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Int. J. Psycho-Anal. (1987) 68, 99

PATHOLOGICAL JEALOUSY

STANLEY 1. COEN, NEW YORK

Surprisingly, there is only one contemporary oneself, as well as of aggressive destruction of

psychoanalytic paper (Pao, 1969) on patho- the object.
logical jealousy. Psychoanalytic investigation of The clinical data presented by psychoanalytic
pathological jealousy has been hampered by authors on pathological jealousy has tended to
the fact that most patients who experience it, be too brief and sketchy to permit reassessment
according to the literature, are too disturbed for by others. Pao's (1969) report is the only
a full standard psychoanalysis. I can concur exception. Earlier authors tended, in the spirit
with this. Even so, pathological jealousy, in of the times, to schematize their discussions
contrast to ordinary jealousy, seems to be and material into oedipal, oral sadistic, or
distinctly uncommon, as well as indicative of homosexual conflict. Most, not all, authors
severe psychopathology. Pao was correct that have emphasized the severity of disturbance in
previous authors on pathological jealousy re- pathological jealousy, emphasizing connexions
ported either psychotic patients, brief treat- with paranoia, serious narcissistic pathology,
ments, or transient symptomatology. Freud's detachment, intense sadism, and object hunger.
formulations on delusional jealousy (1911, Intense early needs of objects, primarily for self-
1922), as well as the hypotheses ofearlier authors esteem regulation and drive control, are in
in the few cases of pathological jealousy, have, conflict with the dangers of closeness, destruc-
therefore, needed further evaluation. That is the tiveness, and need for control over the object
(Riviere, 1932; Fenichel, 1935; Schmideberg,
task of the present paper, which will draw
1953; Pao, 1969). Other than Pao, these authors
on psychoanalytic material from a case of
have exclusively emphasized oral sadism rather
pathological jealousy. Emphasis will be placed
than presenting a more balanced view of aggres-
on the adaptive and defensive functions of
sive conflict as derived from each psychosexual
behavioral enactment of sexual and angry
stage. Although underlying psychodynamics
feelings in pathological jealousy. They will be
have been formulated in pathological jealousy,
likened to perverse masturbatory enactments,
insufficient attention has been directed to how
which are required when conflict cannot be this particular symptom complex functions for
handled intrapsychically. Pathological jealousy defence and gratification of the conflicts in-
will be viewed as a substitute for as well as a volved. This applies especially to the functions of
defence against the fantasied dangers of full sexual arousal in pathological jealousy. That is,
loving intimacy with another single person, man previous authors have largely described the
or woman. The object choice in pathological material which has emerged as they have an-
jealousy will be regarded not as a single person alysed patients with pathological jealousy. They
but as involving also a fantasied protector. The have tended not to focus on the functions and
object choice is basically homosexual, narcissis- role of the behaviour, affects, and wishes of
tic, so as to defend against the dangers both of pathological jealousy in the current life of the
passive needs of another person different from patient.

An earlier, condensed version of this paper was presented at the American Psychoanalytical Association, December 1983,
New York.
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100 STANLEY J. eOEN

