Mentoring

Narcissistic Fantasies and Oedipal Realities

Datos Bibliográficos

ID9891979
AutoresHowell S Baum (University of Maryland, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 1117 Lefrak Hall, College Park, Maryland 20742.), H Baum (University of Maryland, College Park, autor de correspondencia)
Año1992
Volumen45
Número3
Páginas223-245
Fecha de publicación1992-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHuman Relations (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0018-7267 • E-ISSN: 1741-282X
EditorialSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/001872679204500301
OpenAlexW2100343707
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas26

This article examines the literature on mentoring from a psychoanalytic perspective. Two common contrasting experiences of mentoring, harmony between a protege and a perfect mentor, and sexuality and aggressive conflict between the protege and mentor, are typically successive stages in mentoring relationships. These stages resemble infantile narcissism and the Oedipus complex. In successful mentoring, these experiences are followed by the protege's internalization of the mentor's values and growing autonomy, as the protege moves from largely unconscious fantasies about the mentor toward increasingly realistic understanding of and action in the organization. A successful mentoring relationship apparently requires the protege to undergo a regression in the service of ego interests in career advancement. This "rebirth" entails returning to narcissism and working through an Oedipus-like relationship with the mentor before moving into a latency concern with work skills and developing an independent identity

Autonomy · Id, ego and super-ego · Narcissism · Protégé · Psychoanalysis · Psychoanalytic theory · Coaching Methods and Impact · Mentoring and Academic Development · Psychology · Psychology, Coaching, and Therapy · Social Psychology