MECHANICS OF THE MASCULINE AND FEMININE 145 



presence of the meat, will cause his mouth to water. This asso- 

 ciated vegetative secretion reflex is the most fundamental to 

 grasp in an understanding of the deepest strata of personality. 



Now there are, besides the associated vegetative-endocrine 

 reactions, certain inborn automatic processes in the vegetative 

 system and in the internal secretion system, which work 

 automatically to produce increased intravisceral pressures. The 

 reduction of these pressures below the point of their intrusion 

 upon consciousness, their relief, as we say, also form the centers 

 of constellations around feelings of satisfaction or love. Such, for 

 example, are the voiding of excretions. Sooner or later, these 

 automatic reactions, and the associated reflexes formed around 

 the mother, father and other associates, come into conflict. In- 

 hibitions or prohibitions of the automatic act at certain times or 

 moments are imposed by somebody. And so there occurs a pitting 

 of the automatic mechanism against the associated reflex. Con- 

 flict with adjustment by suppression must occur. Thus a sense 

 of self as active wisher (for the automatically pleasant expe- 

 rience), and punishable suppressor (of the same in favor of the 

 acquired associated reflex) develops. 



So far, so good. Compromise by regulation from above, from 

 the brain, of the automatic reactions follows, as training. No 

 absolute repression is forced, no absolute encouragement is in- 

 dorsed. Harmonious equilibrium, or normality, continues. But 

 now there come upon the scene the unconscious fears. 



In the paleontology of character, these fears are the deepest 

 strata, the eocene era, so to speak, of the soul. They are the 

 hardest to get at and the most silent, as well as the most dominant 

 of the influences which guide conduct. In Sir Walter Raleigh's 

 words: P 



"Passions are best likened to streams and floods. 

 The shallows murmur, the deeps are dumb." 



During the first period of childhood, up to five or six, the pri- 

 mary fears group themselves around the taboos and secrets of 

 its life. 



Though we have every reason for believing that the sex 

 glands are acting in some way upon the organism during this 

 time, nothing definite is known. Yet, as the numerous 

 studies of the subconscious recently made prove, sex curiosity 

 like the other curiosities, flowers. More than about the 