Most authors have implied that the narcissistic defensively 'genitalized'. Seeman's (1979) psy-
and object-related disturbances in pathological chiatric study noted actual sexual arousal: five
jealousy derive from pre-oedipal conflict. A women patients with more extreme pathological
minority (Jones, 1929; Barag, 1949; Seidenberg, jealousy used homosexual fantasies about the
1952; Spielman, 1971) have argued instead that jealous rival for masturbation or during foreplay
triangular oedipal conflict and guilt are central; with the husband. Seeman pointed out that
they have not, however, presented convincing pathological jealousy serves to repair damaged
clinical data to demonstrate this. Most authors self-esteem by justifying anger and by efforts to
have emphasized the narcissistic dependency in become more like the fantasied rival (cf Joffe,
jealousy. A clear distinction between ordinary 1969). This is congruent with my emphasis on
jealousy and pathological jealousy has not, the adaptive functions of this symptom complex.
however, been maintained in such discussions. Freud, as we know, divided jealousy into
Authors have disagreed whether the narcissistic normal, projected (impulses of infidelity), and
dependency serves primarily as regressive de- delusional. Delusional jealousy Freud related
fence against oedipal guilts and anxieties or as to defence against homosexual longings and
a basic mechanism for self-esteem regulation, considered it synonymous with paranoia. The
involving oral fixation and defence against homosexuality, according to Freud, derived
oral sadism. Pao (1969) was clearest about from intense fixation on the mother, together
narcissistic pathology, emphasizing 'concern with Identification with her, inclination towards
over narcissistic unrelatedness' as his patient's narcissistic object choice, intense childhood jea-
central issue However, this was not sufficiently lousy, overvaluation of the penis and castration
explicated as a determinant of the pathological anxiety; in 1922, Freud added defence against
jealousy. I think that Pao overly focused his aggressive masculine rivalry. We know that
patient's narcissistic pathology around orality in his discussion of paranoia (1911), Freud
and attachment during the second year of life. introduced the idea of homosexual object choice
Unlike earlier authors, Pao implies interweaving (which he would later call narcissistic object
of pre-oedipal and oedipal conflict, although he choice) as a normal developmental stage between
also tends to make a sharp dichotomy between auto-erotism and object love. Thus, narcissistic
these. It would be better to emphasize that the object choice has long been emphasized in
jealous triadic scene in pathological jealousy pathological jealousy.
serves simultaneously to defend against as well Jones' (1929) contribution on jealousy played
as to express both dyadic and triadic conflicts. a pivotal role for later theorists. That is,
The role of sexuality in pathological jealousy Jones clearly described the phenomenology of
has also been contested. This has been overly narcissistic dependency in jealousy, while simul-
schematized into debate over the content of the taneously regarding this exclusively as regressive
sexuality, whether it is primarily pre-oedipal defence against oedipal guilts and anxieties.
homosexual or oedipal heterosexual. The em- Jones noted: intense passive wishes to be loved,
phasis of sexuality as defence has been primarily reassured, and to possess the love object, who
against oral sadism; sexualization of other con- is regarded ambivalently; a fear of 'being loved
flicts has not been explicitly presented. The too greatly ... of having his personality "posses-
dangers of passive homosexual wishes were sed" by the love object' (pp. 336-7); incapacity
stressed by Freud (1911, 1922), Brunswick to love, related to impaired self-esteem and fear
(1929), Lagache (1950), Pao (1969), and applied of the relationship with the love object. Fenichel
psychoanalytic studies of Othello's jealousy (e.g. (1935) added that not only are such people
by Wangh, 1952; Feldman, 1952; Smith, 1959). incapable of fully loving others, but they also
Those authors who posit triangular oedipal change their love objects 'continuously and
conflict as central, of course, emphasize hetero- readily' (p. 349) and can become jealous even
sexual incestuous dangers. Riviere (1932)argued of people about whom they had been previously
instead that the sexual component in patho- relatively indifferent. Fenichel disagreed with
logical jealousy was only defensive, not an actual Jones' exclusive focus on the content, that is,
gratification; that is, oral sadistic conflict is guilt, to be reassured against by narcissistic
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PATHOLOGICAL JEALOUSY 101

