open access
Sexual fantasy, unconscious phantasy, and the dynamics of attachment
Affiliations- Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology, London, United Kingdom
open access
Abstract
This article explores sexual fantasy as an articulation of unconscious phantasy in couple relationships.
Drawing on patterns of attachment, and attending to „pretend” and „psychic equivalence” states of mind,
it considers the potential of partners to combine in enacting shared unconscious phantasy through fantasy-
-driven sexual encounters. Observations about different forms of narcissistic object relating are made in
this context, and some implications for couple therapists suggested.
Abstract
This article explores sexual fantasy as an articulation of unconscious phantasy in couple relationships.
Drawing on patterns of attachment, and attending to „pretend” and „psychic equivalence” states of mind,
it considers the potential of partners to combine in enacting shared unconscious phantasy through fantasy-
-driven sexual encounters. Observations about different forms of narcissistic object relating are made in
this context, and some implications for couple therapists suggested.
Keywords
attachment in couples, couple psychotherapy, narcissistic object relating, sexual fantasy, shared unconscious phantasy
About this articleTitle
Sexual fantasy, unconscious phantasy, and the dynamics of attachment
Journal
Journal of Sexual and Mental Health
Issue
Vol 18 (2020): Continuous Publishing
Article type
Other materials agreed with the Editors
Published online
2020-12-21
Page views
614
Article views/downloads
57
DOI
10.5603/SP.2020.0007
Bibliographic record
Seksuologia Polska 2020;18.
Keywords
attachment in couples
couple psychotherapy
narcissistic object relating
sexual fantasy
shared unconscious phantasy
Authors
Christopher Clulow
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