February 1963

from his presumed inhibitions so he when my own small son, tempted to can be more expressive, particularly take a toy which did not belong to in the realm of sex and aggression. him,said to me: “Daddy,look away.” Since alcohol, which has been aptly When children are larger, they some-

MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR CONSCiEHCE called the “superego solvent,” tem- ~orarilv achieves much the same iffect ihat psychotherapy tries to times express the same sentiment, more directly and less amusingly, by telling their parents, quite simply, t o . accomplish permanently, the use of “Shut-up” or “Go to Hell.” On the alcohol, at least in “moderation,” premise that conscience is the “introby 0. Hobart Mowrer can be viewed as sensible and, in a jected” voice of parents and other manner of speaking, “therapeutic.” authority figures, the consumption of Recently I was having dinner with alcohol has much the same effect. friends and one of them asked: “Is Most of us, I suspect, can afford to it true that alcohol releases your real silence our consciences about as Does alcohol release your “real”personality? personality?” This question puts the much as children can dispense with “Tommy rot,” says a voice from the other side o f the issue very neatly. If one believes that parents. I, too, once feared and swinging doors. conscience is a kind of tyrant and fought with my conscience; but I imposter, an enemy within the gates, found that my fear was unwarranted And the too severe conscience is largely myth. then anything that will suppress or and my defiance unavailing. If I am subdue it might be thought of as per- today effective and happy, it is bemitting one to be his own most au- cause I have “made friends” with alcohol was never, in to drink, but find that I am opposed thentic, natural, and genuine self. conscience. And one doesn’t periodi- A LTHOUGH the usual sense, a “problem” for me, I have nevertheless become, to the use of alcohol in principle. Since 1 am a professional psycholo- But in so-called neurosis the trouble is not with one’s conscience cally say to a friend, “Pipe down” o r “Get lost!” Rather one cherishes in middle life, a tee-totaler. Why? gist, I suppose that calls for a bit of but with one’s conduct. And if this the sound of the friend’s voice and The answer is certainly not that I explaining. En ~nasseand individu- be the case, we cannot plausibly values his counsel. never tried liquor. During my early ally, psychologists use liquor about argue that a person is his truer, more I suppose my attitude toward alcoadult life, I suffered from quite se- as liberally as any comparable group natural, better self when somewhat hol has also been influenced by invere anxiety attacks and depres- I know. Moreover, they have a intoxicated. In light of his total life volvement in an attempt; over the sion. From college days on,.I drank “technical” rationale for the con- circumstances, the neurotically years, to help other persons who socially and, when “tense,” I occa- sumption of alcohol. “sick” person is a more adequate, have become addicted to its use. I sionally drank alone. But the stuff The still prevailing-though de- more whole, more normal person by don’t know what persons who make and I never really “clicked.” Eventu- clining-view among psychologists, virtue of the trouble his conscience and sell liquor say to themselves by ally I found a way of living that is that human beings become neu- is giving him than he would be with- way of justification, but I often wish makes everyday experience s o deeply rotic because they have a too-severe out a conscience. It is therefore diffi- they would each take just one alcoenjoyable that I just don’t want my conscience. And the systematic aim, cult to hold that an assault upon holic as their exclusive responsibrain muddled or consciousness in much psychotherapy, is therefore conscience, whether by psychologi- bility. I am not, however, so naive blunted. to reduce the over-severity of con- cal or chemical means, is justified. as to think that prohibition of the Today I not only have no “need” science and “release” the individual If a parent is scolding a small manufacture and sale of intoxicants child, the child will sometimes put his would solve the problem. The results fingers in his ears. I recall an occasion of our Noble Experiment, a few

decades back, offer conclusive evi- are those who engage in it any the is where problem drinking typically tribute more to the “alcohol probdence on this score. But I confess better off in the long run? During the starts. Moreover, the personal phil- lem” than is commonly recognized. that I can see no justification for past year I have been involved in a osophy and motivation in the two It has been my observation that he advertising liquor. Entrepreneurs in type of group therapy in which far cases is often not greatly different. also commonly contributes less to the industry are not satisfied just to greater candor is achieved than any Psychiatrists and psychologists who other, better causes. The moderate meet the existing demand or “need”; amount of alcohol is likely to pro- themselves drink “socially” have not drinker often depends upon alcohol instead, they constantly seek to in- duce. The kind of relatedness estab- been of much assistance t o more to give him the glow of inner warmth crease and expand it. A few months lished in this way is vastly more sat- seriously addicted persons. As the and euphoria which ought to come ago one advertisement suggested that isfying and constructive than “tavern record of Alcoholics Anonymous at- from acts of generosity and interif the romance is going out of your fellowship.” In fact, one of the sec- tests, it’s the dry “drunk” who is marriage, you should try champagne rets of the success of Alcoholics personal helpfulness. I happen to most likely to be effective in this live in one of the economically most for breakfast. And a current ad for Anonymous is that it helps individu- connection. In a recent technical arbeer commends it to fishermen. If als achieve a real experience of com- privileged and best educated comticle, Dr. Paul K. Benedict expresses ‘there is ever a time when a man munity instead of the illusory one the same thought when he says “Al- munities in this country. Yet we noshouldn’t need to drink, one might that intoxication produces. coholism, in the sense that it is char- toriously fail to make our modest suppose it’s when he’s fishing! The notion that alcohol increases acterologically rooted, cannot be United Fund quota, which is only a I think I am as loyal to our form sociability involves a singular con- torn from its relevant sotio-cultural fraction of what we spend on liquor of Government as most Americans, tradiction. Freud himself defined context. ‘Excessive drinking’ does and cigarette advertising, not to but when I realize that the liquor and conscience as “the internalized voice not exist as an entity apart from mention these commodities themcigarette advertising to which my of the community.” It, more than ‘social drinking7 but is a direct ex- selves. I doubt that anyone is proud teen-age son is exposed is interested anything else, links the individual to tension of it.” of this type of record, or that it bein him only as a potential customer, his group, and to the human enter- The moderate drinker, whom we tokens a healthy society or sound my enthusiasm for “the American prise generally. Therefore, the selec- regard as so exemplary, may con- value system. way of life” is something less than tive anaesthetizing of conscience, far complete. How long can we tolerate, from strengthening this link, specifiin the interest of the profit motive, cally weakens it. Many seriously this steady erosion of character? In anti-social acts are committed under Russia I understand that liquor is the influence of alcohol, yet we conavailable for those who think they tinue to speak as if alcohol makes a must have it, but the “advertising” person more socially sensitive and is all against its purchase and con- responsive. Hardly anyone will, on sumption. In at least this one re- reflection, deny that the social man spect, I cannot escape the feeling is the sober man and that intoxicathat the Russian policy is superior tion fosters irresponsibility. to our own. Another misconception that seems Sometimes the use of alcohol is to be up for reconsideration is the defended on the grounds of socia- notion that there is a sharp dividing bility. And there is no doubt but that line between so-called social drinka cocktail will set an assorted group ers and problem drinkers. It is true of people talking more volubly. But that not all social drinkers ultimately is the talk of any consequence, and become problem drinkers. But that