ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the understanding of the function of violence in the analysis of a violent young man. It describes how, in the course of trying to understand and treat him psychoanalytically by identifying a plot or narrative in his material which expressed an unconscious phantasy, a personal myth of origin, namely that he was born of a violent intercourse between his mother and himself. The chapter indicates how these phantasies were externalised in the transference and apprehended in the transference and counter-transference in the course of his analysis. It illustrates Karl’s experience during the break when his father-analyst had left. Karl activated violent thoughts and behaviour to deal with the terrifying feelings of being left to the scientologists, and attempted to find an alternative. The chapter presents a brief example that is derived from the analysis of a woman, Maria.
