Stromberg, David. “Good and Bad: Love and Intimacy from Plato to Melanie Klein.” The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, vol. 78, no. 2, June 2018, pp. 159–181. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1057/s11231-018-913
While this piece focuses mainly on Klein, Plato, and Freud’s theories related to love and in comparison to each other in a psychoanalytical fashion, it also contains self analysis based theories on intimate bonds in a more philosophical vein. Klein’s belief that physical actions have a lasting effect on relationships containing intimacy and is considered an original idea. Splitting, stripping, and suppression of actions and inward emotions regarding intimate relationships after grief is one that is very near to many characters’ behaviors in “Difficult Women.”
Mashek, Debra J., and Arthur Aron. Handbook of Closeness and Intimacy. Psychology Press, 2004. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.una.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,cookie&db=nlebk&AN=107430&site=ehost-live.
This handbook helps to specify and pin down the exact definitions of intimacy by compiling information from multiple disciplines, including social and clinical psychology. Sections argue that when sense of self is strong and unified within a person, can an intimate connection truly be made. Further along, the handbook presents ideas surrounding adult relationship in different situations. The material presented in this book helps to aid in defining intimacy as well as providing background information to further understand how intimate situations mold to the environment they are structured in.
Hasson-Ohayon, Ilanit, et al. “The Mediating Role of Integration of Loss in the Relationship Between Dissociation and Prolonged Grief Disorder.” Journal of Clinical Psychology, no. 12, 2017, p. 1717. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1002/jclp.22479.
Disassociation, inability to insert oneself into the narrative, and acceptance of the current reality during a traumatic time or situation has proven to be disruptive to the grieving process. It has been proven to result in occurrences of grief disorders, which several characters that this paper will cover seem to have an undiagnosed form of. “Lincoln in the Bardo,” in particular, shows the president forcing himself to accept the fact that his little son is truly dead and the body that he holds is not a representation of his child anymore.
Avelin, Pernilla, et al. “Parental Grief and Relationships after the Loss of a Stillborn Baby.” Midwifery, vol. 29, no. 6, June 2013, pp. 668–673. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.midw.2012.06.007.
Although this article is based around stillborn babies and their parents, representation of the grieving process and its aftermath is still relevant to the grieving process of parents of any age. The findings showed that parents first began to grieve individually without crossing into each others emotional states, but as time progressed, they came together as a couple to continue grieving for their lost child. Mothers and fathers grieved differently and reportedly felt treated differently because of their outward showing of grief. Parental units in this paper react similarly to how this source reports real life people reacting.
Fava, Nicole M., and Laina Y. Bay-Cheng. “Trauma-Informed Sexuality Education: Recognising the Rights and Resilience of Youth.” Sex Education, vol. 13, no. 4, July 2013, pp. 383–394. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/14681811.2012.745808.
This paper, calling for better sexuality education for children and teenagers who have been subjected to mistreatment or abuse, discusses consequent development of their sexuality. Discussion of healthy relationships and sexuality with the child, even after a sexual trauma, are shown to be helpful to dissuade them from participating in further unhealthy coping mechanisms and activities. “I Will Follow You” shows an intimacy between sisters who have undergone an unspeakable trauma and who have a type of otherworldly bond with each other. This likely developed from a lack of education and professional therapy after their kidnapping and rape.
Gurung, Kesherie. “Bodywork: Self-Harm, Trauma, and Embodied Expressions of Pain.” Arts and Humanities in Higher Education: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, vol. 17, no. 1, Feb. 2018, pp. 32–47. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.una.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip&db=eric&AN=EJ1166267&site=eds-live&scope=site.
Self destructive behaviors have overall been presented as a symptom of a larger problem without recognizing that these behaviors serve as an outlet. Gurung argues “bodywork” is not an inherently bad act and could even be beneficial to the individual who exhibits these behaviors. In “Baby Arm,” we see a form of communal “bodywork,” further showing Gurung’s statement of mental and physical pain being entwined. Roxanne Gay in “Difficult Women” writes numerous characters as using self destructive behaviors to flush their trauma out of their bodies, exemplifying that self harm is a helpful tool for these women.
