Browsing by Author "Couve, Cyril"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    A critical comparison and evaluation of the classical etiological formula and the Kleinian viewpoint on obsessional neurosis.
    (1982) Couve, Cyril; Faber, Philip
    This study aims at exploring and explicating a latent controversy in the psychoanalytic literature between the 'classical etiological formula' and the Kleinian viewpoint on obsessional neurosis.The classical formula, which comprises Freud's original theses and subsequent contributions, is comprehensively reviewed and its particular depiction of the internal structure of obsessional neurosis is spelt out. Klein's writings on the topic, although they enjoy a definite status amongst certain contemporary writers, have never before been properly systematised. The comparison suggests that major contradictions exist between the two viewpoints.
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    A psychodynamic view of male homosexuality : oedipal and pre-oedipal
    (1987) Wilson, Marianne; Couve, Cyril
    For many years psychodynamically oriented research into homosexuality has been a topic for controversy. The "gay" community as well as many more sociologically oriented researchers see any investigation of the psychodynamics of this orientation as implying pathology and therefore contributing to stigmatization of homosexuals. More recently, however, psychoanalytic writers have questioned traditional assumptions and pointed to a need to look at the diversity of homosexual adaptations. Of interest in a more recent perspective is Socarides' (1979) classification, distinguishing between pre-oedipal and oedipal types of homosexuals. This paper argues that while generalization about "homosexuals" is impossible, a psychodynamic approach is useful in looking at the meaning and adaptive function of the homosexual orientation in each individual client and thus understand it in relation to personality organization and behaviour. A brief summary of psychoanalytic theory of male homosexuality is given with an emphasis on Socarides' classification. Two case studies are presented in an attempt to illustrate the usefulness of a psychodynamic approach and of the oedipal - pre-oedipal distinction. It is suggested that this distinction be seen more as a continuum of varying levels of ego-functioning.
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    A social-psychological study of eating and body problems among women
    (1986) Shefer, Tammy; Couve, Cyril
    This study addresses eating and body problems among women. It has three central aims. Firstly, it is a prevalence study of the attitudes and behaviours associated with the eating disorders of anorexia nervosa and bulimia, among a sample of female undergraduate students. Secondly, it serves as a study of the nature of problems associated with eating and body affect among this community of women, with a particular focus on those women who consider themselves to have an eating problem. Thirdly, it has a theoretical aim to address the issue of the role of culture, in particular socially constructed femininity, within the understanding of eating/body problems, ranging from "normal" women's relationships to their body and eating to the severe disorders of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The theoretical project within this study involves a critical review of theories which are pertinent to an understanding of the role of culture and femininity, both from within and outside of eating disorder literature. This review, together with empirical evidence from prevalence studies, highlights the importance of "normal" women's experiences with their body and eating and the ideological prescriptions in which these occur, within the understanding of eating/body problems. The mainstream view of eating disorders as abnormalities, apart from the "normal", is challenged in this way. The need for a theory which can articulate the complex psychical acquisition of cultural femininity, which does not reduce this process to either social or asocial determinants alone, is argued.
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    Towards a psychological understanding of problems encountered in early extrafamilial adoption
    (1983) Davids, Jennifer; Couve, Cyril
    Early extrafamilial adoption is a valuable form of child care which may fulfil both the needs of infertile couples and of unwanted children. The aim of this thesis is to provide a review, which appears to be lacking in this under-researched area, of the issues pertinent to the psychological understanding of adoption. The detailed discussion of a clinical case study serves to illustrate some of the psychological issues already documented and to open further avenues of investigation. An extensive review of the literature available has revealed that (a) a vast amount of material has been written from a social casework viewpoint, with a predominantly pragmatic emphasis; and (b) in comparison, relatively little psychologically- oriented research has been undertaken. Drawing on recent work on the psychological processes accompanying pregnancy, a tentative comparison between the experiences of the biological mother and the adoptive mother in the period culminating in the acquisition of a baby has been outlined. A detailed clinical case study of nine month long psychotherapy with a young adopted child has illustrated some of the psychological issues raised in the extensive review and has revealed remarkable similarities with observations made independently in other parts of the world. Although observations were based only on a single case study, a number of hypotheses have been generated from the richness of the descriptive material. It is argued that adoption should be located in a developmental framework. It seems important that the adoptive parents have had the opportunity to work through issues associated with infertility and sexuality. Furthermore, with respect to revelation, besides difficulties experienced by the adoptive parents, it is hypothesized that the ego precocity of the adoptee may prompt the parent/s to tell at an early age and/or give detailed information for which the child is not developmentally ready. It is proposed, on the basis of the case material and the literature survey, that adoption themes (for parent and child) become intertwined with-developmental concerns. A provisional set of guidelines which may prove useful to the psychotherapist is outlined in the final chapter, together with recommendations for future research, both empirical and theoretical, with clinical and non-clinical populations.