ABSTRACT
The purpose of the grandiose-self-defense or "the game" was to defend against the pathologic feeling states of the "prostitute". The grandiose-self-omnipotent-object fused unit consisted of an object representation that provided admiration and adoration for perfect performance, and a grandiose-self-representation of being unique, special, and outstanding, with the affect of being admired for perfect performance. The aggressive fused unit consisted of an object representation that severely and harshly attacked any efforts at self-activation and a self-representation of being like a prostitute—hopeless, helpless, worthless, and with the affect of abandonment depression. Working on his impaired self and the abandonment depression triggered the defensive part of the triad. He began the next session by defensively saying that "all that stuff" brought up in the last session was very academic. The interpretation of transference acting out evidently got to him because he "forgot" the next session.
