Every seemingly arbitrary destructive action is a reaction of the organism to the frustration of a gratification of a vital need, especially of a sexual need.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Arbitrary destructive acts are reactions to frustrated vital needs, especially sexual needs.
- In plain terms
- Destruction often stems from blocked essential needs, particularly sexual ones.
- What can you take from it?
- Identify unmet vital needs to prevent senseless destruction.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What non‑sexual needs can also trigger destructive behavior?
- How can societies reduce need frustration?
Another view
It narrows causes of destruction to sexual frustration, ignoring other motivations.
More from Wilhelm Reich
A living creature develops a destructive impulse when it wants to destroy a source of danger. In this case, the destruction or killing of the object is the bio…
Permalink to quote #13 Sexual anxiety is caused by the external frustration of instinctual gratification and is internally anchored by the fear of the dammed-up sexual excitation. Th…
Permalink to quote #15 Nature and culture, instinct and morality, sexuality and achievement become incompatible as a result of the split in the human structure. The unity and congrui…
Permalink to quote #12
Related quotes
A living creature develops a destructive impulse when it wants to destroy a source of danger. In this case, the destruction or killing of the object is the bio…
Wilhelm ReichWilhelm Reich quote #13 Kinkiness comes from low energy. It's the substitution of lechery for lust.
Germaine GreerGermaine Greer quote #19 Perhaps, if in psychophysiological research, we can phrase our conceptualization of how to rate transactional behavior more in terms of systems, in terms of ex…
Margaret SingerMargaret Singer quote #1