Fearful Symmetry: The Development and Treatment of Sadomasochism (Critical Issues in Psychoanalysis)

It's theoretically and clinically packed full of material. This book is invaluable to me trying to help me get through some terrain!

Statisticians have a saying: "Rubbish in; rubbish out." It means that the conclusions you can draw from any statistical procedure is only as good as the quality of the data you use.The authors of this book use notes from the therapy of children undergoing psychoanalysis (typically inpatient) to formulate a theory of how (1) all moral sadomasochism evolves in a single developmental pathway from childhood trauma; and (2) how all erotic sadomasochism evolves in a single developmental pathway as a result of childhood trauma.Having said that, I think the horrific flaws of this research and their conclusions are clear:1. Using a small clinical sample to make conclusions about non-clinical populations2. Using non-standard measurements and observations (2nd hand readings of analyst's subjective observations about child patients)3. Assuming that there is one developmental pathway to explain a phenomenon as complex and varied as any erotic preference.4. Assuming that an erotic preference for sadomasochism reflects a problem for those who enjoy it.The authors fail to review the significant amount of objective research done which finds most practitioners of kinky sex enjoy their orientation and are generally as well adjusted and happy as non-practitioners. THAT substantial body of research resulted in the American Psychiatric Association clarifying in DSM5.0 that interest in erotic kink is not a pathology but simply an erotic preference (unless the person engaging in it considers it to be causing clinically significant distress). In other words, psychiatrists, based on good research, have "officially" concluded that enjoying kinky sex isn't considered a pathology any more.In 25 years, I think it is safe to predict that our field will look at Novick and Novick's research with the same distain and repugnance that our field currently looks at the "research" on homosexuality done 50 years ago by analysts such as Irving Bieber, or Socarides. That so-called "research" - like the Novick "research" - used as its data notes made by psychoanalysts treating homosexuals who wished to become heterosexual. It concluded that all homosexuality was psychopathological, and because it represented a failure of psychogenic development would inevitably result in unhappy, neurotic, adult adjustment. Moreover, like the Novick "research," the analytic research on homsexuality concluded being gay was the result of traumatic circumstances in family dynamics and was characterized by a single developmental pathway of arrested development, and psychopathological adult adjustment.The circular logic for both the mid-century analytic research on homosexuality, and the current analytic research on erotic kink, is equally circular: It is impossible for people who are not vanilla and heterosexual to be happy because their sexual orientation results from a pathologically arrested development; and their psychosexual development is obviously pathologic because it leads to their pathological adult sexual orientation. One wonders if these people ever step out of their offices to and socialize with those outside their own tight-knit community.Having said that, I would add that I have seen the occasional patient in my private practice who has indeed seemed to fit the developmental path described by the Biebers for homosexuality or by the Novicks for kink. However, these clients are not typical of the majority of gay or kinky people I know, either as patients or socially.

Aaaaa

Fantastic

The book, "Fearful Symmetry" by Jack Novick and Kerry Kelly Novick, is an excellent book about the development of a masochistic personality deriving from traumatic events in early childhood. It is well-written, clearly stated with plenty of evidence based on childhood observational research and clinical examples. The chapter, "Masochism and the Delusion of Omnipotence" describes very lucidly the psychodynamic underpinnings of the masochistic personality. I recommend this book highly, to clinicians working with self undermining and self endangering patients who seem to delight in thwarting the clinician's every attempt to empathize with them and help them to grow out of their pain-oriented identity.Highly Recommended!

Novick expands and explains the topic well. I didn't notice him contradicting DSM-5, like somebody else wrote. Furthermore, I think he leaned towards a Kleinian view on pathogenesis with his insightful explanations.