Abstract
This paper reports on several patients who use sado-masochism as a defense against an unconscious wish for and fear of merging. The sado-masochism can be expressed as a sexual perversion or in a difficult ungratifying interpersonal relationship. These relationships have some of the quality of addictions in that the patients have a compulsive need to continue them and find it extremely difficult to leave them. Therapy must focus on helping the patient become more separate, rather than on other problems which may also be present. Initially, the therapist needs to take an educational stance in regard to the process the patient must complete, rather than the more traditional analytic stance.
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Gagnier, T.T., Robertiello, R.C. Sado-masochism as a defense against merging: Six case studies. J Contemp Psychother 23, 183–192 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00945978
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00945978