Narcissism - the refusal of twoness through sexual addiction and pornography

Proceeding from oneness to twoness is a psychological process of relating inter- and intrapersonally. This article links the perspectives of French psychoanalyst André Green's concepts of the dead mother and narcissism with Hester Solomon, British Jungian analyst writing on the 'as-if' personality. These concepts are elucidated with the composite example of a self-described sexually addicted man. His behaviours attempted to mask the shadows of melancholy, a fragile self, and the absence of self-animation from early emotional wounds. He did not know love or the other. André Green, French psychoanalyst, described feelings of misery, lack, and emptiness. The defence against relatedness arises from fears of replicating the original object losses. He delineated death narcissism and life narcissism as limiting relationships and creating the illusionary. Narcissus could not live if he knew himself. Immersion within singularity occludes relationship to the unconscious and the other, like Echo. Jung's concept of the transcendent function evolves from inclusion of the symbolic through listening to the language of the unconscious. Through the transference and countertransference, the former disowned and split-off others, secreted in the shadows of addictions, open relatedness to self, soul, and world.

Addictions: current perspectives

This paper seeks to integrate the perspectives of analytical psychology and neurobiology in order to understand the phenomenon of addiction in contemporary society, taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic. Jung emphasizes the role of the psyche's self-regulation and the development of consciousness in the individuation process. The search for experiences of transcendence is archetypal and can be achieved by the use of some substances or behaviours and can contribute to individuation. However, in contemporary society, many individuals seek to restore internal balance through behaviours that merely soothe discomfort. The difficulty in discerning use, abuse, and dependence, particularly in the case of behavioural addictions, is discussed and neurobiological factors are presented. Empathic relationships play a key role in this process as they can promote the integration of the right and left hemispheres, integrating non-verbal experiences and language, contributing to self-regulation. Jung emphasizes the importance of real encounters in the transformation process. Currently, meetings have become a source of anguish. The author concludes that more than ever it is necessary to invest in the quality of the interactions to prevent and treat addictions.