ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that when the "detached" narcissist and "adherent" narcissist form a partnership, it creates an unconscious "couple fit", which becomes a defensive and pathological mental organization. This "fit" is characterized by a particular power imbalance where the detached and adherent aspects act as poles meant to repel the other and its defensive purpose is to prevent intimacy. The "fit" also allows for understanding a shared dread as a catastrophe that would happen if two separate minds were to be brought together. Within this "fit", the "thin-skinned" narcissist is able to project his or her detached needs into the "thick-skinned" partner, and vice versa. This brings about a defensive and polarized "fit" based on each partner carrying the split-off parts of the other. As Anton felt able to begin to know about his own fear of madness, it seemed that he took flight from this knowledge by leaving therapy.
