The Fantasy Bond
Effects of Psychological Defenses on Interpersonal Relations
by Robert W. Firestone
Based on 28 years of research into the problem of resistance, this book offers a consistently developed set of hypotheses centering around the concept of the “fantasy bond,” an illusion of connection originally formed with the mother and later with significant others in the individual’s environment. The book develops the concept of the core defense of the “fantasy bond” and describes the structure and organization of the overall defensive process. The ideas set forth in this work constitute an important link between neo-psychoanalytic thought and existential views, especially those relating to individual and collective defenses against death anxiety.
Recommendations: 1
Categories: Personal Development• Psychology & Mental Health
Reading time: 11 – 12 hours
Recommendations
Another one I give a lot is The Fantasy Bond, which is incredibly dense and clinical but it’s about essentially what happens between ages 1 and 3, sort of ordains your whole life. It’s kind of about attachment, like our attachment strategies based on how much eye contact we got as a child, if we were breastfed, how much physical contact we got, the dynamics we walked into as a child and how we see the world according to those formative years, which is pretty fascinating stuff.