dependency in jealousy. Fenichel instead stressed pathological jealousy stood in sharp contrast to
fixation on a primitive mechanism of self- his reasonableness. He suspected his wife was
esteem regulation in jealousy, involving oral having affairs with other men. He would search
determinants, as well as oral fixation. External her diary, letters, notes, and papers discarded
narcissistic supplies (being loved) are required in the waste-basket. That she left these open to
from others in order to maintain self-esteem. his investigation, fuelled his suspicions. Mr A
Again, I think this is too either/or. Self-esteem performed a nightly examination of his wife's
regulation in pathological jealousy is related not panties, to determine the quantity of secretion
only to deprivation, hunger, and oral sadism, and number of hairs. Mr A decided that on
but to anxieties and guilts derived from each those days when his wife had been at home, her
developmental level. Although the pre-oedipal panties contained little secretion and hair. When
psychopathology may appear predominant, this she had been out of the home, more was to be
need not exclude defensive requirements against found in the panties. Sometimes the hair colour
guilt from phallic oedipal conflict. Deprivation, in the panties was lighter than his wife's,
hunger, and mistreatment may certainly be sometimes there were faecal streaks, or dried
exploited for defence against varied aggressive stains from secretions. This suggested to hill'
and sexual guilts (as in the case here reported; that she had had sex with another man. In his
see also, Coen, in press). sleuthing, he discounted the vigour of her day's
The role of unconscious homosexuality in activities. Early in the analysis, Mr A thought
paranoia, not specifically in pathological jea- seriously of hiring a detective to follow his
lousy, has been debated by Frosch (1981) and wife, tapping the phone, and having the panty
Blum (1981). Frosch emphasized the organizing secretions examined for semen at a laboratory.
role of unconscious homosexuality in paranoia: The fixity and intensity of these ideas were
passive anal wishes become humiliating and alarming to the analyst.
dangerous through actual experiences of humi- Indeed there was no evidence (to the analyst)
liation inflicted by an important person of the to justify Mr A's suspicions. Mr A received little
same sex at certain key developmental phases, love, warmth, support, or even involved sex
especially before sexual identity has been fully from his wife, although he at first would not
established. Such experiences tend to actualize acknowledge this. Early in the analysis, Mr A
wishes and guilts. Blum noted that the paranoid's ended an affair he had begun when the distance
homosexuality defends against destructiveness in the marriage increased, and then stayed in
and serves to maintain an object tie. However, continual conflict about his sexual longings for
Blum stressed a more general severe pre-oedipal other women. Rather than being adulterous,
disturbance in paranoia, with uncompleted Mrs A seemed too restricted, controlled, angry,
separation-individuation, narcissistic arrest, depressed and paranoid to seek such pleasure.
impaired object relations and reality testing. Her envy and phallic, masculine competitiveness
Ego integration, identity and sexual identity are with Mr A were intense. During intercourse, she
unstable, with serious narcissistic, aggressive, would insert her finger firmly and painfully into
and sado-masochistic conflicts. I think that these Mr A's anus or bite his penis during fellatio.
positions are compatible and complementary in Mr A was reserved, guarded, and afraid of
explaining the functions of unconscious homo- the analyst's influence. He presented himself as
sexuality in paranoia. likeable, a good fellow, in contrast to angry,
aggressive, and mistrustful, which he hid under
his cover of normality. Thus his 'panty checks'
CLINICAL VIGNETTE contrasted with his predominant behaviour on
and off the couch-most of the time. During
Mr A was a bright, well regarded, highly several sessions, for a few moments, Mr A
capable and responsible man. He prided himself could sound paranoid. Thus when the analyst
on his morality, ideals and values, formed attempted to focus attention on understanding
partly from his religion, which he still followed the meaning of Mr A's panty checks and diary
intellectually and with some pleasure. Mr A's searches, by emphasizing that there was not a
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102 STANLEY J. COEN

shred of evidence that Mrs A was involved with involved with other men, including her former
any man other than God, Mr A became livid: lover and his own brother, (Tommy). Mr A had
'Not a shred of evidence you say! There is a similar responses about the current boyfriends
shred of evidence! What's in her panties!' In of his former lover, and with women from work
another session, when the analyst suggested, with whom he flirted, in their trivial responses
perhaps once too often, that we needed to to other men.
understand Mr A's need to be admired, he Mr A anticipated annoyance, irritability,
stormed: 'I really like being with the leaders in barely being tolerated by the analyst. Warm
the field ... but you make that like dirt! You concern and genuine interest were not what he
make me an inferior being ... someone whose expected. Mr A's many dreams of bleakness,
main theme in life is being with important barrenness, loneliness, and coldness could not
people'. In this second example, however, as at be explained just in terms of currrent reality,
other times when he felt hurt and criticized by but reflected, he came to acknowledge reluc-
the analyst, he could recognize that the analyst tantly and bitterly, pervasive lifelong feelings.
had told him something painful and that it was In this deprivation, he was able to turn to his
less painful just to feel criticized. He would brother (Tommy), for mutual comforting. Typic-
wonder from time to time whether he 'shouldn't ally with Mr A, this was outside his awareness
automatically reject what you say so as to until the analyst asked whether his relation-
demonstrate I'm not passive by not agreeing ship with his brother might have had some of
too quickly'. But even when he agreed with the the warmth and tenderness reflected in his
analyst's points, he would often need to change dreams and transference attitudes towards the
the subject so as to regain control. analyst.
He protested that the analyst had influenced He did not want to think of the analyst as a
his dreaming so that he was now dreaming what human being about whom he had intensely
the analyst had interpreted, not what he himself personal feelings and curiosity. The more aware
was in conflict about; this applied, especially Mr A became of his dissatisfaction with his
but not exclusively, to dreams with overtly wife, the more he craved (and hated it) closeness
homosexual content. The analyst interpreted with the analyst. Homosexual fantasies and
that Mr A feared that the analyst wanted to, overtly homosexual dreams expressed, in part,
and was, taking control of his mind; Mr A said such wishes for physical closeness, admiration,
that, of course, he believed no such thing. Yet attention, and masculine fortification.
despite his denial and attempts at riddance of On the couch, at times, Mr A would feel
what troubled him most, he was very fearful of a warmly sensual with a partial erection. Usually
closeness with the analyst which would interfere he would acknowledge that he felt 'affirmative'
with his own separate functioning. A collabora- but would protest that these feelings had nothing
tive dialogue with the analyst was most difficult to do with longings for closeness with the
for him in that he was mistrustful of holding analyst, if this were suggested to him. Homo-
still (passivity) and reflecting on what the analyst sexual longings and homosexual transference
said to him. Typically, Mr A resolved to stop intensified. He dreamt of the analyst as appar-
his jealous examining of his wife's panties and ently homosexual in a proper stiff English
notes by an act of willpower, and insisted that country setting. The analyst barely acknow-
he had mastered this conflict. Still, during this ledged Mr A's presence in the dream, seeming
period of treatment, during separations from to be annoyed, not talking to him. He tried to
the analyst or from the wife, the patient would get the analyst's attention. In that session, when
resume this behaviour. In retrospect, it seems he thought the analyst had referred to him
that the disappearance of Mr A's pathological affectionately, he became worried that, 'You
jealousy also coincided with his increasing might reach out and touch me, when your
attachment to the analyst (in an intense homo- voice sounded affectionate'. A month later he
sexual brotherIfather transference). dreamed: 'I'm in my childhood home, perhaps
Even as he was getting married, Mr A felt getting ready to go to church. I was sitting down
jealous and worried that his wife might be on the toilet and Tommy (brother) came in. I
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PATHOLOGICAL JEALOUSY 103

