Chapter 7 Summary and Analysis

Viorst believes in the Oedipus complex, that we all are in love with a parent when we are small and that we experience sexual tension. The contacts between infant and mother produce a "deep libindal pleasure," in the opinions of Freud and Erik Erikson. A child falls in love with the opposite sex parent, the other parent standing in the way, whom the child loves and hates. Viorst feels that in adulthood, we may seek out the wanted parent simply to symbolically win the battle with the other parent. Viorst feels that our adult sexuality is in response to oedipal conflicts. Moreover, it is possible that some people's fear of success is attached to their fear of winning the battle against the parent whom he perceives as competitor and being punished or unloved because of it. This scenario, winning the battle...