Story of Her Own - by Nancy Kulish & Deanna Holtzman (Paperback)

About the Book

A Story of Her Own reviews and evaluates existing psychoanalytic theories about the 'female oedipal complex, ' from early theories by Freud to contemporary writings from many theoretical frameworks. Important aspects of the female triangular complex are examined in detail: entr...

Book Synopsis

A Story of Her Own reviews and evaluates existing psychoanalytic theories about the 'female oedipal complex, ' from early theories by Freud to contemporary writings from many theoretical frameworks. Important aspects of the female triangular complex are examined in detail: entry into the triangular phase; dynamics and conflicts of the phase, such as separation from mother, sexuality, competition, and typical defenses; guilt and superego; and the role of the female body. Specific treatment issues related to these experiences are addressed, including gender-related transferences and countertransferences.

Review Quotes

A vital shift in psychoanalytic theories of female development is proposed in a highly engaging, as wel as scholarly discourse. Drs. Kulish and Holtzman offer a compelling argument for the use of the term, 'the Persephone Complex.' This has deep and far-reaching implications for understanding the mother-daughter relationship in the developmental stage of traingulation and its psychological legacy into adult life. Kulish and Holtzman's authority, the depth and contextualization of their research, detailed literature reviews and vivid clinical examples, contribute to an impressive, inspiring and innovative contribution to psychoanalytic literature in a post-feminist era. 'The Persephone Complex' is likely to become an accepted addition to the lexicon of psychoanalysis. I highly recommend this book to all who value the continued life of psychoanalytic thinking.

An encyclopedic critique and synthesis of the relevant psychoanalytic literature, A Story of Her Own is a remarkable contribution to the psychoanalytic understanding of the female personality. These distinguished psychoanalysts propose a major revision of the theory of female development. Traditional concepts of the female Oedipus complex are replaced with a new model of the firls' triangular situation, the myth of Persephone instead of Oedipus. the female Persephone vividly depicts the cyclical female experience, encompassing pregnancy, birth, rebirth, and death, as well as bisexuality. Persephone balances loyalties and relationships to both parents, a rival for father's love, while retaining her mother's love and love of her mother. Drawing upon psychoanalytic practice, Nancy Kulish and Deanna Holtzman further enrich our knowledge integrating interdisciplinary studies of mythology, ethnology, literature, and art. Elucidating and challenging traditional formulations, they provide fascinating and original ideas, rewarding for all analytically oriented readers.

It was two women, working together, who made this very important, creative contribution to our literature on the psychology of women. As a female reader I find a sense of assurance in that 'we', and in the broad, deep body of clinical and scholarly experience behind it.

The authors' ideas are both compelling and nuanced, reflecting an enlightened contemporary structural approach informed by gender and feminist, object relational, and intersubjective perspectives. there is fascinating material as well on the meaning and role of language, myth, and metaphor. Their review of the vast literature on female psychology is clear and systematic. the book contains much that will be of immediate practical value to the practicing clinician, demonstrating from multiple angles how the authors apply their ideas in helping their patients nurture and liberate their passion, pride and authority as women. Abundant and detailed clinical material illustrates such things as the interplay in women's lives between dyadic and triadic, separation and individuation, and family and work, as well as the special problems common to all women's lives, such as female aggression, shame, guilt, and issues with their female bodily life and sexuality. All clinicians, be they men or women, will find especially useful the extensive material on the common countertransference problems that arise in the treatment of women patients and the egosyntonic theoretical beliefs that contribute to these problems.

The place of the formerly so-called "Oedipal complex" for females is brilliantly clarified here. These authors' work has culminated in this welcome integration, as they find the maintenance of Oedipus both vexed and tangential to a more telling emotional portrait of how females developmentally enter object triangulation. Along the path to the authors' preferred "Persephonal complex," the reader is treated to scholarly and persuasive arguments founded on comprehensive considerations of others' papers in the field; a wise appreciation of the role of myths in the psyche, unconscious meanings, sex, aggression, language, history and culture. This trenchant presentation ought necessarily to upset psychoanalysts' familiar, favorite but limiting tropes. The reward is a new vision revealing the clinical plentitide and complexity of a mother's relation to her daughter as well as a father's. The book is a well-realized patient updating of the core of Freud's legacy. Psychoanalysts and academics should take these proposals to heart.

This book offers a helpful updating.

Writing with great clarity and accessibility, Kulish and Holtzman neatly synthesize a century of psychoanalytic thought on female psychosexuality. The authors challenge and rework accepted theory as they interweave fairytale, folklore, and myth, including the delightful Baubo figure lifting her skirts. A welcome focus on the female body and sexual pleasure, the book presents 'a female story' of love, loss, sexuality, jealousy and competition.

About the Author

Nancy Kulish, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the department of psychiatry, school of medicine at Wayne State University, and adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Detroit. Dr. Kulish is in private practice in Birmingham, Michigan.
Deanna Holtzman, Ph.D. is a training and supervising analyst and past president of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. Dr. Holzman is associate professor in the department of psychiatry, School of Medicine at Wayne State University.