THE IMPORTANCE OF DREAMS AND ACTION IN THE ADOLESCENT PROCESS

The author argues that after puberty dreams and action are indicators of the capacity of the psychic apparatus to perform the work of bindin g drive energy. He notes that the development of adult sexuality alway s involves risk and that effective dream activity affords a definitive solution to the problem of incestuous and parricidal temptations, whi ch attain an unprecedented pitch of intensity with the onset of sexual and procreative potency in adolescence. The author illustrates his th esis by the case of an adolescent patient with particular sexual patho logy who broke down at the age of 17 and who, once he became able to d ream in the course of analysis, had less need to act out. A 'work of t he negative' is presented as a paradoxical but important element in ps ychic development. Dreaming and action are stated to be inseparable an d to constitute an essential safety valve that facilitates the develop mental process. A discussion of the connections between dreams and ini tiation leads to some ethnological considerations on sexuality and soc iety, and the paper ends with a plea not to overlook the death drive.