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Working with projective identification in couples.

D R Catherall
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Abstract

Couples therapists spend considerable time focused on the recurring patterns of anger and misunderstanding that occur in their sessions. These patterns usually represent projective identification sequences in which one partner disavows disturbing thoughts and feelings, and, instead, unconsciously induces similar thoughts and feelings in the other partner by behaving in such a way as to stimulate them. Conflict and misunderstanding surround the partners' shared efforts to avoid identifying with the undesirable thoughts and feelings. The underlying problem is each individual's inability to contain the disturbing material and provide holding for the other partner. This article offers a technique for interrupting the process and helping each partner to identify with and contain the disturbing material.

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CommunicationFamilyFamily TherapyFemaleHumansIdentification, PsychologicalMaleProjectionJournal ArticleReview

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BibTeXRIS

D R Catherall. 1992. Working with projective identification in couples.. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.1992.00355.x

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Information-sharing among couples considering multifetal pregnancy reduction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the information-sharing strategies of couples considering fetal reduction, and the impact of these strategies on the chances of encountering hostility in their social networks. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design of semistructured qualitative interviews, coded with respect to sharing strategies and level of personally directed hostility encountered. SETTING: Multiple Pregnancy Management Program, Comprehensive Genetics, New York, New York. PATIENT(S) AND INTERVENTION(S): Fifty women and their partners who were making a first visit to our maternal-fetal management facility, in order to consider the possibility of multifetal reduction as a pregnancy-management strategy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Development of information-sharing strategies, and the chances of encountering personally directed hostility regarding multifetal reduction associated with more and less selective strategies. RESULT(S): Four information-sharing strategies emerged from the analysis. Two of these strategies were relatively open (extended network, and both parents). Two other strategies were relatively selective (qualified family and friends, and defended relationship). The selective strategies were significantly less likely to encounter to encounter personally directed hostility (odds ratio, 3.88; 95% confidence intervals, 0.87-17.30). CONCLUSION(S): Selective sharing of information for couples considering multifetal prgnancy reduction is a potentially useful strategy for moderating potentially stressful relationships in their social networks. Clinics should find a way of integrating the discussion of selective sharing into their clinic's cultural repertoire of patient-support services.

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