Humans are purportedly the most intelligent animals. They are endowed with a brain more complex than the rest of all the vertebrates. Theirs is a complex thinking cap that is very much capable of abstract functions, such as analysis and judgment. Man's brain may not be the biggest nor the heaviest but its capabilities are beyond what he himself can imagine. Man's brain is capable of complex calculations. It is capable of total recall of events that have happened long in the past. It is capable of making a choice, deciding which action to pursue for his own safety and survival. Sadly, it is also this same brain that gives man most of his problems today.
One of the most fascinating study of the brain and its function is Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of human development. Although this theory has been fraught with too much controversy, some even bordering into the absurd, it is indeed able to explain man's very peculiar psychosexual behavior. His ideas of id, ego and superego that were landmarks of the different psychosexual stages of development-oral, phallic and anal-can very well explain most of man's adult sexual behavior. Lack of knowledge of this highly controversial theory explains some of man's sexual deviancies.
Two of the most challenging problems I faced today is brought about by ignorance to Freud's psychosexual theory of human development. One of our senior graduating students got pregnant by another graduating student. This is a very sad case of penis envy gone awry. Another problem is the case of a young freshman whose misplaced Electra complex caused a school bus driver his future, the future of his children and the future of our young student. All these two cases are tainted with much ignorance to man's sexuality, his sexual development and how his sexuality affects his behavior as he grows to adulthood.
Our senior student who got pregnant was, sadly before, a very promising student. She was born out of wedlock. Freud said that she must have been longing for a father figure. Her penis envy intensified so much and blamed her mother for her father's absence. She would have thought that her only source of happiness and security, which is the father, was purposely taken away from her as a punishment for the father leaving the mother. The boy is troubled by his helplessness in fending off his father from his mother. He is the eldest in a brood of four, and felt it was his duty to protect the mother (Oedipal complex) from the onslaught of the father who is the main cause of his castration anxiety. Both their needs complement each other. Both their unresolved conflicts find ultimate resolution in each other's company.
I do not expect for a school bus driver to know his Freudian psychosexual theory of development. This is the very mistake for his ruining everyone's future-his own, his children's and our student's. She is a beautiful girl, more mature than her age. She is the third in a brood of five consisting of two older brothers and two younger sisters. She is the proverbial middle child-confused of where she stands and what is supposed to be her role. Her father works abroad. When the older brothers was still studying in high school, the mother was often with them, preparing usually their lunch. When both boys went to the city to pursue college studies, the mother's attention got divided, and unfortunately was mistaken by the middle sister as the mother more favoring, loving the older boys. This second case sadly portrays how life may suddenly be overturned simply by a misperceived Electra complex that has intensified so much penis envy.
The damage has been done. It can no longer be repaired like brand new. Worse, emotional collapse has had happened simply but sadly because of the lack of understanding of how we, humans, behave based on the dictates of our baser instincts, our rational self and our transcendent being. Unfortunately, the Freudian theory cannot be taught with much understanding among high school students nor can it be taught among grade schoolers without sounding so sexually perverted. One still has to go to college to know Freud, but if only one listened well to his Psychology professor. A lot has not finished high school. A lot has not gone to college. Will there still be a lot of future and hopes to be broken? So sad...sadly...so sad...
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