Citation

Shaw J. J. Child Psychother. 2012; 38(2): 111-129.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/0075417X.2012.684483

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper takes Betty Joseph's concept of 'addiction to near death', which describes a clinical situation in which sadism and masochism dominate the relationships of a particular group of patients, and applies it specifically to the case material of a girl in adolescent psychotherapy treatment. A link is made between the patient's retreat from mature genital sexuality as she approaches adulthood and the use of sadism and masochism towards this aim. The paper concludes with a discussion on the increase in strength and potency of sadism and masochism in adolescence as contributing to the high risk of destructive and self-destructive behaviour present in this age group. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; human; female; case report; psychotherapy; self-harm; depression; police; anxiety; sadism; suicide attempt; addiction; gender identity; anorexia nervosa; hopelessness; death; article; anorexia; laxative; psychoanalysis; sexuality; child psychiatry; mental health service; hallucination; rape; groups by age; paracetamol; child sexual abuse; paranoid schizophrenia; counter transference; psychotherapist; sexual development; excitement; masochism; retreatment; pleasure; sadomasochism