Phallic Narcissism as a Defense

Caity Croft

SWMS 215

Friday, September 14^th, 2011

Phallic Narcissism as Defense

For someone who considers psychoanalysis intriguing and insightful, this article was an interesting and illuminating read. I was struck by the challenges inherent in Corbett’s unique position as a therapist to six-year-old Josh, because, while there is sociocultural stigma attached to men who work and foster close relationships with young boys, there is even greater sociocultural stigma attached to homosexual men who work and foster close relationships with young boys. Additionally, a therapist’s role is a particularly tricky one because he or she ideally must conduct each therapy session with just the right amount of detachment and just the right amount of personal insight in order to both assess the patient’s situation and to propose solutions.

I found it both fascinating and telling that the “boys will be boys” approach to male development, coupled with lack of recognition and/or love can result in certain defences, “these defences, when unmet, have the potential to shape particular power relations, such as misogyny and homophobia, that produce and promote a them-us traumatic split or divide—one that often haunts the psychic lives of men” (Corbett, 191). Misogyny and homophobia are often manic defenses, both are behaviors that subconsciously yet implicitly say, “You don’t recognize me or love me which deeply hurts me, so I’m going to act like I don’t need you, recognize you, or love you in return.” This is because, “boys’ aggression, which so often conceals their anxiety about losing, is neither adequately contained nor engaged. Their aggression and anxiety are not balanced through relationships with their parents, siblings, and peers. Boys are left to run amok, to relate through control and domination” (Corbett, 194).