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'How can we know the dancer from the dance?': hyperbole in hysteria
The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis
|August 1, 1996
Summary
This study explores histrionic behavior in hysterical characters, viewing exaggeration as a communication tool for internal object relations and unacknowledged emotions. A three-part model of self is proposed to understand these complex psychological processes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Psychoanalysis
Background:
- Histrionic behavior is often linked to hysterical character types.
- Exaggeration in behavior can serve complex psychological functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine histrionic or hyperbolic behavior in hysterical characters.
- To explore the function of exaggeration in conveying internal object relations and emotions.
- To present a model for understanding the structure of hyperbolic behavior.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two clinical examples of hyperbolic behavior.
- Construction of a theoretical model dividing behavior into 'observing self,' 'acting self,' and 'audience.'
- Examination of identifications underlying each component of the model.
Main Results:
- Hyperbole conveys a patient's internal objects and their relationships.
- Exaggeration can signal unacknowledged emotions to the analyst while maintaining distance.
- The proposed model highlights fragmenting processes threatening the patient's personality.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the three-part model of self enhances comprehension of histrionic behavior.
- Hyperbolic behavior is a manifestation of pathological organization in hysterical characters.
- The model offers insights into the dynamics of defense mechanisms and emotional expression.