[Analysis of a laborer with homicidal impulses]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychoanalysis
• Psychology

Background:

• A working-class patient sought psychoanalytic treatment for a compulsive fear of killing his son.
• The patient presented with fixed ideas, jealousy, and multiple psychological ailments.

Observation:

• Psychoanalytic treatment revealed the homicidal impulse was directed towards the patient's twin brother.
• The twin brother, as the first-born, was idealized with superiority denied to the patient.

Findings:

• The patient experienced a passive/feminine identification with his father due to sibling rivalry.
• The homosexuality taboo was a significant factor in the patient's psychopathology.

Implications:

• This case highlights the complex interplay of sibling rivalry, identification, and sexual taboos in psychoanalytic theory.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective psychoanalytic treatment of severe psychological distress.