an abnormally strong complex. As far as my experience goes, this is really everywhere the case. In this point, too, we can see the great resemblance to hysteria. The complexes which have principally impressed themselves on this experiment are the following:
The complex of personal grandeur constellates most of the associations. It especially manifests itself in the embellishment which serves no other purpose than to raise the dignity of the personality. So far it is a normal and very familiar concomitant of self-sufficiency, but here it reaches an exaggerated height corresponding to the morbid degree of self-consciousness. Because the propelling affect lying at its foundation never apparently becomes extinguished, it remains for decades, becoming a mannerism and glaringly contrasting with reality. The same may also be seen among the normal who are unreasonably vain, and who retain their imposing attitudes even when the real situation in no way warrants it. Hand in hand with this exaggerated embellishment we find the exaggerated grandiose delusions which in view of their contrast with reality and also in consequence of their pretentious and indistinct expressions, show something of the grotesque. The principle of this manifestation we also find among normal persons whose self-consciousness contrasts with their intelligence and station. In the patient we again deal with an exaggeration which points to the conclusion that there is a corresponding deep affect. What goes beyond the normal mechanism is the difficulty of comprehension, and the inadequacy of expression which indicates injury to the fundamental conception. The complex of personal grandeur expresses itself also in inappropriate demands and wishes.[1]
The persecutory complex contrasts with the grandiose complex, and also manifests itself with great distinctness. In this disease it is the usual compensation for the greatness. Here, too, the expression is exaggerated and often difficult to understand and hence grotesque.
We also find some indications of an erotic complex which is, however, considerably concealed by the two former complexes. Yet it is possible that the erotic complex is the principal one; indeed in women one must expect it. Perhaps it is only charac-
- ↑ Patient continually makes absurd demands by asking for millions, etc.