threw a washcloth at him but kiddingly, "Let me then became more attractive to him. He was
have my privacy!" He laughed and I guess he able to talk about his admiration for his father-
didn't come in.' With embarrassment, he reported in-law and his delight with the latter's gifts to
fantasies of wanting the analyst to admire his him. He wanted to feel admired and accepted
long soft stools. He associated his anxiety in the by fathers and the important, successful men.
locker room that mixed with his fascination at Soon after, he reported another 'hateful'
looking at men's genitals, especially uncircum- dream: 'The guy next door whose name I can't
cised penises. When the analyst interpreted Mr pronounce (which is Jewish like the analyst's
A's wish that the analyst serve like his brother name) is naked. I'm lying on my back and he's
in an intimate, warm, admiring relation with on all fours above me. He penis looks like mine.
him, Mr A could feel such wishes. Mr A wanted, (He obsessively described a feeling in the dream
however, to enjoy such a close relationship like about taking a cigarette, that he'd become
to the analyst, without acknowledging it in addicted, if he took just one.) I touch and stroke
consciousness; there was marked resistance to his penis. He touches mine in the same way. At
awareness of the transference. There were many one point I want him to lie down on me and
examples of Mr A longing for a close connexion copulate but I realize I haven't got any hole to
with the analyst, and seeming to enjoy it, until go in. I don't think of the rear end. I think I get
it was interpreted to him. Usually his pleasure an erection and I think he may. Then I want to
would diminish, he would deny the interpreta- put his erection in my mouth and I do.' Touching
tion, protest that since he could not have a real and sucking the man's penis was interesting. He
relationship with the analyst, such wishes were protested first, however, that he was being
pointless, and attempt to move further away seduced into the situation; the man was ugly,
from the analyst. Wishes for a close bond and the dream was hateful. By the end of the
(union) with the analyst seemed so intense, hour he reported his embarrassment at enjoying
that Mr A could not allow such wishes into a lively repartee in close quarters with another
consciousness except fleetingly. man which he experienced as frighteningly
Two sessions later, he reported the dream: 'I intimate. As he was getting out of the shower,
was playing with D's (wife's) vagina or whatever, he wondered whether the analyst fantasized
and she was wet. The lips were parted. I was about 'this terrific body I've got'. The analyst
going back and forth, stimulating her. I was there interpreted that the Jewish guy in the dream
with somebody else, maybe two other men who was the analyst, and that Mr A now wished for
werealso doing something with D, perhaps playing such intensely exciting physical contact with
with her, stimulating her. As I went down D's the analyst. Mr A was more tolerant of his
wet vulva with my finger, there was another finger homosexual wishes, and a little more accepting
of somebody else in the vagina. That hurt me. I of such cravings with the analyst. He was now
had the feeling of excitement, revulsion, sadness, well aware of his pleasurable interest in things
anger. My next thought was oh, we shouldn't be, Jewish, of his wanting to share this connexion
we should be delicate, he shouldn't hurt her by with the analyst. In the session before the
jamming his finger in hard. Then I felt sad for summer vacation separation, Mr A was able to
D. Among my feelings was anger, I guess.' He understand, on his own, that involved in his
associated to not wanting D to be hurt, to fear that his brother and wife were having an
feeling sad that D had two people poking at affair, 'was how much I wanted Tommy to love
her. Although he referred to himself and the me, and how much of a betrayal of that love it
analyst poking around in/at his wife, this associa- would be if he were to love D'. His loving
tion did not have much conviction for him. feelings for the analyst as brother were clear
At the end of this hour, in association to although frightening.
encountering another man in the body of his As Mr A became more aware of the intensity
wife, he acknowledged the emotional importance of his hunger for patient and warm acceptance,
to himself of the most distinguished fantasy for someone concerned with his needs rather
lover he had assigned to his wife. It pleased him than with their own, his anger surfaced. How-
if this man found his wife appealing, in that he ever, his angry, destructive, and sadistic wishes
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104 STANLEY J. COEN

