Psychological Aspects of Depression: Toward a Cognitive-Interpersonal Integration

But, by the same token, the acknowledge ment of the complex ways in which love and aggression merge and interact in the couple's life also highlights the mechanism by which love can integrate and neutralise aggression and, under many circumstances, triumph over it―. These statements do sum up the main themes of this book which deals with the unconscious fantasies with their roots in infantile sexuality which permeate a couple's relationship. The most central and important theme is the importance of a couple being able to contain aggression. He also focuses on the tolerance of ambivalence in the battle between love and hate in the couple as well as the relationship of the couple to the surrounding group and culture. It is an extremely wide-ranging book, spanning from a biological perspective to the socio-cultural, and it is interesting to read both personally and professionally. However, as with all Kernberg's writing, it is not easy to read as it is so dense and technical. It is jargon-filled and tends also to be repetitive. There is a lack of detailed case examples despite a number of case anecdotes. I do think, though that it is worth battling through this to reach Kernberg's insight, particularly about our ubiquitous bisexuality and the struggle towards mature sexual love. His discussion of sexual inhibitions and psychopathology, particularly perversion, is very interesting, especially in relation to the lack of integration of aggression in the couple. His writing on triangulations in relation to the couple and others, and the group or in society is also convincing. The section on masochism and teasing, where he describes the interplay between seduction and frustration, had a strong resonance. There is something very important to be understood in this book, but it is also very “¿ teasingly― hidden behind an over-use of jargon.