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September 30, 1969. SUPEREGO ANALYSIS. Charles Brenner's Section of the Ernst Kris Study Group.
In an attempt to identify superego manifestations in analytic material, feelings of guilt and shame, moral pride, ideas of punishment (both external and internalized), penance, forgiveness, depression, feelings of inferiority, inhibitions, negative therapeutic reactions, and ideas about values and ideals were included. Superego functions were designated as direction-giving, enforcing, self-critical, and rewarding. Questions were also raised about levels of identification in relation to superego formation, factors in male and female superego development, and the role of masochism in superego formation. Much of the group's discussion, however, focused on technical questions regarding the processes involved in resolution of superego conflicts. The consensus was that superego analysis was an aspect of character analysis and that classical interpretation of resistances, defenses, and unconscious fantasy was of paramount importance. There was controversy about the significance of patients' identifications with the analyst's values in resolving superego conflicts. Cases were presented that provided material about conscious and unconscious guilt reactions as well as deficient guilt reactions.
In superego analysis, and in analysis in general, the analyst's conveying of values (intentionally or not) becomes a major issue. From the analyst's values, the analysand may discern what is to be selected for comment and interpretation. The group differed about the issue of the analytic ideal of not imparting moral values.