muller. 236 pp. The terms of reference of this new study of sexual behaviour are farreaching and ambitious. The authors are of the opinion that the many tensions and abnormalities observable in die sex life of modem human beings are conditioned by “pressures exerted on the individual by a social environment saturated with utilitarianism.” They attempt therefore an analysis of our social structure as it affects our whole sexual life. piey begin by making some general reflections on “Life, Growth, and Evolution,” proceed to an introductory discussion of “Love and the Sexual ■ytfferences” (which summarises Jungs theory of the “animus,” the anima,” and the “shadow,” and also includes a survey of Margaret Mead’s celebrated account of the social conditioning of male and female characteristics among the tribes of New Guinea), and then discuss Freud and sex in infancy, Kinsey and modern sexual morality before marriage, providing several chapters on the many disorders and neuroses that may arise within marriage, as well as on homosexuality, transvestism, and sadomasochism, before arriving at their conclusion that “our system of social education” must be improved before the social malaise of our times can begin to he cured. The authors acknowledge that many of the problems they raise, as well as the farreaching solutions they propound, are fundamentally religious matters. But they consider the religious institutions of our times to be too timid, uncertain of purpose, and hypocritical. And religion itself, and the profound consequences arising from our age’s lack of th. they fail to consider—although their conception of what personal relationships should be in a healthy society, and their opposition to utilitarian standards, are identical with the Christian standpoint. Dr. Fletcher and Dr. Walker perhaps attempt too much in this book, but many individual chapters are excellent and there are few readers who will not find them remarkably illuminating and perceptive. This is particularly true of the chapters on marriage, and the sexual ignorance that quite, commonly prevails, even within marriage. The authors’ wide experience and mature wisdom are everywhere apparent here. Their discussion of homosexuality is also particularly sane and enlightened. And their sympathetic insistence on the pressure °f sexiality in young unmarried men find women is useful, even if their suggested remedies are controversial find incapable of general application. As a general handbook to add to our knowledge of the teachings of modern psychology and to our understanding of ourselves and our own sexuality, ♦k wor k is invaluable, in spite of fact that it contains some illogicalities and its opposition to “the morality imposed on Western civilisavOn tile Christian Church” is perhaps ill-considered.