Lost in (cyber)space: finding two adolescent boys hiding from their own humanity

Abstract

This article explores the intense psychological effects of compulsive Internet use, which has become increasingly common among adolescent boys and young men. Two cases are presented and discussed to illustrate some of the psychic distortions around thinking and feeling, as these occurred in the analysis of a mid-adolescent boy and of another patient in later adolescence. A kind of narcissistic omnipotence grounded in magical thinking appeared to take root in their minds, and it led to an avoidant pattern in relationships because of such strong wishes for both distance and control. A short review of the conceptual origins of magical thinking underscores its continued relevance because so many now engage with the Internet. In addition, Anzieu's idea of the 'skin ego' is applied to the clinical case material to provide a theoretical framework for the developmental challenges that can appear in adolescent boys who seek to use the Internet as a form of psychic container. Emerging problems that immersion in the Internet might bring into our practices, for example the depleting effects of massive projective identification, are considered and discussed, along with the obvious ways in which using the Internet can be beneficial for connecting with others, for creating new platforms of expression, and for education.

The Digital Phenotyping Project: A Psychoanalytical and Network Theory Perspective

“…Some conceptual contributions from psychoanalysis could indeed prove to be particularly heuristic to help us think about the specific relational modalities of the digital realm. The concept of magical thinking (Tyminski, 2015) or the concept of "narcissism of minor differences, " (Potier, 2012) for example, testify of how the symptom has found its way into the paths offered by the possibilities of digital reality.…”

“…Thus, the intense psychic effects induced by the compulsive use of digital technology is a subject particularly explored by psychoanalysts who can provide precise data on the unconscious side and the singular meaning of digital traces ( Tyminski, 2015 ; Vlachopoulou, 2018 ).…”

Archaic man meets a marvellous automaton: posthumanism, social robots, archetypes

“…Living at this interface has repercussions for mental health (e.g. Tyminski , Rytovaara ) as well as changing clinical practice and training (Merchant ). However, a distinction may be drawn between three thematic domains, which are discrete yet flow into each other:…”

Journal reviews

“…Cyberspace, like all objects, is capable of carrying projections, but what is different is that cyberspace is not a static object but rather an interactive subject able to carry and interact with parts of ourselves. For the more vulnerable psyche I do not believe th it is a stretch to imagine a technological animism occurring in which individuals may be projecting the deepest parts of themselves, perhaps even spiritual parts, unknowingly into cyberspace (Tyminski 2015). Perhaps cyberspace fulfills 'selfobject' (Kohut 1971) needs; offsets 'the fears of breakdown' (Ogden 2013); and arguably is the perfect place for a 'second skin' (Bick 1968).…”