Desire, Pain and Thought presents a new perspective on primal erotogenic masochism, which Marilia Aisenstein regards as the core of psychoanalytic theory. Aisenstein distinguishes between pathological masochism - the active search for pain - and primal erotogenic masochism, which she believes develops in early childhood.
The book explores nearly forty years of psychoanalytic practice through independent chapters, each focusing on distinct themes such as psychoanalysis in France, transference, contemporary fatherhood, psychic bisexuality, the sick body, and human destructiveness. This structure allows for a deep dive into various aspects of psychoanalytic thought and practice, offering insights into the complexities of human psychology and relationships.