Amphimixis (psychology)

Early

Sandor Ferenczi introduced the term into psychoanalysis in Thalassa (1924), where he used it to describe the process of merging of the partial drives, to create a diffuse state of infant and childhood pleasure. Ferenczi's idea was developed by Helene Deutsch in her description of female sexuality; but would subsequently be criticised for conflating forepleasure and end pleasure by Michael Balint.

Much later, amphimixis was extended to include a central pleasure centre in the self by Neville Symington, who saw it as providing the erotic basis for the self-love (amour propre) of the narcissist.