ABSTRACT

One could say that if the patient surrenders his last (and only) secret, he belongs totally to the other person. In principle he has no objection to that: he believes that state of oceanic "good boy" feeling to be coterminous with love. It is the demystification of his experience of trust, intimacy, and the authenticity of other people's response to him that makes it possible to drop the symptom. Interestingly, it is not lost; it simply stops being important. He learns that whatever its meaning and cause, it is no one's business but his. Besides, the woman's response is no validating indication of her care or concern. She could be amused, caring, or think him a jackass in this particular department. She might, or might not, reveal or even know her feelings in this matter. None of this really bears on her capacity for loving him, or for deceiving him.