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The first six papers of this book deal with the subject of conflict and compromise from a psychoanalytic, structural model point of view. They differ one from the other depending on the clinical or theoretical emphasis of the particular author.
It should be noted that there are other ways of describing the place of conflict in human psychology. Rangell (1986) and Weiss and Sampson (1986) provide evidence of a decision making function of the ego which is independent of conflict in addition to those dependent on conflict. In this discussion I will limit myself to the frame of reference already presented.
I will begin by turning to a specific aspect of Dr. Arlow's discussion of those who accomplish a great deal in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. For one individual, a situation may be crippling while the same situation to another may be only a passing insult or at most a temporary inconvenience. My question has to do with those who “succeed” but at a great price to themselves and to those with whom they live. Their compromise formations, which allow success, may include or provoke anger, guilt over anger, or guilt over success, often with denial, disavowal, and isolation of feeling. The price for their success can be