PMID: 11915128Mar 28, 2002Paper

'Never twice without thrice'. An outline for the understanding of traumatic neurosis

The International Journal of Psycho-analysis
Dianne Casoni

Abstract

Following the review of Freud's work on trauma (1916-17, 1920, 1926, 1933, 1939), this article proposes to view the traumatic scene as a screen which acts as an active process in the case of many victims who, like Mrs D, break down a few days after being assaulted. After a first attempt at denial, the ego is submerged with repressed content. Repetition is seen as a means of abreacting the trauma by seeking to bind the enormous quantity of excitations that cannot find discharge. Repetition, because of its compulsive quality, fails. The victim remains in a state of helplessness against which she resorts to denial, splitting and projection (Freud, 1920, 1926). This strategy is seen, however, as maintaining the victim in a state of helplessness. Thus, I suggest that, overwhelmed, the ego finally resorts to a multi-levelled system of defence. On a first level, fixation to the trauma, like in screen-memories, gives way to a first displacement. On a second level, the adoption of an identity built upon being a victim contributes to the strength of this displacement. On a third level, identification with the aggressor consolidates this defensive strategy by giving meaning to the hostility awakened by the sexual assault.

References

Jul 1, 1994·Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·M UzanS Uzan

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Citations

Feb 25, 2009·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Peter Bablis, Henry Pollard
Sep 26, 2006·The International Journal of Psycho-analysis·Marianne Leuzinger-BohleberUNKNOWN Research Subcommittee for conceptual research of the International psychoanalytical association
Sep 21, 2010·The Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry·Siegfried Zepf
Oct 11, 2015·The International Journal of Psycho-analysis·Marina Gulina
Apr 15, 2008·The International Journal of Psycho-analysis·Siegfried Zepf, Florian D Zepf
Jul 23, 2015·The Psychoanalytic Quarterly·Lee Grossman

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