Reconstruction of an Early Seduction and Its Aftereffects

Williams, Miriam F.

doi:10.1177/000306518703500107

Cited by 29 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Not invariably, but often enough, this analytic atmosphere affects analyst and patient alike, and resembles that of an overheated pressure cooker-unstable contents under extreme pressure. Sometimes the pressure for a resolution emanates more from the analyst (e.g., Freud 1896Freud , 1918Bonaparte 1945;Stewart 1969;Williams 1987), sometimes more from the patient (Szajnberg 1993), and, perhaps most often, from a mutually experienced desire for resolution and relief (e.g., Rosen 1955;Sachs 1967;Bernstein 1990;Alpert 1994;Viederman 1995;Friedman 1997).…”

Section: Reconstructions As Displacements From Present To Pastmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Analytic Present in Psychoanalytic Reconstructions of the Historical Past

Brenneis

1999

J Am Psychoanal Assoc

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The psychoanalytic reconstruction of specific influential past events has been a regular feature of psychoanalytic practice from its inception. More recently, as reconstructions of incestuous sexual abuse have become more frequent, the reconstructive process has attracted attention, and doubts have been expressed about the validity of the analytic evidence used to substantiate their inference. Over the years, psychoanalytic discourse about the adequacy of this evidence has moved from Freud's uneasy confidence to a rather sharply divided debate between advocates and skeptics. From beyond psychoanalysis, memory research raises questions about the validity of this evidence, and research on influence raises questions about the procedures by which it has been collected. A reexamination of several cases in which reconstructions emerged from unstable therapeutic circumstances leads to the conjecture that dynamics located in the analytic present may have been displaced to the historical past. Although logically "truth in the past" need not foreclose on "truth in the present," in practice, once a reconstruction surfaces, the latter seems to disappear behind the former.

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Section: Reconstructions As Displacements From Present To Pastmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Analytic Present in Psychoanalytic Reconstructions of the Historical Past

Brenneis

1999

J Am Psychoanal Assoc

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“…Many of the case studies indicate impaired ego development in abused children. These impairments relate to the level and quality of personality development achieved prior to the abuse, with more extensive ego damage reported when the abuse occurs in early childhood (Katan, 1973;Silber, 1979;Williams, 1987). Ego functioning is described as variable, characterized by regressions, distortions, and difficulties with reality testing (Alpert, in press-a;Dewald, 1989;Lisman-Pieczanski, 1990;Margolis, 1977;Nachmani, 1987;O'Brien, 1987;Raphling, 1990;Shengold, 1963Shengold, , 1980Silber, 1979;Soil, 1984Soil, -1985.…”

Section: Personality Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the ostensibly oedipal or phallic nature of the intrapsychic conflict in sexually abused children, many authors held pregenital issues to be central. Patients with damaged senses of self or with difficulties around boundaries were described in many of the studies (Alpert, in press-a;Katan, 1973;Margolis, 1977Margolis, , 1984Mohacsy, 1988;Nachmani, 1987;O'Brien, 1987;Raphling, 1990;Soil, 1984Soil, -1985Van Leeuwen, 1988;Williams, 1987). In particular, authors described deficits in the self-representations of incestuously abused girls, which ranged from unstable female identifications to a primary identification with the father (Alpert, in press-a;Cohler, 1987;Katan, 1973;Reich, 1932;Soil, 1984Soil, -1985.…”

Section: Personality Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This review considers the 'The following works are considered in the review of the post-Freudian literature: Alpert (in press-a, in press-b); Arkin (1984); Barry and Johnson (1958); ; Berry (1915); Bigras (1990); Burland and Raskin (1990); Cohler (1987); Dewald (1989); Diamond (19S9); Ehrenberg (1987); Eisnitz (1984Eisnitz ( -1985; Ferenczi (1933Ferenczi ( /1955; A. Freud (1987); Ganzarain 2nd Buchele (1988); ; ; Katan (1973); Katz (1988); ; Levine (1990); Lisman-Pieczanski (1990); Ludmer (1988); ; Margolis (1977Margolis ( , 1984; Mohacsy (1988); Nachmani (1987); O'Brien (1987); Rachman (1989); Raphling (1990); Rascovsky (1950, 1972); Reich (1932); Shengold (1963Shengold ( , 1980: ; Silber (1979); Soil (1984Soil ( -1985; Steele (1990); ; Van Leeuwen (1988); Weich (1968); Williams (1987). The other 25 works included in the reference list provide a context for the review.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Psychoanalysis and child sexual abuse: A review of the post-Freudian literature.

