ABSTRACT

In psycho-analytic theory there has been some confusion since Freud put forward the valuable idea that the symptomatology of anxiety may be related to birth trauma. It is not clear whether birth memories are individual or racial, whether birth can be normal or whether trauma is an inherent part of birth or a variable and chance accompaniment. Also, what exactly is the nature of the trauma in terms of ego psychology? There is therefore much left over for re­ search, and perhaps the following collection of ideas may be useful in stimulating thought.