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January 23, 1989. THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL DIALOGUE OF FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS. John Munder Ross, Ph.D.
Dr. Ross began his discussion by commenting on Shakespeare's preoccupation with the theme of fathers and daughters, specifically the indulgent or possessive fathers who look to their daughters for "sensuous and spiritual renewal." As with Shakespeare, Freud's original subjects were daughters who struggle to come to terms with fathers who exploit and betray them. In view of the female subjects of the early case histories, Dr. Ross asked why it is that Freud and other analysts constructed a "son psychology" with Oedipus as its core protagonist. What is frightening frightening and elusive in the father-daughter relationship may help explain some of the sources of this phallocentric orientation, according to Dr. Ross. He then examined the transference and countertransference currents between Freud and his patient, Dora. As is well known, Dora was brought to Freud after having been "palmed off" to Herr K by her father so that the father's relationship with Frau K could continue. As Dr. Ross and others have noted, it was Dora's "horror at the loss of 'authenticity' and protection on the part of the various father figures … and their failures truly to require her love" that Freud missed in his formulations. Although Freud acknowledged the reality of her situation, rather than addressing this he focused on Dora's erotic wishes, masturbation, enuresis, etc.