Enthralled by Danger: A Brief Communication

Our culture has always known the almost magical allure, for some women, of violent and dangerous men, but their impulsive style makes these women unlikely candidates for analysis. Many years ago I observed such a woman over a period of seven months during an abortive attempt at analysis. I am aware that, due to the nature of the patient's dynamics and her resistance to free association, I have made several jumps into speculative formulation that the limited clinical data cannot fully support; but I think this brief report is justified by the seriousness of some of the questions the case raises, not only for analysts but for social workers, police, and legislators, and by the persistence in our culture of the archetype of the Demon Lover and all that it implies.

Mrs. K, a 30-year-old separated woman living with her five-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter, was referred for analysis in May 197— because she felt “mixed up.” Her father, age 55, was a small businessman, socially isolated and weak-willed; mother, age 53, was strong, bright, iron-willed but good-natured and loving; there were two younger sisters. At 18, Mrs. K had impulsively married a wealthy, flashy, immature 21-year-old man. That marriage lasted two years. Eight years ago her mother had pushed her into marrying Tom, with whom she “played house” for several years, although she found him ugly and never enjoyed sex with him. Problems started two years ago when she renewed contact with Dina, a girlfriend of her adolescence, and had an affair with Dina's brother. That winter Mrs. K was hospitalized with colitis, which was attributed to anxiety. Next she