Sexual fantasy, unconscious phantasy, and the dynamics of attachment

Journal title INTERAZIONI
Author/s Christopher Clulow
Publishing Year 2021 Issue 2021/2
Language Italian Pages 18 P. 66-83 File size 192 KB
DOI 10.3280/INT2021-002005
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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 equiv-alence" states of mind, it considers the potential of partners to combine in enacting shared un-conscious 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: sexual fantasy, shared unconscious phantasy, attachment in couples, narcissistic object relating, couple psychotherapy.

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Christopher Clulow, Fantasia sessuale, fantasia inconscia e dinamiche dell’attaccamento in "INTERAZIONI" 2/2021, pp 66-83, DOI: 10.3280/INT2021-002005