The devil and the deep blue sea: dyadic narcissism and the problem of individuation¹

1. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Annual Conference of Child Psychotherapists, London, 2008.

Abstract

This paper addresses issues of infantile gender identity as they are demonstrated through group processes amongst the carers of disturbed adolescents. It uses this and other clinical material to explore gender narcissism – both male and female. It examines how such narcissism is linked to sado-masochism, and how it can impede a healthy development towards bisexual and triadic functioning.

Keywords:

• consultation
• adolescents
• therapeutic community
• residential units
• groups
• narcissism
• phallus
• penis-as-link
• vagina
• gender identity
• idealised breast
• individuation

Acknowledgements

My thanks to William Halton for his contribution to my thinking over many years, and to him and Janet Halton for their help in formulating my ideas for this paper.

Notes

1. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Annual Conference of Child Psychotherapists, London, 2008.