Coping with adversaries in elective public office

The author, a psychoanalyst who has served as an elected public official, has observed and participated in many adversary relationships in that they provide explicit procedures for expression and resolution of disputes. These cognitive features can neutralize some of the emotional impact of the conflicts, but their frequency, intensity, and pervasiveness can still be stressful to elected officials. The author describes his own strategies for coping with that stress as well as some strategies used by other elected officials.