circumcision

nationality

Hungarian

scientific organization

Magyar Pszichoanalitikus Egyesület

occupation / innovator as

psychoanalyst

anthropologist

scientist

folklorist

innovator in the field of

anthropology

is carving unity into duality. As such it mirrors the psychosocial movement of boys from the youthful mother-child dyad to the adult pairings of father-son, man-ancestor, and husband-wife.

In addition, as Roheirn (and Mehta 1996) emphasized, the physical act of circumcision, carving unity into duality, mirrors the psychosocial movement of boys from the youthful mother-child dyad to the adult pairings of father-son, man-ancestor, and husband-wife. (423)

is separation from the mother, represented by a separation of a part of the body from the whole.

The work of Roheirn represents a classic yet underappreciated psychodynamic symbolic perspective on circumcision. For For him, 'separation from the mother is represented as a separation of a part of the body from the whole' (1942, p. 366). (423)

is a removal of the foreskin symbolizing the birth of the boy, detaching them from motherhood, also attaching them to potent paternal symbols such as bullroarers.

The removal of the foreskin, too, symbolizes the birth of the boy (Roheirn 1945, p. 71... see also Turner 1962). Yet circumcision, which detaches Aboriginal boys from motherhood, also attaches them to potent paternal symbols such as bullroarers (albeit symbols bedecked with uterine insignia). (423)

Géza Róheim

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Géza RóheimThinkers

Géza Róheim