A sadomasochistic transference: its relation to distortions in the rapprochement subphase

The development of a rageful sadomasochistic transference early in an analysis is presented. We describe key interventions that foster its resolution and offer a reconstruction of the patient's early life, focusing on difficulty in the rapprochement phase. We believe that the intense and diffic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the American Psychoanalytic Association Vol. 39; no. 4; p. 939
Main Authors Seelig, B J, Person, E S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.1991
Subjects
Adult
Female
Humans
Individuation
Interpersonal Relations
Masochism - etiology
Masochism - psychology
Mother-Child Relations
Professional-Patient Relations
Sadism - etiology
Sadism - psychology
Self Concept
Transference (Psychology)
Unconscious (Psychology)
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Summary:The development of a rageful sadomasochistic transference early in an analysis is presented. We describe key interventions that foster its resolution and offer a reconstruction of the patient's early life, focusing on difficulty in the rapprochement phase. We believe that the intense and difficult to manage sadomasochistic transference was linked to a repudiation of both preoedipal and oedipal triangulation, resulting in the perpetuation of a hostile dependent mother-child dyad and in the patient's unconscious belief that sadomasochistic interactions were the only means of establishing and maintaining a close relationship.
ISSN:0003-0651
DOI:10.1177/000306519103900404