towards his parents were displaced and enacted closeness and of destructiveness, in the other
with multiple authorities, whom he would and in himself, were now clear with both men
repeatedly challenge and criticize as arbitrary, and women. As a result, he feared he could not
unreasonable, and contemptuous of the needs love.
and feelings of other people. Mr A was relieved
to find that his homosexual wishes also involved
intensely aggressive and competitive struggles DISCUSSION
with other men for power, prestige, and the
right to enjoy women sexually. Submissiveness, Mr A's pathological jealousy, like any com-
dependency, and character rigidity defended promise-formation, served multiple functions.
against feared unacceptability and rejection for Actual behaviour, involving aggressive and sex-
his intensely aggressive-destructive impulses. He ual drive derivatives, featured prominently in
would feel very guilty at directing such wishes Mr A's pathological jealousy: panty checks,
towards his parents, and he would quickly lose diary inspections, and reading of the wife's
the evidence he had just elaborated for his notes. This was a repetitive behaviour under his
criticisms of them. Nevertheless, he complained own control, in which he again and again found
(and erased it) that his father had abandoned 'evidence' against his wife, subjected himself to
him to a hypercritical, paranoid, depressed her contempt and rejection of him, and became
mother, with whom he was under orders to sexually aroused. Mr A's panty checks and
behave himself and not upset her fragile equili- fantasies about them served, to a degree, as his
brium. He remained on duty with his disturbed sexual behaviour during the period under review.
wife, just as he had with his mother, ever ready They were painful but sexually stimulating,
to feel guilty in response to her attacks on him. leading him not only to fantasize about his wife's
Mr A's fearfulness of needing either men or sexual activity with other men, but allowing and
women made him tend to escape from both. encouraging his own sexual fantasies about other
In multiple situations with women who were women, and (preconsciously and unconsciously)
capable of warm caring towards him, he had about other men. More generally, excitement
run away, frightened of their needs and his own, and connectedness, with the couple and with
fearing rejection, or entrapment and passive each member individually, were important moti-
surrender. For example, as he began to become vations; early in the treatment, during separa-
involved with a warmer, more responsive tions from the analyst or from the wife, the
woman, he dreamed of being caught in a web patient would resume this behaviour. It is
woven by a poisonous spider. He minimized my impression that the intense homosexual
his concerns that the woman was insatiable brother/father transference contributed to the
(sexually), although he readily acknowledged his dissolution of the pathological jealousy
fearfulness (from multiple dreams) of mother symptom complex. That is, the pathological
and wife as poisonous, poisoning the air with jealousy functioned, in part, for sexual and
their destructive criticisms and depressing nega- emotional connectedness to others.
tivism. The analyst pointed out Mr A's All defensive activity involves action on one's
emotional distance with this woman, and inter- own affects, wishes and internalized objects, and
preted his fearfulness of feeling what he himself to varying degrees on the external environment
wanted with her, that he feared his own insatiable and external objects. This patient's need for
wishes and his anger. As he began to enjoy behavioural enactment resembled perverse
himself as a sexually potent man, intensely masturbatory enactments. I would speculate that
competitive struggles with father-bosses (an- behavioural enactment may become necessary,
alyst) re-emerged; Mr A now felt safer struggling when conflict cannot be handled intrapsychically
with such wishes. With men, Mr A's fears so as to prevent regression or disorganization
of passive homosexual surrender were now (for application of this to perversion, see Coen
complemented by angry, destructive, and com- (1985)). The following dangers will be empha-
petitive wishes, which, he could feel, made sized in this repetitive behavioural enactment:
him preserve an emotional distance. Fears of intimacy in an exclusive relationship with either
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PATHOLOGICAL JEALOUSY 105

