Rescue Fantasies

Abstract

The concept of "rescue fantasy" is examined as it has evolved since Freud introduced it in 1910. Originally designating the wish in certain men to rescue "fallen women," the term has more recently come to refer primarily to the therapist's conscious or unconscious aims with regard to his patient, particularly in the context of child analysis or therapy. The varying drive elements and defensive operations at work in this compromise formation are discussed, and some recent sociocultural influences and analogues are suggested.

Psychological adaptation to facial disfigurement in a female head and neck cancer patient

“…The psychotherapist also used intellectual curiosity to help overcome her initial reluctance to face the patient. In addition to the above, rescue fantasies as described by analytic authors in the context of psychotherapy (Esman, 1987; Atwood, 1978) were also experienced especially around times when the patient's disease recurred. Such was the case when the psychotherapist experienced a profound sympathetic identification with Ms L's suffering and at times felt a strong obligation to release her from it.…”

Implications of Couple Therapy Profession on Therapists’ Spousal Relations

“…Finally, regarding the therapist's use of masculinity/femininity in his/her therapy, all the interviewees (13) admit that they make deliberate and conscious use of their gender-role with their clients. From a woman interviewee we learn, "My approach is, that I represent everything a man wants from a woman and cannot achieve.…”

“…Regarding the adoption of insights and beliefs from the world of therapy and applying them in private couple relationships, all the participants (13) claimed that their work with couples did lead them to new insights, some of which they applied in their own couple relationships. There were a variety of different insights, including giving space to each other; accepting differences between the spouses; understanding that a good, healthy relationship involves rolechanging; understanding that one does not abandon a marital relationship but fights for it to the bitter end; and striving for clear communication.…”

‘Don't save her’– Sigmund Freud meets Project Pat: The rescue motif in hip‐hop

“…Accepting Sterba’s shift of Freud’s original emphasis, she presents rescue wishes as solely aggressive and cautions against them as an expression of the analyst’s unresolved narcissism. Esman (1987), in turn, reviews nearly eight decades of work on rescue wishes, and approvingly notes Greenacre’s application of the concept to the feelings and activity of the analyst. He expands her criticism to apply not only to individual analysts, but to schools of analysis that see “external social forces” as a cause for mental illness, and goes on to scornfully disparage these approaches for advocating the amelioration of such illness by the use of “empathy” (quotation marks in the original) (Esman, 1987, p. 269).…”

“…At the end of his review article, Esman remarks that “the rescue fantasy as Freud formulated it – the rescue of the fallen woman – has apparently passed from the psychological scene ... at least it no longer appears in clinical reports” (Esman, 1987, p. 269). Perhaps it is less often framed (and indeed, it is rarely reported) as a symptom of psychopathology by patients or analysts, but this article contends that the phenomenon of young men falling in love with women they consider sexually promiscuous remains a frequent occurrence.…”