The narcissistic difficulties presented to the observer by the psychosomatic problem

Abstract

Dealing with psychosomatic realities often generates narcissistic neurotic resistances in the observer that form an obstacle to carrying out scientific work. The tendencies towards schematization and the enforced investigation of arbitrarily defined objects of study, such as they appear in some theoretical standpoints, are aspects of these resistances. The self‐destruction evoked by the problem of the ‘death drives’ in its superficial dimension constitutes an obstacle of the same kind.

1. This paper was presented at the Paris Psychoanalytical Society, 24 March 1952. Originally published as «Les difficultés narcissiques de l’observateur devant le problem psychosomatique» in Review Française de Psychanalyse, 1952, pp. 339–357.

Translated by Sophie Leighton.

1. This paper was presented at the Paris Psychoanalytical Society, 24 March 1952. Originally published as «Les difficultés narcissiques de l’observateur devant le problem psychosomatique» in Review Française de Psychanalyse, 1952, pp. 339–357.

Translated by Sophie Leighton.

Notes

1. This paper was presented at the Paris Psychoanalytical Society, 24 March 1952. Originally published as «Les difficultés narcissiques de l’observateur devant le problem psychosomatique» in Review Française de Psychanalyse, 1952, pp. 339–357.

Translated by Sophie Leighton.