‘The Phantasy Sibling Transference’: Only-Child Ad
Book ticketsOrganised by:
Dr Deborah Wright/ PPS Clinical Research Group, University of Essex
Description
Juliet Mitchell provides a valuable framework in which to understand the intersecting and yet distinct lateral and vertical dimensions of psychic life. She suggests that on the arrival of a sibling, the infant is thrown into disarray and must negotiate a new ‘position’ both with the parents and within the sibling group. This propels the infant into a complex and fraught challenge around the issue of identity which, according to Jeannine Vivona, can only be resolved through the gaining of validation and recognition with siblings on the lateral dimension enabling the infant to know who they are and where they stand in the sibling group. This is later reflected in the world of peers. The concept of the ‘sibling transference’ has been discussed in relation to ‘actual’ siblings by various authors and refers to siblings who have been internalised and projected onto the therapist and the therapist’s other patients, re-enacting the patient’s early ‘position’ in the sibling group. This research examines the adult only-child and how they may create a ‘phantasy sibling transference’ in the therapeutic setting, where no siblings have been internalised, but instead a phantasy of a sibling or sibling group is created to enable the finding of a ‘position’ and the development of their identity on the lateral level. Nine psychodynamic psychotherapists who are, or have, worked with adult only-children were interviewed and the results were analysed using thematic analysis to study the themes emerging around siblings and lateral identity. Please sign up to this event on ‘Eventbrite’ on the above QR Code or on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pps-clinical-research-group-tickets-1345026272789?aff=oddtdtcreator.
