230 TABOO AND GENETICS 



more idealistic aspects. This partially explains 

 the fact that it is possible for a man to be 

 " unfaithful " to his wife while actually loving 

 her devotedly all the time. 



A different solution of the unconscious conflict 

 between the mother fixation and the sexual 

 desires at lower levels is seen in those cases in 

 which the man impulsively marries the woman 

 who has this transient attraction for him. 

 When the first passion of such an alUance has 

 worn away, there is no lasting bond to take 

 its place, and the man must find solace in some 

 such way as an intimate friendship with a 

 woman who recalls the maternal impressions 

 of his childhood. A famous example of this 

 is found in the beautiful affection of Auguste 

 Comte for his idohzed Clotilde de Vaux. 

 Although Comte was bound to a woman whom 

 he had married in the flush of erotic desire and 

 whom he found entirely uncongenial, Clotilde 

 became the inspiration of his later Hfe, and 

 held his affection without the aid of any material 

 bond because she so closely resembled the dead 

 mother whom he adored. (3.) 



It is evident that the selection of a mate who 

 is erotically attractive, but proves to be very 

 similar to a parent who was disHked instead of 

 loved, is as unfortunate as the choice of a partner 

 who is utterly unlike a beloved father or mother. 

 Indeed, when all the possible compHcations 



