‘Could it be that, after all is said and done, we are Oedipus and the group of the Sphinx?’: Learning from Foulkes

Abstract

S.H. Foulkes’s paper concerning the Oedipus situation—published some 40 years ago—is still relevant in current group analytic practice. Main phrases of the Foulkes article, such as ‘regression’, ‘infantile sexuality’, ‘Oedipus conflict’, the ‘Sphinx-like mother’ and ‘transference’ are examined. Based on a case report about sexual pairing in group psychotherapy, the author depicts the course of events before analysing the enactment of the protagonists, the role of the group, somatic sufferings during the group process, boundary violations and countertransference factors, and discusses diagnostic and therapeutic implications as well as the need for further research on the special topic in group analytic psychotherapy.