Sigmund Freud pioneered the study of the human unconscious-not only on the motivation and behavior of the individual but also as a factor in culture. Here, Freud applies his theories to the fields of archaeology, anthropology, and religion. This collection of four essays-written in 1912-3 and originally appearing in the journal *Imago*-includes: - The savage’s dread of incest - Taboo and the ambivalence of emotions - Animism, magic and the omnipotence of thought - The infantile recurrence of totemism Initially rejected by those who study culture, Freud’s methods were later adopted by many ethnographers, and this remains a vital work for approaching cultural issues today. Austrian psychiatrist SIGMUND FREUD (1856-1939) developed psychoanalysis-dialogue between doctor and patient-as a tool for understanding and curing psychopathologies. While some of his ideas have been supplanted by subsequent research and refinement, his work continues to profoundly influence the sciences and the humanities alike.