TABOO AND GENETICS 213 



fore one of the potent factors in establishing 

 a conditioned emotional reaction to these stimuli. 



The erotic impulse may have its responses 

 conditioned in many other ways than the 

 building up of erotic fetishes. Kempf has 

 observed that the affective reactions of the 

 individual are largely conditioned by the un- 

 conscious attitudes of parents, friends, enemies 

 and teachers. For instance, one boy is con- 

 ditioned to distrust his ability and another to 

 have confidence in his powers by the attitude 

 of the parents. Similarly, the daughter whose 

 mother is abnormally prudish about sexual 

 functions will surely be conditioned to react 

 in the same manner towards her own sexual 

 functions, unless conditioned to react differently 

 by the influence of another person. (5). 

 Through the everyday associations in the social 

 milieu, therefore, the erotic impulse of an in- 

 dividual may become modified in almost any 

 manner. 



Just as an emotional reaction may become 

 conditioned to almost any other stimulus than 

 the one which originally called it forth, so there 

 is a tendency for any emotion to seek a vicarious 

 outlet whenever its natural expression is in- 

 hibited. Were any member of the group to give 

 free play to his affective life he would inevitably 

 interfere seriously with the freedom of the other 

 members. But the fear of arousing the dis- 



