Stéphane Proia: between paternal control and incestual attachment: female champions under the influence

Against the prevailing current of Freudian theory, which cites maternal excess in the mother-daughter relation, this work will show that it is relevant to speak of paternal control in cases where the absolute demand for excellence sets up a closed system dedicated to the athletic project. One of the consequences of the internalized mandate to become a champion is the freezing of the adolescent process. The sport of tennis, which is marked by a noticeable frequency of father-daughter pairings, will serve as an example.

Adolescence, 2014, 32, 2, 345-362.