Possession Anxiety: The Other Side of the Castration Complex

Abstract

Castration anxiety ‐ which is related to the expectation of the loss of a precious object ‐ is only one aspect of the castration complex. Attention is here drawn to its other side, so far neglected in psychoanalytic theory, which I propose to term‘possession anxiety’. Possession anxiety relates to the presence of an ambivalently charged object, which can take its power from the person possessing it. The person will then fear losing control over the object. Possession anxiety is a normal phenomenon, though it is most evident in sexual perversions and anorexia nervosa. It is symbolically represented by the phallus and is associated to the genital stage of psychosexual development. I briefly examine this concept from the viewpoint of its temporal connotations and in its psychotherapeutic significance for the understanding of the transference. I use as illustration fragments from child observation and from my clinical work with analytic patients.

Okul Psikolojik Danışmanlarının Danışma Sürecinde Sessizliğin Kullanımına İlişkin Görüşleri ve Deneyimleri

“…Silence was interpreted as a resistance (Arlow, 1961;Freud, 1912;Hadda, 1991), retreat (Shafii, 1973;Stringer, Levitt, Berman and Mathews, 2010), ego-defense (Sabbadini, 1986) and reaction of transference/countertransference (Ronningstam, 2006) by conventional psycho-analysis approach. Similar views that silence is an indicator of resistance shared by person-centered and Gestalt approaches (Denham-Vaughan and Edmond, 2010;Otani, 1989).…”

“…Psikolojik danışmanların çok azı, sessizliği daha çok kendilerinin tercih etiğini belirmiştir. Diğer taraftan, Sharply, Munro ve Elly'nin (2005) belirttiği gibi sessizliğin danışan tarafından başlatılması ve sonlandırılması terapötik ittifaka katkı sağlasa da, özellikle direnç gösteren, anlaşılmadığını düşünen (Levitt, 2001a(Levitt, , 2001b ve tehdit altında hissettiği benliğini korumak isteyen danışanlar (Sabbadini, 1986) sessizliği daha fazla kullanmaktadırlar. Tindall ve Robinson'un (1947) yaptığı çalışmada danışanlar sessizliği psikolojik danışmanlara göre daha fazla kullanmakla birlikte, kullanım nedenleri incelendiğinde danışanlar sadece sorudan sonra cevap vermek, yeni bir düşünceye geçmek için değil aynı zamanda direnç gösterisi olarak da kullanmaktadırlar.…”

“…Sessizlik, geleneksel psikanaliz yaklaşımı tarafından bir direnç (Arlow, 1961;Freud, 1912;Hadda, 1991), geri çekilme (Shafii, 1973;Stringer, Levitt, Berman ve Mathews, 2010), ego savunması (Sabbadini, 1986) ve aktarım/karşıt aktarım (Ronningstam, 2006) tepkisi olarak yorumlanmıştır. Sessizliğin bir direnç işareti olduğu yönündeki benzer görüşler danışan merkezli yaklaşım ve gestalt yaklaşımı tarafından da paylaşılmış, sessizliği; süreci zorlaştırıcı bir faktör olarak değerlendirmişlerdir (Denham-Vaughan ve Edmond, 2010; Otani, 1989).…”

Listening to silence

“…Words can be experienced as an extension of the body, as well as of the psyche, with the capacity to penetrate the ears and minds of the listener; language itself is often eroticised and used for seductive (active or passive) purposes. In this sense, silence is unconsciously associated with phallic impotence and can become a defence against castration and possession anxieties pertaining to this stage of development (Sabbadini 1986). Keeping quiet is a way of protecting the parents, the analyst and oneself, from exposure to the dangers of sexuality, aggression and retaliation that characterise the Oedipus complex.…”

Listening to Silence

“…Words can be experienced as an extension of the body, as well as of the psyche, with the capacity to penetrate the ears and minds of the listener; language itself is often eroticized and used for seductive (active or passive) purposes. In this sense, silence is unconsciously associated with phallic impotence and can become a defence against castration and possession anxieties pertaining to this stage of development (Sabbadini 1986). Keeping quiet is a way of protecting the parents, the analyst and oneself, from exposure to the dangers of sexuality, aggression and retaliation that characterize the Oedipus complex.…”