Unresolved Sexual Fantasies in Group Psychotherapy

The subject of sex is avoided in group psychotherapy as if it were irrelevant and unimportant. Even though sexual difficulties are rarely brought into group discussions as a presenting complaint, nevertheless a considerable number of these patients are troubled with sexual problems. Members of the group go to great lengths to enforce the taboo of sex and to isolate themselves from it. The fact that patients cannot even discuss the subject for 10 to 15 hours of group psychotherapy shows how sensitive they feel about the topic and how important it must be at the same tune.

The text to follow is presented from a normative standpoint. Certain nuclear problems on sex arise from group to group. They are repeated in many different ways and in many different disguises. Some difficulties are verbalized, while many others have to be slowly and skillfully brought into recognition. The unresolved sexual problems will be discussed under two general divisions: conflicts about sex and marital conflicts.

Child vs adult. Members of the group fail to accept their impulses as mature persons. They do not think of themselves as an adult but as a child. Sexual disturbances are expressed in the conflict between being grown up, manly, and learning about such matters as sex, or being a good, clean, little child who never had any such dirty interests. The members of the group share the common indecision of whether to be dependent, a child-like figure who has no sexual thoughts, or a person who has mature, sexual interests. It is difficult for them to realize that they cannot straddle both chronological categories. They cannot remain both as a child and as a grown up at the same time. To be grown up means that they have to face their sexual feelings. The group participants are unable to accept their needs for sexual satisfaction. Since members of the group demonstrate a strong desire to return to an infant level, they reject expressions of sexuality. These patients feel they