Overview

This book examines the unrecognised prevalence of sadomasochism and perverse thinking in personal relationships as well as the public domain, and discusses the way it contributes to the culture of the victim.The first part traces the origins of perverse pathology and how it operates in obstructing emotional development and producing dysfunctional relationships. This is put in the context of hysteria, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and projective identification and is illustrated with clinical material drawn from the author's thirty years of psychoanalytical practice as well as experiences of couple- and family-therapy and educational consultations. The second half of the book examines current modes of thinking and belief systems with particular emphasis on tribal, basic-assumption mentality. The author examines the legacy of Cartesian dualism and the Enlightenment in contributing to the marginalization of feminine values in favour of negative, masculine control. Fundamentalist belief, the 'New Atheism' and feminism are subjected to particular scrutiny for evidence of perverse thinking leading to internal contradictions and the manifestation of these in the consulting room is illustrated with clinical material.

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9780367101152

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Reviews

John Miller's new book on sadomasochism brims with deep wisdom. Based on a lifetime of rich clinical experience, Miller has written an outstanding volume that not only explains the deep-seated, infantile origins of sadomasochistic perversity, but also illustrates how one makes deep therapeutic contact with sadomasochistic men and women in the consulting room. Drawing upon both classical psychoanalytical conceptualisations, and upon the work of later writers, in particular Donald Meltzer, the author has provided us with a tightly argued, passionate, and clear account of the dangers of sadomasochistic symptomatology and characterology, both in private life and in the culture at large. Above all, he offers us an invaluable blueprint about how we can help people to triumph over their developmental injuries and failures, and progress towards more intimate relatedness. --Professor Brett Kahr, Senior Clinical Research Fellow in Psychotherapy and Mental Health

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JF Miller

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