An evolutionary perspective on gradual formation of superego in the primal horde
Freud proposed that the processes which occurred in the primal horde are essential for understanding superego formation and therefore, the successful dissolution of the Oedipus complex. However, Freud theorized superego formation in the primal horde as if it is an instant, all-or-none achievement. T...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00008/full |
| _version_ | 1819141554719162368 |
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| author | Erdem ePulcu |
| author_facet | Erdem ePulcu |
| author_sort | Erdem ePulcu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Freud proposed that the processes which occurred in the primal horde are essential for understanding superego formation and therefore, the successful dissolution of the Oedipus complex. However, Freud theorized superego formation in the primal horde as if it is an instant, all-or-none achievement. The present paper proposes an alternative model aiming to explain gradual development of superego in the primitive man. The proposed model is built on knowledge from evolutionary and neural sciences as well as anthropology, and it particularly focuses on the evolutionary significance of the acquisition of fire by hominids in the Pleistocene period in the light of archaeological findings. Acquisition of fire is discussed as a form of sublimation which might have helped Prehistoric man to maximise the utility of limited evolutionary biological resources, potentially contributing to the rate and extent of bodily evolution. The limitations of both Freud's original conceptualisation and the present model are discussed accordingly in an interdisciplinary framework. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:56:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a59a39ce0bef4443bb9ccecc93bcf729 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:56:18Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a59a39ce0bef4443bb9ccecc93bcf7292022-12-21T18:26:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782014-01-01510.3389/fpsyg.2014.0000871610An evolutionary perspective on gradual formation of superego in the primal hordeErdem ePulcu0University of ManchesterFreud proposed that the processes which occurred in the primal horde are essential for understanding superego formation and therefore, the successful dissolution of the Oedipus complex. However, Freud theorized superego formation in the primal horde as if it is an instant, all-or-none achievement. The present paper proposes an alternative model aiming to explain gradual development of superego in the primitive man. The proposed model is built on knowledge from evolutionary and neural sciences as well as anthropology, and it particularly focuses on the evolutionary significance of the acquisition of fire by hominids in the Pleistocene period in the light of archaeological findings. Acquisition of fire is discussed as a form of sublimation which might have helped Prehistoric man to maximise the utility of limited evolutionary biological resources, potentially contributing to the rate and extent of bodily evolution. The limitations of both Freud's original conceptualisation and the present model are discussed accordingly in an interdisciplinary framework.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00008/fullevolutionary psychologymoralityBehavioural EconomicsSublimationfirePrimal horde |
| spellingShingle | Erdem ePulcu An evolutionary perspective on gradual formation of superego in the primal horde Frontiers in Psychology evolutionary psychology morality Behavioural Economics Sublimation fire Primal horde |
| title | An evolutionary perspective on gradual formation of superego in the primal horde |
| title_full | An evolutionary perspective on gradual formation of superego in the primal horde |
| title_fullStr | An evolutionary perspective on gradual formation of superego in the primal horde |
| title_full_unstemmed | An evolutionary perspective on gradual formation of superego in the primal horde |
| title_short | An evolutionary perspective on gradual formation of superego in the primal horde |
| title_sort | evolutionary perspective on gradual formation of superego in the primal horde |
| topic | evolutionary psychology morality Behavioural Economics Sublimation fire Primal horde |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00008/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT erdemepulcu anevolutionaryperspectiveongradualformationofsuperegointheprimalhorde AT erdemepulcu evolutionaryperspectiveongradualformationofsuperegointheprimalhorde |