“Dutiful Child” Resistance*

The nature of the resistance which confronts an analyst in any given case is always an important problem of practical consideration. Unless it can be analyzed, there is no progress. In fact, as we know, the analysis of the resistance is the analysis of the case.

In the past three years I have had occasion, in two prolonged analyses, to work out the mechanism and origin of a type of resistance which I believe is found to some degree in many patients, especially those in whom masochism plays an important role.

Although the two cases to be considered present widely different symptom pictures, there occur certain points of similarity in the early childhood situations, in the subsequent development of the personalities of the two, and in their attitudes at the onset of analysis. These points of similarity are of prime importance in the problem to be considered. The cases are alike in suffering from totally incapacitating neuroses. Neither individual is able to earn a living or, indeed, to engage, with any pleasure, in any avocation. Both prefer to avoid social contacts. The cases are also alike in coming to analysis as a last resort after a long series of attempts to be cured by other methods.

Further similarities will be apparent from a brief summary of the two histories. In these summaries, an effort has been made to give only details of importance in the problem under consideration. The first case is that of a woman of about forty, suffering from fear states. Symptoms have been growing gradually worse for ten years. At the time of beginning analysis she was unable to walk on the street alone, and suffered great anxiety even when accompanied. She was also unable to remain in a house alone—at the same time she felt suffocated when in a room with anyone else, and must have at least one window open, no matter what the temperature. The symptoms had their immediate origin in her relation to her husband, beginning soon after marriage at about the time when she first became awar