ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the development of these schizoid processes and focuses in particular on the narcissistic nature of the object relationships that are more under the influence of the processes of projection, introjection, and projective identification of the paranoid-schizoid position. It shows how some couples become trapped in what she evocatively calls a "projective gridlock"—a pathological organization in which projective processes are used rigidly and inflexibly for defensive purposes. The book suggests that narcissism and narcissistic object relations should not be considered to delineate only more disturbed ways of relating but are as likely to inform aspects of all relationships, at different times, to a greater or lesser degree. It explores the difficult technical issues for psychotherapists in therapy with couples locked in this almost impervious pathological organization.
