ABSTRACT
Freud's theory of feminine masochism is based on a scientific prejudice typical of his time—so much so that it was even shared by Krafft-Ebing. Freud uses this concept in an attempt to explain one of the components of sexual masochism and certain aspects of homosexuality: the homosexual is unconsciously identified with a woman who passively submits. It is common knowledge that this patient's first analysis was incomplete. The treatment, which had seemingly restored him to a state of well being, did not resolve certain elements of his pathology, including severe psychosomatic symptoms and a devastating existential anxiety. In his reconstruction of the patient's history, Freud thought that, as a child, the Wolf Man had felt compelled to give up masturbation on account of castration anxiety. The detail of the punishment inflicted directly on the genital organ suggested to Freud that the patient also felt guilty about his masturbation.
