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Abstract

Out of our work over the years on child development, clinical technique, and sadomasochism, we have begun to formulate a model of development that describes two possible ways of responding to feelings of helplessness in the face of the challenges of internal and external experience. Any psychoanalytic model has implications for how we think about technique and can be tested on the basis of its utility in generating technical ideas and enhancing our therapeutic repertoire. At this juncture in the history of our field, it is crucial for us to demonstrate that psychoanalytic techniques are effective in helping people enter treatment, change, and finish in a way that consolidates their gains. In this paper we explore the utility of our two-systems model for expanding the discourse about psychoanalytic technique.

The Rorschach Omnipotence Scale and closed-system processing.

“…This exploratory study demonstrates several key aspects of a psychoanalytic theory of omnipotent defenses, based on the Novick and Novick (1996, 2003, 2004) description of a “closed system” sadomasochistic cycle in which omnipotence plays a central role in the regulation of self-esteem and emotions. A new measure, the Rorschach Omnipotence Scale (ROS), assesses Rorschach response content and test behavior for omnipotent and magical themes.…”

“…In Novick and Novick’s (1996, 2003, 2004, 2013) two-system model, they describe psychological mechanisms that they believe create and support omnipotent beliefs, termed collectively the closed/omnipotent system. In this system, reality is distorted; contradictory information is not assimilated; and the individual does not call on his or her own competencies to find solutions, but instead fantasizes omnipotent or magical solutions.…”

“…The more one relies on omnipotence, the more threatening lack of omnipotence becomes, and reality must continually be warded off, distorted, controlled, ignored, or misinterpreted in order to preserve equilibrium of the self. “The patient fears that the only alternative is the primitive states of helplessness, rage, or traumatic guilt that originally gave rise to the defensive omnipotent delusions of closed system functioning” (Novick & Novick, 2003, p. 3).…”

“…Confrontation with helplessness can be painful, shaming, and enraging, and one powerful defense against feeling powerless is omnipotence, the conscious or unconscious unrealistic belief in one’s control over some aspect of the self, other people, or the external world (Almond, 1997). This article introduces the Rorschach Omnipotence Scale (ROS), a new measure based on the psychoanalytic theory of omnipotence as presented by Novick and Novick (1996, 2003, 2004, 2013) as well as many other authors (Almond, 1997; Kernberg, 1997; Rosenfeld, 1988; Wurmser, 2007). Fantasies of omnipotence are particularly prominent in challenging clinical scenarios, such as cases of masochistic personality and extreme childhood trauma.…”

The place of internalization of the analyst in analyses that emphasize the mutative priority of insight: A developmental perspective.

“…Novick and Novick’s (2003) technical application of their innovative concept of two systems of self-regulation, also articulates a developmental approach to mutative action. They write, “Expansion and strengthening of ego functions throughout treatment are at the center of our understanding of analysis as a developmental experience ” (Novick & Novick 2003, p. 4, italics added for emphasis).…”