In this paper, complaints of “unluckiness,” which are often heard in
psychotherapy, are discussed with respect to masochistic personality.
Luck is a concept that belongs to the outer world. However, the
phrase “I am unlucky” can be a concept that becomes a part of one’s
own identity. Some clients in the therapy process, either explicitly or
implicitly, express the idea that they are unluckier than other people.
Seeing one’s self as unluckier than others poses problems in the therapy
process. The ‘unluckiness’ becomes a personality trait that is extremely
difficult to handle, and thus, the therapist’s job becomes just as difficult.
Moreover, while luck is an outer world concept, unluckiness becomes
a part of one’s identity, and the boundary between the inner and
outer worlds vanishes. In this paper, it is described how two clients in
psychoanalytical-oriented therapy defined themselves as unlucky. The
material from these cases is discussed using psychoanalytic concepts.
An overly punitive superego, the need for punishment, death drive,
and masochistic personality are the major axes of the discussion. It has
been argued that in many instances where one describes him/herself as
being unlucky, there may be an aggressive act in which the person aims
harm at him/herself. The dynamics of this aggressive act are discussed.
One of the major aspects of masochistic personality, the fantasy of “If
I torture myself enough, eventually I will be loved” is also discussed.
The view that the need for self-punishment or unconscious feelings of
guilt may be obscuring feelings of grief is elaborated within the context
of Winnicott’s transition object concept. It has been argued that if the
phrase “I am unlucky,” which poses problems for therapists, is better
understood, it may be better handled in the therapy process.