MEDUSAS HEAD - PERSONAL RISKS FOR THE PSY CHOANALYST AS AN OBJECT OF EXTREME TRANSFERENCE CONSTELLATIONS

By means of an interpretation of the myth of Medusa some of the proces ses connected to violence are clarified. Sexual and aggressive violenc e destroys the inner dialogue and the interpersonal emotional relatedn ess in the victims. It brings up mainly three phenomena, which are wit h reference to trauma-research interpreted as mechanisms of defense: d eanimation, mixed affect arousal and de-symbolization. These effects o f violence can be summed up in a syndrome of ''non-relatedness'', i.e. an inability of emotional interchange and dialogue. A solution of thi s ''Medusa Complex'', as it might be called, is implicated in the myth . Perseus can bring Medusa's horrifying petrification to an end by usi ng 'mirror' and 'sword'. That means for the psychoanalyst working in t his field, that he has to accept the reality of trauma (symbolized in the myth by the mirror); he has to use the neutralizing effects of ref lection and must show firm non-acceptance of the deteriorated emotiona l and interpersonal relations (symbolized in the myth by the sword); o nly than he can help the victims of violence. The violating effects an d dangers of these processes are seen not only as phenomena of profess ional countertransference but above all as affecting the psychoanalyst in his personal experiencing; the emotional implications are discusse d.