Some Comments on Masochism and the Delusion of Omnipotence From A Developmental Perspective

Abstract

This paper explores the relation of the delusion of omnipotence to masochism and suggests that this fantasy constitutes a major component of the resistance so prominent in work with masochistic patients. The connections among masochism, omnipotence, negative therapeutic reaction, and clinging to pain are discussed. The classical view has been that the failure of infantile omnipotence forces the child to turn to reality. Our experience with masochistic patients suggests that it is the real failure to achieve competent interactions with others that forces the child to turn to omnipotent solutions. The distinction is made between fantasies that enhance the real capacities of the self and those aimed at denying and transforming the pain and inadequacy of the mother-child relationship. The epigenetic transformations of omnipotent fantasies through all levels of development are described. The patient's need to protect the omnipotent fantasy is discussed in relation to resistance at each phase of analysis.

The Woman Who Could Not Grieve: A Contemporary Look at the Journey Toward Mourning

“…Mother's rageful, unpredictable nature made contact with her dangerous and something to avoid. In her failure to have ''good enough'' experiences with her mother, Mrs. A. turned her feelings of helpless rage into omnipotent solutions to avoid the pain of loss and disappointment (Novick & Novick, 1991). Her reactions to anything about me that suggested I was separate from her elicited feelings of rage and hurt.…”

“…The patient's response was ''Look how I am able to make my mother so angry.'' While Mrs. A. dreaded separations and threesomes, she used the experiences to justify her belief that ''It doesn't pay to be real'' (Novick & Novick, 1991;Valenstein, 1973). The coupling of her attachment to pain and her belief that she was not real, contributed markedly to her early inability to accomplish the developmental task of mourning.…”

Pleasure Seeking and the Aspect of Longing for an Object in Perversion. A Neuropsychoanalytical Perspective.

“…Others, mainly those with a propensity for addictive or compulsive forms of sexual behavior, may use sexual stimulation as a coping mechanism for dealing with sadness, pain and feelings of loss (Bancroft et al, 2003b). The role of narcissism in perversion, where a positive self-image is used defensively against feelings of intimacy, may correspond with the concept of attachment avoidance (Hazan & Shafer, 1987;Kernberg, 1988Kernberg, , 1991Kernberg, , 1992Nowick & Nowick 1991, Rosenfeld, 1971Stolorow, 1975).…”

Dyadic Violence, Shame, and Narcissism

“…In addition to overt expressions of narcissistic grandiosity, others have argued that reaaions to shame or narcissistic injury may also be de cidedly masochistic (Bergler, 1949;Cooper, 1988;Novick & Novick, 1991). In his characterizadon of the "narcissisdc-masochisdc charaaer," Cooper (1988) described self-aggrandizing narcissistic tendencies as so intricately intertwined with masochistic defenses that neither can exist without the other.…”

“…Both are seen as ubiquitous modes of self-esteem de fense and as regressive attempts to maintain illusions of omnipotence and control. Masochistic tendencies serve these objectives by reinteφret-ing painful narcissistic injuries as desirable and as evidence of one's specialness (Novick & Novick, 1991). Anxieties stemming from helplessness and abandonment are additionally diminished by ascribing causal attribu tions of personal control over diese negative experiences (e.g., "I made my modier beat me").…”