How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.

CHAPTER ELEVEN Patterns of Cooperation Love and Marriage Some Causes of Marital Infelicity—Ignorance as a Cause of Marital Disaster—Marriage as a Task—The Socialization of Sex—The Vital Role of Contraception—The Curse of Sexual Competition—Historic Origins of Our Sexual Morality—Syzygiology v. the Old Psychology —Androtropism and Gynetropism—Sex Appeal and the Dangerous Age—Tragedies of Sexual Competition—The Cancer of Romantic Infantilism—The Romantic Fallacy—Romantic Hocus-Pocus: Falling in Love—The Aftermath of Love at First Sight—Mature Love v. Romantic Love—Practical Suggestions. THE finest expression of the art of creative self¬ sculpture is exemplified in love and in marriage. Love fosters not only the expansion of the ego, but also the fulfilment of that precious feeling, inherent in all human beings, toward a member of the opposite sex. Love’s responsibilities and obligations are concomitant with love’s unique opportunities for personal development. Just as the fulfilment of the ego is a fundamental ingredient of a happy love life, so also the altruistic conduct, implicit in a relation which requires a maximum of self-confidence, objectivity, social responsibility, and above all, a well developed sense of humour, is indispensable for the consummation of true love. It is no wonder therefore that more human mistakes are found in the realm of love than in any other sphere of human activity, and no wonder that the neurotic most commonly shipwrecks his life on the reefs of matrimony and the shoals of Eros. Mistaken conduct in love and marriage is so common that it is a rare human being who knows ten completely happily married couples, while the man or woman can hardly be found who does not know intimately some unhappy and mismated couple, who has not been com¬ pelled to listen to recriminations and incriminations from