The Early Human Handbook

Freud believed that sexuality and love have their basis in infancy. The mother is seen as the first love object. He sees ‘adult love and sexuality as an extension (or rediscovery) of their infantile forms.’ Furthermore, for Freud, the inhibition of passion leads to intimacy and companionate love.

Interestingly, Litt discusses Jung’s theory, that the anima and animus underlie love and attraction. For Jung, underlying every male is a female side – anima, and underlying every female is a male side – animus. These two archetypes are said to open up characteristics of the opposite sex for each of us. They also act as collective images motivating us to understand and respond to the opposite sex. The man identifies the ‘ideal’ woman with his own hidden anima and the woman may see the man as the personification of her animus – could this begin to explain, if both man and woman have something resonated in their respective archetype, ‘love at first sight?’ this concept isn’t looked on too fondly in the literature. Tysoe sees it as ‘a label we give to that powerful first surge of sexual attraction, if it later leads to a long and happy relationship.’ Atwell & Atwell agree describing it as ‘a perilous flight into uncertainty and mystification.’