◆ SpookStack

‘those acts, Even the oe of innocent bystanders is made defensible | by the proclamation of their non-violent intentions. For the normal, who _ is not driven by motives which. must remain hidden, such logic strains credulity, But for the. driven neurotic, it is precisely ‘thet unconscious “ntesitions and ‘motivations of behavior which are of utmost Significance, The behavior itself is nothing more than a diversion which often as not 4s, used to mask the true intent. Patricia, at this juncture, is functioning as neurotical ly as any of the other members of the SLA. In the childlike reasoning of the neurotic, to not intend to harm is to absolve one of respons ibi1 ity for that harm. The responsibility is displaced onte the victim who should have done what they. were told. This absolution of responsibility poses only a Seeming paradox with the need for omnipotence in the neurotic. Conscious justification of the violence is served by verbal disavowal of responsibility which is assumed by the unconscious as proof of its omnipotence. Thus the neurotic Simul taneous ly confirms his need for guilt through his omnipotent responsibility for contro] over the universe, while consciously Providing the justification for childish absolution of quilt. The unconscious assumes omnipotent responsibility “even for those acts which are given conscious denial of: responsibility, a denial which is made precisely so that the unconscious may assume its greater omnipotence. The euphoria experienced by the group at this point has produced a ballooning of the paranoia and Self referencing delusions. Since they have now put the lie to their fears of their inability: ‘to act, they can 9 BOS narcissistically indulge themselves in public preening. Patricia is now confident enough to sever the last remaining tie she has held to the out- side world; she explicitly rejects Stephen Weed as the impractical] liberal]