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perfect ideals; we thus go through the stage of hero worship when we pin up
the pictures of the film and athletic stars; when the boys make heroes of the
masters and the sixth-formers, and the girls develop crushes on the mistresses
and older girls. Then in adult life when we face the realities of life we learn to
act with realism, with proper regard for what is and is not possible, with due
care and thought to the risks run, to the safeguards necessary, to the feeling;
and reactions of other people, to the social code and the customs of the group
The characteristic of full emotional maturity is steadiness; the emotionally
adult person does not fly off the handle at the slightest word of criticism to
implied derogation or when in danger or in a foolish situation. He tries tc
think out the best course of action and keeps his feelings under control.
Avoiding Neuroses.
I have often thought that if everyone could learn a simple explanation of
human conduct we might go a long way to preventing the neuroses which afflict
us all from time to time and which constitute a mighty volume of illness throughout
the country. Human conduct is not unpredictable or irrational. The
difficulty is to present a simplified theory. I am encouraged to try to do this
when I remember that the ' advanced' theories of 25 or 50 years ago which
found their way into the text-books for degree courses are now in the curricula
of the schools.
The Theory of Anxiety as a Biological Safeguard.
All animals, birds and insects are born with natural tendencies or instincts
to perform certain acts such as herd together for mutual protection, flee from
danger, fight an enemy, disguise themselves against the correct coloured background;
to find water and food, find shelter or build a nest; to find a mate, to
suckle and rear the young. They are the biological urges to protect the
individual, to sustain life and to carry on the species. Applied to human
beings these urges drive us to adopt certain lines of conduct in order to satisfy
our own needs.
In rough order of importance we may list them as:—
1. Needed for protection from danger—
The need to hide or flee from danger or fight an enemy either alone
or with the group.
The need to be in good standing, on good terms and accepted by
others; to feel you belong to someone or a group; to be held in esteem
and given prestige; to be given help and protection when necessary.
2. Needed for sustaining life—
Water, food, shelter, warmth.
3. Needed for carrying on the race—
Sexual satisfaction, love and care for children.
4. Needed for self-satisfaction and pride of achievement—
Creative work.
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