ABSTRACT

This book examines the unrecognised prevalence of sadomasochism and perverse thinking in personal relationships as well as the public domain, and discusses the way it contributes to the culture of the victim.The first part traces the origins of perverse pathology and how it operates in obstructing emotional development and producing dysfunctional relationships. This is put in the context of hysteria, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and projective identification and is illustrated with clinical material drawn from the author's thirty years of psychoanalytical practice as well as experiences of couple- and family-therapy and educational consultations. The second half of the book examines current modes of thinking and belief systems with particular emphasis on tribal, basic-assumption mentality. The author examines the legacy of Cartesian dualism and the Enlightenment in contributing to the marginalization of feminine values in favour of negative, masculine control. Fundamentalist belief, the 'New Atheism' and feminism are subjected to particular scrutiny for evidence of perverse thinking leading to internal contradictions and the manifestation of these in the consulting room is illustrated with clinical material.

part 1|114 pages

Clinical Issues

chapter 1|5 pages

Control and helplessness

chapter 3|6 pages

Infantile and adult sexuality

chapter 4|7 pages

Mothering and the parental couple

chapter 6|12 pages

The avoidance of feeling

chapter 8|16 pages

Sexuality and perversion

chapter 9|12 pages

Masochism and the emotional orphan

chapter 10|15 pages

Romantic agony

chapter 11|6 pages

Hysteria and sadomasochism

chapter 12|6 pages

Exhibitionism and voyeurism

part 2|101 pages

Social Manifestations

chapter 13|11 pages

Symbolisation and concrete thinking

chapter 16|10 pages

Evangelical atheism

chapter 17|12 pages

Feminism and the phallic Trojan horse

chapter 18|13 pages

A child is being murdered

chapter 19|6 pages

The everlasting baby and the parasite

chapter 20|7 pages

From victim and blame to a saner society

part 3|52 pages

Case Histories