Discussion of papers by Siri Gullestad, Klaus Hoffmann, and Manya Steinkoler, on the lone terrorist

Abstract

Individual, unique motivations played a major role in the acts committed by the three terrorists under discussion. The circumstances leading to the terrorist’s attack can, in each case, be understood with respect to a pattern of reciprocal violations of expectations of living in a safe, predictable world. Seeking help for severe depression, suicidality, coupled with an inability to contain the rage engendered by these experiences, led to an increasing propensity in these men for eruptive aggression. In one case, experiences of feeling dominated by an unpredictable mother who was rejecting and seductive were not accorded central significance. In another case, having profound feelings of his being on the cusp of violence go unrecognized preceded the terrorist act. In a third case, having faint feelings of wanting to live unrecognized, whereas only suicidal impulses were considered to be of significance, failed to stem the violence. To what extent the failure of mental health professionals to assess the precarious psychological organization of these three men, as well as to recognize what resources were still intact, is only open to speculation. Although recognizing the potential for violence more directly may not have prevented their violent act, it also did nothing to diminish the likelihood.

Key words:

• violations of expectations
• suicidality
• leading edge
• violence
• representations of interactions generalized

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Frank M. Lachmann

Frank M. Lachmann, PhD, is a teacher and supervisor as a member of the founding faculty of the Institute for the Psychoanalytic Study of Subjectivity, New York, and a clinical assistant professor in the NYU postdoctoral program in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. He is author or co-author of more than 150 journal publications. He is a co-author with Joe Lichtenberg and Jim Fosshage of five books: Self and motivational systems (Analytic Press, 1992), The clinical exchange (Analytic Press, 1996), A spirit of inquiry: Communication in psychoanalysis (Analytic Press, 2002), Psychoanalysis and motivational systems: A new look (Routledge, 2010), and Enlivening the self (Routledge, 2015). With Beatrice Beebe, he wrote Infant research and adult treatment: Co-constructing interactions (Analytic Press, 2002) and The origins of attachment (Routledge, 2014). He is sole author of Transforming aggression: Psychotherapy with the difficult-to-treat patient (Aronson, 2000) and Transforming narcissism: Reflections on empathy, humor, and expectations (Analytic Press, 2008). He is a member of the council of the International Association of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, and an honorary member of the Vienna Circle for Self Psychology, the William Alanson White Society, and the American Psychoanalytic Association.