ABSTRACT
In the first phase of analysis I became aware of David’s concrete way of thinking. David spent much time ruminating over his unhappiness, attributing it mainly to his failure to obtain a managerial position in his company. Elaborating upon the unconscious meaning of his frustrated wishes and expectations over becoming a manager at work, I pointed out to David the great difficulty he had managing (having control over) his own body, as evidenced by the many illnesses from which he had suffered. This interpretation facilitated elaboration of his wish to control that was so important to him. In this regard, David revealed another secret—his enjoyment of sadomasochistic movies and the pleasure he took from watching brutal men tying up, beating, and sexually abusing women. David believed that his current impotence was a result of masturbating while watching these movies. He was addicted, watching the movies at home when alone, or in his office, instead of working. He was turned on mainly by the women who, in spite of being big and strong, were willing to do everything to please their torturers. In the transference, I soon realized that I had become the focus of David’s masturbatory fantasies. I was the big, strong woman whom he wanted to torture to achieve sexual gratification. However, I felt that it would be premature at this stage of analysis to give David a transference 24interpretation of his sadistic and libidinal wishes in my regard. Instead, I pointed out to him how afraid he was of losing control over his urges, an interpretation he could readily accept.
