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Being seen or being watched? A psychoanalytic perspective on body dysmorphia
1Adolescent Department, Tavistock Clinic, London, UK. lemma@dircon.co.uk
The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis
|August 28, 2009
Summary
Individuals with body image disturbances, perceiving parts as "ugly," may have narcissistic disturbances. The severity relates to the super-ego, impacting treatment accessibility and requiring focus on early object relations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychoanalysis
- Psychiatry
Background:
- This paper examines individuals with excessive body preoccupation and perceived "ugliness."
- These symptoms are linked to underlying narcissistic disturbances.
Observation:
- Patients feel compelled to alter or conceal perceived "ugly" body parts.
- The severity of these compulsions is associated with the pervasiveness of identification with the "super-ego."
Findings:
- Narcissistic disturbance severity correlates with super-ego identification.
- This disturbance impacts patient accessibility in analytic treatment.
Implications:
- Understanding the development of the body-self is crucial for treatment.
- Focusing on early relationships with "objects of desire" is key due to subsequent identifications and transference enactments.
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