Question to the expert: “Why am I haunted by thoughts of weapons?”

Bladed weapons symbolize not only male sexuality and aggression, but also control over it.

“The desire to have a weapon has become obsessive for me: I literally force myself to walk past shops that sell hunting knives. Is there something wrong with me?

Valentin, 32 years old

Ekaterina Mikhailova, psychologist:

“Why did you decide that “something is wrong with you”? Hundreds of men would perfectly understand your desire for a large hunting knife. The excitement and almost delight that a serious bladed weapon causes is familiar to many. And these feelings have nothing to do with the desire to commit a crime. Domestic violence is just more often committed with the help of improvised means, to which you are indifferent.

It seems to me that you have felt contact with some part of your personality that you do not know well and are afraid of. A real hunting knife is her symbol. Melee weapons are generally rich in meanings and symbolize not only male sexuality and aggression, but also control over it (a sword or sword is not drawn without a serious reason). People collect weapons, read about them, take pride in knowing the intricacies … And they are by no means maniacs.

You have convinced yourself that interest in knives compensates for weakness of character, and therefore betrays it and should be hidden as something shameful. May you be! Perhaps the determined and even combative side of your personality is not fully realized. A hunting knife or even a penknife in your pocket means a connection with this part, its recognition. This is a natural and not devoid of its logic and beauty process. Instead of secretly staring at knives and being scared, you should know more about all this.”

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