a man or a woman; aggressive destruction and justify his crimes, as if he were before a judge
guilt; inability to regulate self-esteem. Behaviou- (see, Coen, in press). Projective identification
ral enactment, like masturbation itself, through describes Mr A's simultaneous repudiation of
the associated excitement, tends to make fantasy his own sexual wishes together with the excite-
more intensely realistic, enhancing feeling con- ment at their fantasied fulfilment attributed to
nected to the (unavailable, dangerous) fantasy the wife. That is, in his fantasies and behaviour,
objects (cf. Coen, 1981a; Coen, 1985; Bradlow Mr A oscillated between voyeur and exhibition-
& Coen, 1984). istic participant, experiencing the sexual excite-
The need for concrete evidence in Mr A's ment of both roles.
pathological jealousy related primarily to de- Behavioural enactment of fantasy in Mr A's
fence against aggressive destructive dangers. pathological jealousy also condensed aspects of
Because of his denial of his wife's aggression, masochism and pathological narcissism, which
Mr A would lose the evidence of it, just as he had been sexualized. In his sleuthing, he rubbed
had with his mother's. The analyst as father his own nose in his fantasies and experiences of
witnessed the evidence of the mother-wife's the wife-mother's rejection of him. Mastery of
hostility, helping Mr A to tolerate his own anger such traumatic feelings was sought by active
in response to it. Extenuating circumstances repetition under his own control. Demonstrating
(evidence) were required to overcome the pater- with concrete proof that he had been betrayed,
nal injunction against upsetting the disturbed humiliated, and rejected had greater value than
mother (wife). The evidence reassured Mr A just the unsubstantiated feeling. The connexions
that he had justification for his angry feelings. between masochism and paranoia (Freud, 1919;
The need for concrete evidence testified to Bak, 1946; Blum, 1980, 1981) are clear here.
Mr A's defensive distrust of his own feelings, The dramatic enactment ('caught in the act') in
perceptions, and thoughts, and of their destruc- his panty checks and diary searches made more
tiveness. External reassurance through en- real and credible these awful feelings. He called
actments protected the patient's self-esteemfrom upon God to witness his mistreatment for self-
persecutory attacks by the superego. That is, he aggrandizement and the right to be loved by
needed continual demonstration of the validity God. Experiencing and demonstrating how he
of his angry criticisms, together with denial of had been mistreated, wounded, rejected, and
his own destructiveness through the persistent unloved were used to demonstrate and enhance
survival of these inanimate objects with their his value as worthwhile and lovable. Sexual
'evidence'. Mr A's intense guilt about commit- feelings here both served as defence and grati-
ting adultery and leaving his wife and children fication. That is, sexual feelings attenuated
was attenuated by 'proof' that his wife was painful feelings, and these painful feelings helped
guilty of the same sins, vindicating his own to defend against and relieve guilt about homo-
wishes and behaviour. To the usual idea that sexual, heterosexual and sadistic-destructive
projection of impulses towards infidelity is wishes. Hence, in contrast to Riviere's (1932)
involved in pathological jealousy, must be added view that the sexuality of pathological jealousy
the need for defence against guilt; the contention is only defensive, my position is that the sexual
of being forced into the behaviour, of having arousal is a central determinant; it is not
no choice because of the wife's similar behaviour. only defensive, but also condenses heterosexual,
Riviere (1932) made this explicit in such projec- homosexual, and auto-erotic conflicts, and may
tion of impulses. The extensive behavioural actually serve as the patient's sexual behaviour.
enactment here described takes this another step Lonely, betrayed, rejected, excluded, criti-
towards actualization of the other's crime, as a cized, Mr A repeated in his pathological jealousy
superego defence. A rigid character, like Mr A, basic affective determinants of his childhood
is under great pressure to submit to internal relations with both parents. He was attached to
parental standards (such as the paternal injunc- such painful affects as constituting the nature
tion against upsetting the disturbed mother- of his ties to objects (Valenstein, 1973; Blum,
wife), so as to preclude feeling unacceptable, 1981). However, he emphasized the suffering he
rejected, or abandoned. Hence, he needs to had to endure at the hands of his rejecting
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106 STANLEY J. COEN