Wolf¹,

Alpert²

1991

Psychoanalytic Psychology

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This article reviews the post-Freudian psychoanalytic literature that focuses on child sexual abuse. Most of the articles reviewed are case presentations; there is little new theoretical work and few empirical studies. The present review focuses on the nature and effects of abuse; the parental dynamics in incestuous families; treatment issues and outcomes; and theory. The review results in the following observations: (a) Father-daughter incest is the form of abuse most frequently indicated in these articles; (b) little literature exists on the abuse of boys; (c) the effects of sexual abuse are often serious and enduring; (d) little literature exists on treatment issues, specifically whether and how analysis should be modified with the sexually abused population; (e) there is no consensus about what is curative; and (f) treatment outcomes vary widely. Although contributions to the psychoanalytic literature on child sexual abuse have increased dramatically in the last 10 years, further investigation is indicated. The article concludes with a discussion of some areas for additional work.The subject of child sexual abuse has played a pivotal and provocative role in the history of psychoanalytic thought. Freud's "seduction theory" acknowledged the pervasiveness of sexual abuse; however, Freud had great difficulty reconciling this theory with his evolving concept of the child's inner fantasy life (Freud, 1905a(Freud, , 1905b. Thus, by the turn of the century, memories of seduction were conceptualized largely as fantasy instead of actual trauma, and the theory of psychosexual development-crucial to Freud's subsequent work and the cornerstone of classical analysis-was born. Although Freud apparently retained a belief in the reality of sexual trauma, the motivation was shifted from adults to the seductive behavior of the child.Literature detailing the seduction theory and the shift to the theory of Requests for reprints should be sent to Elizabeth Krimendahl Wolf, MA,

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“…Gleaves et al (2004) posits that under few conditions, due to severe stressful circumstances, suppression or blocking of memory may take place, which later in the course of life be recovered with the help of the individual's memory. There are numerous studies and research evidences about people who have in therapy managed to recall some earlier previously inaccessible traumatic life experience (Erdelyi, 1985;Rieker & Carmen, 1986;Schuker, 1979;Williams, 1987). Freud.…”

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confidence: 99%

Significance of Blocked and Recovered Memories in Psychotherapy

Aggarwal

2016

Int J Indian Psychol

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Validity of blocked memories and subsequently recovering those memories has long been a subject of debate in the field of Psychology. These memories are often viewed in contrast to manufactured memories, although researches have simultaneously indicated that both are inseparable from one another. Given the blurred boundaries between the two, it becomes essential on the part of the psychotherapist to investigate during the process of assessment as to whether his/her client’s recalled memories during the course of therapy are truly authentic or confabulated (both due to intentional and unintentional reasons) because of its understandable implications for therapy or otherwise. It is also important to examine the possibility of blocking traumatic memories with psychological processes such as dissociation and repression. More often than not, therapy is directed towards recovering traumatic memories of the past, which if not accurate and authentic, may defeat the very purpose of therapeutic contact. This paper reviews research studies from two opposing viewpoints, one which exerts the existence of blocked and recovered memories and the other which attempts to claim its inauthenticity, while emphasizing what the researchers’ term as false memories. The author attempts to bring the two views together in the light of suggesting future directions for research and therapy.

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Reconstruction of an Early Seduction and Its Aftereffects

Cited by 29 publications

References 2 publications

The Analytic Present in Psychoanalytic Reconstructions of the Historical Past

The Analytic Present in Psychoanalytic Reconstructions of the Historical Past

Psychoanalysis and child sexual abuse: A review of the post-Freudian literature.

Significance of Blocked and Recovered Memories in Psychotherapy

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