Chapter 8
THE GROWTH OF LOVE
In medical school one of our courses included the study of
the psychological stages of development man goes through
from infancy to maturity. It also included the various pitfalls
people encounter during these stages, the biological and
psychological experiences that can prevent them from reaching
psychological maturity.
During one class in which we reviewed the psychological hazards of adolescence a very intelligent student raised his hand and was recognized by the professor. "How does anybody ever really grow up?" this student asked.
The class laughed, of course. But the professor, after the laughter had died down, took the question quite seriously and complimented the student for his acuity. He then proceeded to address us for a half hour on the indomitable and surging drive of the human body and mind toward health and pleasure, a drive that will often overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, that will pause for a while at times, apparently defeated, only to revive its original energy and resume its move toward the goal of health and maturity.
We see this drive daily in people who come for psychiatric
