Language of Perversion & the L

Sheldon Bach has written a teriffic book not only about perversion, but also about the development of self states and their regulation. While all of us have the capacity to have masochistic and sadistic elements in out intimate relationships, not all of us become frozen in those dynamics. In his eloquent work, Mr. Bach simply states,"The pain of suffering defends against the greater pain of loss."(p17) It is at this point that we start to see how failed attempts at relating and separating from the primary caregiver lead to part object relationships(fetishes),difficulties with boundries and problems in self regulation. The book gets extra merit for Mr. Bach's ability to bring the theory into the room and into the relationship between patient and analyst. Whether you are a therapist or a patient, this is a must read.