The internal obstructive object in the analysis of a woman who envies her rapist.

Full Abstract

Through her description of the analysis of a traumatized woman dedicated to the search for power, the author elaborates Bion's (1958) concept of the obstructive object. The complex relationships among the obstructive object, later trauma, and the development of a pathological organization of the personality based on the idolization of power are highlighted. The author suggests that, in such cases, envy and underlying humiliation pose particular challenges in an analysis, and their containment can be central to the patient's recovery of the capacity to learn from experience.

Author information

Author/s: Wilson, Ellen F (EF);

Affiliation: Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis, USA. EZPsy(-atsign-)aol.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: The Psychoanalytic quarterly (Psychoanal Q), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 78 (issue 3) : pp 791-818

Dates: Created 2009/08/18; Completed 2009/09/02;

PMID: 19685814, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/4/2009, IMS Date: )

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