COUPLE RELATIONSHIPS

Unconscious interactions of partners as collusion. Unconscious interaction in loving partnerships. 

This book made Jürg Willi known far beyond academic circles, and has found hundreds of thousands of readers. It has become the standard work in the literature on intimate relationships, and is now offered in this extended, revised version. How do partners influence each other? How do romantic relationships support personal growth, and how do they hinder it? Here Jürg Willi develops his concept of collusion, which has since garnered recognition around the world and is centred on the idea of unconscious coordination between the two partners. 

Despite the fact that the nature of intimate relationships has changed markedly over time, we still feel a deep-seated need to feel cared for and protected unconditionally. At the same time, however, we are also subject to the fear that these needs will win out and that our own autonomy will be compromised. For people caught in this dichotomy, collusion is the perfect solution. This form of cooperation allows wishes to be fulfilled while maintaining the option to control one’s partner. This book’s central theme is to elucidate the unconscious desires that govern how we select partners and the problems and conflicts that this process can cause. 

“This book has substantially enriched both the work of experts and many partnerships.” Psychologie Heute