The Possibility of Multiple Models for Oedipal Development

For nearly 100 years and at least in certain prominent psychoanalytic subgroups, the Oedipus complex remained a defining construct that determined a boundary for those within and outside psychoanalysis. The time is ripe for reconsidering its culture-specific and variable nature and its failure inter alia to explain with any degree of cogency ongoing internecine conflict in a community of clinicians and theoreticians who have had the benefit of oedipally mediated training analyses.     

Dealing with Homosexuality in a Homophobic Culture: A Self-Organization Approach

The psychological basis of homophobia (Madureira, Integr Psych Behav, 2007, doi:10.1007/s12124-007-9024-9) analyzes the relationships between sexuality, gender, culture and power as they relate to the phenomena of homophobia. Two theoretical models, the Semiotic Regulatory System and the two processes of Heimweh and Fernweh, are employed to demonstrate the embodiment of homophobic prejudices internalized through affective meaning making processes. These models are integrated in a self-organizational approach to describe in more detail top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top processes, which embody homophobic prejudices with sexual orientations and a sense of identity. The same case proposed by Madureira is chosen to be reinterpreted, and clarify the new distinctions that could be part of strategies of intervention against homophobia.     

Effects of a Self-Help Program on Depressed Mood for Women with an Unfulfilled Child Wish

This randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral self-help program (CBS) with minimal coaching in improving depressed mood for women with a permanent unfulfilled child wish. Participants completed pretest, posttest, and follow-up questionnaires and were randomly allocated to CBS (n = 27) or a waiting list condition (WLC, n =27). Respondents who followed the CBS improved significantly on depression scores compared to the WLC. This positive effect remained at follow-up. This study suggests that a low-resource, low-cost self-help program could be an effective intervention in reducing depressed mood in women living with the loss of a desired child.     

Some Oedipal problems in work with adopted children and their parents

This paper has two main theses. Firstly that Oedipal material is a particular feature of clinical work with adopted children; secondly, that the concept of developmental deficit, and not only that of psychic defence, is essential to an understanding of this aspect of the work with adopted children and their families. Three levels are distinguished at which Oedipal difficulties are manifest: the first two within the individual child and the third within the triangle formed by the child, his adoptive parents and the child psychotherapist. Some consideration is given to the limitations of a conventional treatment framework for containing the powerful Oedipal dynamic forces at play when an adopted child is a patient in individual psychotherapy. Dieser Artikel hat zwei Hauptthesen. Erstens, dass ödipales Material ein besonderes Merkmal der klinischen Arbeit mit adoptierten Kindern ist; zweitens dass das Konzept eines Entwicklungsdefizit, und nicht nur das eines psychischen Abwehrmechanismus, für das Verstehen dieses Aspekts der Arbeit mit adoptierten Kindern und ihren Familien unerlässlich ist. Es werden drei Stufen differenziert, in denen sich ödipale Schwierigkeiten manifestieren: die ersten zwei innerhalb des Kindes und die dritte innerhalb des Dreiecks, das vom Kind, seinen Adoptiveltern und dem Kindertherapeuten gebildet wird. Es werden überlegungen bezüglich der Grenzen des konventionellen Behandlungsrahmens angestellt, inwieweit er die mächtigen ödipalen dynamischen Kräfte, die im Spiel sind, 'containen' kann, wenn ein adoptiertes Kind Patient in individueller Psychotherapie ist. Dans son texte, l'auteur développe deux thèses principales: d'abord, que le matériel ?dipien est d'une importance particulière dans le traitement d'enfants adoptés; et, ensuite, que le concept de trouble déficitaire du développement, en plus de celui de défense psychique, est essentiel pour comprendre cet aspect de la prise en charge d'enfants adoptés et de leur famille. L'auteur distingue trois niveaux auxquels se manifestent la problématique ?dipienne?:?les deux premiers concernent l'enfant lui-même en tant qu'individu, le troisième renvoie au triangle composé de l'enfant, de ses parents adoptifs et du psychothérapeute. Certaines limitations imposées par le cadre thérapeutique traditionnel sont ensuite explorées, notamment par rapport à la possibilité de contenir la puissante dynamique ?dipienne évoquée dès qu'un enfant adopté est pris en psychothérapie individuelle. Questo articolo sostiene due tesi principali. La prima e' che il materiale edipico e' una caratteristica particolare del lavoro clinico con bambini adottati; la seconda e' che il concetto di deficit evolutivo, e non solo quello di difesa psichica, e' essenziale per capire questo aspetto del lavoro con bambini adottati e le loro famiglie. Vengono distinti tre livelli in cui si manifestano le difficolta' edipiche: i primi due all'interno del singolo bambino, il terzo all'interno del triangolo formato dal bambino, dai suoi genitori adottivi e dallo psicoterapeuta infantile. Vengono fatte alcune considerazioni sulle limitazioni che il contesto terapeutico convenzionale ha nel contenere le potenti forze dinamiche edipiche in gioco quando un bambino adottato diventa paziente in terapia individuale.     

