Effects of family constellation and dynamics on the form of the Oedipus complex

The Oedipus complex take its particular form from a variety of sources--biological and environmental. This paper focuses on the role of the family constellation in imparting a specific form to this schemata, here described as a double Oedipus complex. Some of the relevant psychoanalytic literature is reviewed. It is suggested that such a configuration of the Oedipus complex may not in itself lead to a pathologic outcome. In the case history presented, specific characteristics of the patient's family are presumed to have been pathogenetic leading to the inadequate resolution of his Oedipus complex. Relevant aspects of the analytic process are discussed, in particular, the vicissitudes of the transferences. It is concluded that the schemata of the Oedipus complex is significantly modified by external circumstances, in this case by a special family constellation and its dynamics.