objects for narcissistic and masochistic enhance- still in anyone position of relatedness to another
ment. That is, despite his mistrust, he 'knew person, something Mr A found exquisitely
better' about relations with objects, that he difficult.
could have more than he did. It was just this The object of desire in pathological jealousy
discrepancy that served self-aggrandizement, is not a single person. Rather, the patient's
love-worthiness, and guilt reduction. From this imagined dangers in passive needs of the love
perspective, Mr A's pathological jealousy was a object are protected against by the fantasied
masochistically elaborated fantasy of exclusion presence of another person who is appealed to
from the primal scene. So was his acceptance as a protector from such dangerous intimacy.
of living in a loveless and sexually ungratifying Freud's (1911) concept of homosexual object
marriage while continually preoccupied with choice as a normal developmental stage on the
sexual longings for other women. Mr A was way to object love, with homosexual object
frightened and mistrustful of loving, needing choice identical with narcissistic object choice,
instead distance, control, domination, and objec- is relevant here. Relations with an object re-
tive reasons to be wary of his partner. The garded as similar and equal to oneself (homo-
choice of a partner (wife, lover) who was similar sexual; narcissistic) are safer than intense needs
to himself protected him from greater intimacy, of an unequal, different object (heterosexual;
demonstrated that the other, not he, was fright- adult love). From this perspective, the object
ened of loving, and was used in his masochistic choice in pathological jealousy is homosexual,
demonstration that he was not being loved. narcissistic, even with regard to the heterosexual
From this perspective, the primal scene triadic component. That is, the heterosexual object is
construction of Mr A's pathological jealousy regarded as phallic and masculine in her own
protected against dangerous intimacy with one right and is further pulled into the homosexual,
person. The woman was the object, the arena, narcissistic orbit by her fantasied connexion with
around which his homosexual wishes were another man. Control, equality, and sameness in
deployed. The pressure and dread of actualiza- one's object relations defend against a variety
tion of his homosexual wishes required a con- of fantasied dangers in freely needing and loving
tinual connexion to a woman. The apparent another (see Coen & Bradlow, 1982). Frosch's
triangle of himself, a woman, and another man (1981) view, although suggestive, could not be
protected him from the danger of his desire for confirmed here that there had been actual
the man by the woman's presence. But not only humiliation experienced for the expression of
does the woman protect against homosexuality, passive longings, leading to paranoid defence
the man protects against heterosexuality, against against homosexual strivings.
intimacy in a one-to-one relationship. Father Thus, inability to love in pathological jealousy
and brother must protect the patient against which has been noted by earlier authors (Freud,
being left alone with the disturbed mother-wife. 1911, 1922; Jones, 1929; Fenichel, 1935; Schmi-
Homosexual dangers involve the intensity of deberg, 1953; Pao, 1969) is here given central
wishes for passive surrender (union), leading to attention. The various explanations for narcissis-
castration and loss of separateness, as well as tic deficiency in pathological jealousy offered by
of aggressive destruction of the object, and, in previous authors should be considered comple-
retaliation, by the object. Heterosexual dangers mentary. Defence against dangers derived from
involve intense mistrust, expectations of rejec- all psychosexual levels, especially in relation to
tion and unacceptability, fears of entrapment hostile aggression, as synthesized and integrated
and passive surrender (insatiability), and of within the ego throughout development, requires
aggressive destruction of, and by, the object. continual reassurance from internal and external
Simultaneously, this intense dyadic conflict objects. Joffe's (1969) view that envy should not
screens a dangerously aggressive triadic oedipal be understood in terms of a specificpsychosexual
struggle. Oscillation between participants and developmental level, applies as well to under-
roles in the primal scene, male/female, exhibi- standing of pathological jealousy. The narcissis-
tionist/voyeur, adult/child, active/passive, tic deficiency is a complex issue not reducible
sadist/masochist, etc., protects against holding only to defensive regression from oedipal con-
Copyrighted Material. For use only by FieldingGraduateU. Reproduction prohibited. Usage subject to PEP terms & conditions (see terms.pep-web.org).

