ABSTRACT
A common presenting problem to the marital psychotherapist is that of No Sex. Sometimes a couple names this as their principal problem at a first interview. This chapter proposes to attempt to make some inroads into understanding this situation. It concentrates in particular, on how such difficulties often arise when the partners share a history of inadequate working through of certain aspects of the oedipus complex. The chapter is to show examples of the pathology that can ensue in adult heterosexual relationships when individuals couple who have not been able to adequately work through this all-important aspect of the oedipus situation. It also shows that, if two individuals come together who have been overwhelmed by its difficulties and opted for maintaining rigid defences against working through the oedipus complex, rather than continuing the struggle, they will almost inevitably encounter serious relationship problems.
