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Exhibitionism
Author(s) -
Lucas Christopher
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
british journal of psychotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1752-0118
pISSN - 0265-9883
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0118.1990.tb01315.x
Subject(s) - exhibitionism , psychology , anxiety , anger , psychoanalysis , social psychology , the symbolic , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , psychiatry
SUMMARY. Some features of a series of male genital exhibitionists seen at the Portman Clinic by the author over a seven‐year period are described. A brief historical background is provided and important changes in theoretical thinking are noted, in particular the shift in emphasis from explanatory models stressing castration anxiety to a framework in which anxiety and anger in earlier object relationships are seen as of central importance. Exhibiting behaviour may be regarded as a way of attempting to restore damaged self‐esteem by an act of sexualised revenge towards a symbolic mother, whilst at the same time challenging but seeking containment from a symbolic father.