Alterations Quote by Sigmund Freud
“When it happens that a person has to give up a sexual object, there quite often ensues an alteration of his ego which can only be described as a setting up of the object inside the ego, as it occurs in melancholia; the exact nature of this substitution is as yet unknown to us.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Ego and the Id, 1923
Freud suggests that abandoning a sexual object leads to an internal substitution, akin to melancholia, where the object becomes part of the ego, a process still not fully understood.
In simple terms: Giving up a sexual object may cause the ego to internalize it, similar to melancholia, a mystery.
Key Takeaway
Recognize internal shifts after loss.
Themes
psychology
loss
identity
melancholia
Mood
introspective
analytical
Type
theoretical
clinical
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- personal reflection
- grief counseling
Key Concepts
Freudian theory
object relations
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this internalization affect self‑concept?
- Can awareness of this process aid healing?
A Different Perspective
The substitution may be temporary and not fully conscious.
