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Bernhard Berliner's thesis that masochism is a bid for the affection of a hating love object has proved to be of great value, both theoretically and therapeutically. Now he extends his ideas by bringing masochism into the realm of depression. The reasons for this are so compelling that it is difficult to understand why the relation between them has not always been recognized. It is this aspect of the paper that I will discuss.
The complaining, the suffering and the feelings of being humiliated and tormented are characteristic of both depression and masochism. Clinical experience suggests that whenever masochism is manifest, depression is to be found nearby, even though it is not overt. But this does not mean that they are the same. I prefer, perhaps more than Dr. Berliner, to differentiate between the two, even though the distinction in individual cases is relative and arbitrary. I would suggest that a continuum exists between theoretical “pure” depression and “pure” masochism.
Broadly speaking, the depressive suffers and the masochist exhibits suffering. Though he complains bitterly of his misery, the masochist tends to minimize or deny to himself the affect of depression. The affect is distilled out of the depressive mixture, leaving behind a residue of depressive ideation. Depression is infectious; gloom spreads in its wake. But, partly because of this dissociation between affect and thought, masochism stirs resentment and recrimination, and the masochist is sometimes condemned as a fraud who exaggerates his woes. Analysis, however, discloses profound unhappiness.
The depressive feels the misery inside himself and blames himself for it Using provocative behavior, the masochist manages to cause others to bring it on him. This helps him to to deny the inner unhappiness. Through externalizing it, he can exhibitionistically appeal for help and sympathy, righteously express anger toward his persecutors and absolve himself of guilt. These safety valves are not available t