The myth's dominance in modern life is, however, most of all a direct consequence of Sigmund Freud's revolutionary use of the theme to help lay the foundation of one of the key elements of his theory of psychoanalysis. Freud used the widespread popularity of the Oedipus story to substantiate his contention that children bear incestuous feelings of love for the parent of the opposite sex and, as a consequence of the ensuing rivalry for that parent's love, develop feelings of hostility towards the parent of the same sex, a hostility which reaches its peak expression in murderous impulses towards that parent.