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Sexual Misconduct and Enactment

Received March 17, 1999; revised June 1, 1999; accepted June 8, 1999. From the Erik H. Erikson Institute for Education and Research of the Austen Riggs Center, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Address correspondence to Dr. Plakun, The Austen Riggs Center, P.O. Box 962, Stockbridge, MA 01262; e-mail: admit{at}bcn.net

Sexual misconduct remains a significant problem in the behavioral health professions. Although it is tempting to view sexual misconduct as perpetrated by "bad" clinicians against patients who are "victims," this is an oversimplification of a complex problem. In this article, the author explores the psychoanalytic concept of enactment as a mechanism that can lead well-meaning clinicians to engage in sexual misconduct; defines enactment and differentiates it from near neighbor phenomena; uses case examples to illustrate how enactments may lead to sexual misconduct or may offer opportunities to deepen and enhance psychotherapeutic work; and offers recommendations for prevention of sexual misconduct.

Key Words: Sexual Misconduct • Enactment • Psychoanalytic Concepts

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