Further Contributions to a Study of the Incest Object

The incest object is explained in terms of an individual upon whom is projected ideals and aspirations, and not real values. As the maturing organism seeks satisfactory heter-sexual object choices there is considerable shifting between secondary marcissistic impulses and the identification with the love object. The individual divides his attention between self and object. There are examples in literature who illustrate the incest object, for example, Julia Marchmain in “Brideshead Revisited”; and Juliet of Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet”.1

The purpose of this paper is to show that the self-image of the lover undergoes significant structural changes prior to and during the conflict with the incest object. The shifting between self and object is partly determined by the lover's devalued self-image. The self-image itself is formed in defense against the threat to personal identity. Threats and fears arise in the thinking of the lover. Out of these fears against being devoured by the love of a woman grows a self-image, an image which undergoes significant structural changes. The lover is threatened by new hetero-sexual feelings which are violent and painful. The new role of lover is not contained in the individual's body of experience. The individual needs to be mothered, to be loved instead of being able to give love. Therefore, there is fear of loss of identity, lack of inner confidence and basic distrust for the beloved.