[The Function of the Expression "I am Unlucky" with Respect to Masochistic Personality].

[The Function of the Expression "I am Unlucky" with Respect to Masochistic Personality]. Turk Psikiyatri Derg. 2018;29(2):131-137 Authors: Dürü Ç Abstract In this paper, complaints of "unluckiness," which are often heard in psychotherapy, are discussed with respect to masochistic personality. Luck is a concept that belongs to the outer world. However, the phrase "I am unlucky" can be a concept that becomes a part of one's own identity. Some clients in the therapy process, either explicitly or implicitly, express the idea that they are unluckier than other people. Seeing one's self as unluckier than others poses problems in the therapy process. The 'unluckiness' becomes a personality trait that is extremely difficult to handle, and thus, the therapist's job becomes just as difficult. Moreover, while luck is an outer world concept, unluckiness becomes a part of one's identity, and the boundary between the inner and outer worlds vanishes. In this paper, it is described how two clients in psychoanalytical-oriented therapy defined themselves as unlucky. The material from these cases is discussed using psychoanalytic concepts. An overly punitive superego, the need for punishment, death drive, and masochistic personality are the major axes of the discussion. It has been argued that in many instances where one describes him/herself as being unlucky, there may be an aggressive act in which the person aims harm at him/herself. The dynamics ...
Source: Turkish Journal of Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Turk Psikiyatri Derg Source Type: research