PATHOLOGICAL JEALOUSY 107

flicts nor to presumed developmental arrest or prelude a la masturbation, une forme perverse de rapports
sexuels. La distribution des personnages comprend au moins
fixation; the conflict is understood as involving quatre roles: les protagonistes sexuels masculin et feminin,
both oedipal and pre-oedipal derivatives (see un observateur et un public qui est temoin de l'interaction
Coen, 1981 b). I have suggested an organizing entre les trois. Le besoin de preuve concrete est associe au
deni, au manque de confiance et a la culpabilite, en
focus for understanding this, of intense fearful- particulier, a propos de la destructivite qu'on craint aussi
ness of allowing oneself to love another single bien qu'une mise en valeur masochiste et narcissique. Le
person. The jealous triadic construction serves, choix de l'objet dans la jalousie pathologique comprend un
protecteur dans Ie fantasme et est essentiellement homo-
in the multiple ways outlined, to deal with this sexuel, narcissique. Ceux-ci servent de defense tant contre les
danger and need. dangers des besoins passifs d'une autre personne differente
de soi-merne que contre l'agressivite destructrice.

Die verhaltensmassige Inszenierung bei pathologischer

SUMMARY Eiferuscht ist ein Ersatz fur, und Abwehr gegen, ein
vollstandiges, liebevolles und sexuelles Intimitatsverhaltnis
mit einem einzigen anderen Menschen. Sie stellt ein mastur-
The behavioural enactment in pathological batorisches Aquivalent, oder auch manchmal ein masturba-
jealousy is a substitute for and defence against torisches Vorspiel, eine perverse Beziehungsform sexueller
Art, dar. Die Besetzung besteht aus mindestens vier Rollen:
full, loving and sexual, intimacy with a single, weiblichen und mannlichen sexuellen Protagonisten, einem
live person. It is a masturbatory equivalent, Beobachter und einem Publikum das Zeuge der Interaktion
sometimes a masturbatory prelude, a perverse zwischen den dreien ist. Das Bediirfnis nach konkreten
Beweisen ist mit Verleugnung, Misstrauen und Schuld-
form ofsexual relatedness. The cast ofcharacters
gefiihlen, insbesondere wegen gefiirchteter Destruktivitiit
includes at least four roles: male and female und masochistischer und narzistischer Erhohung, ver-
sexual protagonists, an observer, and an audi- bunden. Die Objektwahl bei pathologischer Eifersucht ist
mit der Phantasie eines Beschiitzers verbunden, und sie ist
ence witnessing the interaction between the
im wesentlichen homosexueller und narzistischer Art. Diese
three. The need for concrete evidence relates to ist sowohl eine Abwehr gegen die Gefahr der passiven
denial, mistrust, and guilt, especially about Wiinsche eines anderen, der sich von einem unterscheidet,
wie auch gegen destruktive Aggression.
feared destructiveness, as well as masochistic
and narcissistic enhancement. The object choice
EI comportamiento en los celos patologicos es un substi-
in pathological jealousy involves a fantasied tuto y una defensa contra la intimidad total, amorosa y
protector, and is basically homosexual, narcissis- sexual con una sola persona viva. Es un equivalente
masturbatorio, a veces un preludio masturbatorio, una
tic. These defend against the dangers of passive forma perversa de relacionarse sexualmente. En terminos
needs of another person different from oneself, teatrales hay al menos cuatro papeles: protagonista mascu-
as well as of aggressive destruction. lino, protagonista femenino, observador y publico, que
sigue la interaccion entre los otros tres. La necesidad de
evidencia concreta tiene su origen en la negacion, la
desconfianza y el sentimiento de culpa, en especial culpa
por la destructividad temida, asi como tambien en la
TRANSLATIONS OF SUMMARY intensificacion masoquista y narcisista. La eleccion de objeto
en los celos patologicos contiene un imaginado protector,
Le comportement agi dans lajalousie pathologique est un y es basicamente homosexual y narcisista. Con ella se
substitut de l'intimite complete (et une defense contre elle) protege el sujeto de los peligros de las necesidades pasivas
amoureuse et sexuelle avec une personne unique et vivante. de otra persona diferente de si mismo, asi como de los
C'est un equivalent de la masturbation, quelquefois un peligros de la destruccion agresiva.

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New York, NY 10023
(MS. received June 1984)
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