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Current conceptualizations on masochism: genesis and object relations.

C Glickauf-Hughes1, M Wells

  • 1Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303-3083.

American Journal of Psychotherapy
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Masochism, defined as self-defeating love and individuation, offers valuable clinical insights. Understanding masochistic personality, its origins, and object choices clarifies complex relational patterns in psychotherapy.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Psychotherapy
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Masochism is a complex and controversial term in psychotherapy.
  • A redefinition of masochism as a self-defeating pattern of loving and individuation enhances its clinical utility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Review the literature on masochism's definition, scope, and relevance.
  • Provide a clinical overview of the masochistic personality.
  • Explore the etiology and object choices in masochism.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review.
  • Descriptive clinical analysis.
  • Etiological and object relations discussion.

Main Results:

  • Masochistic object relations involve seeking fusion and healing narcissistic injury.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Masochists often choose idealized, unloving partners, frequently with borderline or narcissistic traits.
  • These relationships initially offer symbiosis but later replicate childhood environments.

    • Conclusions:

    • Masochism, when understood as a self-defeating relational pattern, remains a crucial clinical construct.
    • Understanding masochistic object choice is key to addressing self-defeating relationship dynamics.
    • The etiology involves early experiences influencing later partner selection and relational patterns.