Argumentational Integrity: A Training Program for Dealing with Unfair Argumentative Contributions

In this article we present a training program based on the empirical research conducted in the project 'argumentational integrity'. After a brief sketch of the problem dimensions concerning unfair argumentation we give an overview of the training concept and the underlying empirical research. Exemplification of the instructional design is given for the second and the fifth training dimension (standards of argumentational integrity and reactions to unfair contributions). Finally we indicate how the training is to be evaluated and present initial results demonstrating that in comparison with an untrained control group participants in the training significantly improve their skills in identifying and naming argumentative rule violations.     

Strategies for Dealing with Clients We Dislike

Therapists frequently encounter clients they dislike. Surprisingly, however, there is little in the literature on this topic. The literature that does exist offers little guidance on how to deal with this problem when it arises. The purpose of this article is to explore possible reasons a therapist may dislike a client, as well as strategies that a therapist can use when the problem is encountered. Implications for clinical training are also briefly discussed.     

Dealing with Chronic Illness in a Symbolic Way

Jean Leonard

Little children have shown me that old souls often dwell in young bodies and that regardless of age, color, or creed, we all dip into the same pool of intelligence. The very young exist on a feeling level and are therefore in close touch with this intelligence, empathizing the moment it manifests itself in others. Children, however, will only reveal their inner worlds in an atmosphere of complete trust where rules are fair and there is no fear of being blamed or compared to others. When such an environment has been created, even a little child can lead us. Twenty years ago, when I was running a pre-school for the children of American servicemen stationed in West Germany, I witnessed a transformative relationship that was so moving, I recorded it in my journal.     

Dealing with time pressure

A sample of 250 people completed a questionnaire where they rated 30 statements describing their behavior and experiences during a recent time pressure situation. A factor analysis resulted in three factors: Personal Burden, Work Problems and Difficulties, and Challenge Orientation. People high on this last factor liked the excitement of being under pressure, were very absorbed in the task, and showed signs of being effective in dealing with the situation. Such individuals were having what has been identified as a flow experience often observed in sports and the arts. The results of this study suggest that effective coping with time pressure is related to taking a task-oriented attitude, avoiding self-preoccupation, and using time management skills to focus on successful achievement.     

Dealing with Object Loss

The nature and outcome of working through an object loss depend on the proportions in which the lost relationship involved developmentally earlier (prestructural) and more advanced (poststructural), aspects. The two groups of elements are dealt with by entirely different methods, which are presented and discussed in this paper. For this purpose, some aspects of internalization are discussed and distinguishing a new form of internalization is proposed. The additional loss of objects following a major one are also briefly discussed.     

A Multimodal Approach in Dealing with Chronic Epstein-Barr Viral Syndrome

Chronic Epstein-Barr Viral Syndrome (CEBV) is a puzzling and controversial disease with a variety of symptoms that frequently include depression and emotional debilitation. The following article describes CEBV, offers some diagnostic signs, and suggests a possible treatment strategy based on the multimodal approach. I am writing this letter in an attempt to try and explain the way my life has changed due to an illness called Chronic Epstein-Barr Viral Syndrome, or CEBV. I was not diagnosed at first. … I saw doctor after doctor and (had) test after test before being diagnosed … all of this began three years ago. I started getting weak, fatigued, headaches, swollen glands, sleep disturbances, light-headed and having pain and weakness in my joints. I soon was unable to perform at work or in my various sports activities. I sought help medically … he (the physician) put me in the hospital and ran numerous tests, all showing normal … this did not help either, I was still sick.     

Dealing with dissonance: A review of cognitive dissonance reduction

This article provides an overview of research about cognitive dissonance reduction. Over the past 60 years, researchers have produced significant theoretical and empirical contributions from cognitive dissonance theory. One of the challenges that remains for dissonance theory going forward is a deeper examination of the process of dissonance reduction. I describe the various reduction strategies that have been investigated followed by models that have been proposed to understand an individual's use of dissonance reduction strategies. I then highlight a series of factors that can help us move research about dissonance reduction forward. These factors can be broadly subsumed under characteristics of the reduction mode and characteristics of the dissonance arousal. I conclude by suggesting that examination of these factors in studies that present multiple reduction modes to participants will provide a better understanding of the process of dissonance reduction.     

An Ecological Community-Based Approach for Dealing with Traumatic Stress

Abstract

This article presents our ecological approach toward building community resilience in the aftermath of a traumatic event and its application in the case of a terror attack on a Kibbutz. It delineates the various principles guiding our framework, outlines the phases of our community intervention, describes the intervention processes, and addresses some dilemmas relevant for such interventions.