The use of psychoanalytic constructs in the service of empire: Comment on Baruch (2003).

Comments on an article by Baruch on psychoanalysis and terrorism (see record 2003-09630-009). The author believes that there is an extra-analytic space for articulating that which is beyond analysts' work with patients and for informing their understanding of history, culture, politics, gender, power, and other phenomena. The rules that govern psychoanalysts' "analysis" of these extra-analytic phenomena are, however, different from those that govern their work with patients. The complexities and vicissitudes of psychoanalytic discourse within analysts' clinical frame (their standard clinical practice) are different for phenomena on the "outside." In addition, clinical psychoanalytic discourse cannot stand outside the powerful narratives of power, gender, race, class, and empire. A psychoanalytic perspective is important in addressing extra-analytic issues only after analysts understand their relationship to power, gender, race, class, and empire. Just as analysts check themselves with supervision and careful countertransference reflection, they must also check themselves when they engage in extra-analytic work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavior therapy versus psychoanalysis: Therapeutic and social implications.

Although the specific efficacy of psychoanalytic therapy in the treatment of the neuroses has never been demonstrated, psychoanalytic theory and practices continue to dominate the field of clinical psychology. That psychoanalytic theory has not been displaced by the behavioral theory of neurosis is seen as remarkable in view of the persuasive evidence that exists for the efficacy of behavior therapy. One reason for this seems to be the persistence of widespread misperceptions of behavior therapy. It has been represented to the public as an "inhuman" treatment that routinely resorts to electric shocks and other unpleasant agents and to the profession as a therapy incognizant of the patient's feelings or thoughts and applicable only to neuroses that are "simple," such as phobias—an image regularly reinforced by "authorities" who are misinformed. This article attempts to correct these misperceptions. It also draws attention to the suffering imposed on many by years of psychoanalysis. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

One person and two person psychologies and the method of psychoanalysis.

The distinction between a monadic theory of mind (a one-person psychology) and a relational theory of mind (a two-person psychology) is crucial in understanding psychoanalytic concepts. However, some psychoanalytic theorists see these two models as essentially complementary whereas others see them as contradictory and irreconcilable. I argue that the artificial distinction between clinical theory and metapsychology obscures the recognition that the most fundamental psychoanalytic clinical concepts and procedures were formulated and historically understood as one-person phenomena. Transference was not conceptualized as an interpersonal event occurring between two people but was rather understood as a process occurring within the mind of the analysand. The article attempts to extricate fundamental clinical concepts from the quasibiological drive theory that has dominated both our metapsychology and our clinical theory, and to reexamine the value of these clinical concepts within a relational, contextual, and intersubjective framework. The article examines the method of free association in order to illustrate the different implications of one-person and two-person psychologies. I propose that a two-person or relational field theory does not need to neglect or minimize the... (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Traditional versus "new therapies."

Comments on S. A. Appelbaum's article (see record 1983-13146-001) which discussed new "human potential" therapies. The current author opines that while it is gratifying that Appelbaum (September 1982) could see how psychoanalytic therapy could benefit from some of the criticisms offered by the "new therapies," the assumption in the article that traditional equals psychoanalytic is a disservice to all those nonpsychoanalytic therapies that have been around for many years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Structures of Subjectivity: Explorations in Psychoanalytic Phenomenology.

Contends that since Kohut's death, a new generation of self psychologists continues to push forward into the areas he pioneered. In Structures of Subjectivity, Atwood and Stolorow offer a valuable new perspective within this psychoanalytic movement. They present their perspective in the form of a well-organized, comprehensive framework that speaks to the fundamental issues of psychoanalytic psychology--personality, development, psychopathology, and clinical theory and technique. The foundation for this psychological framework consists of the intriguing concepts of "structures of experience" and "intersubjectivity." At the heart of Structures of Subjectivity lies an epistemological dilemma about the nature of psychoanalytic phenomenology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obstacles for the psychoanalyst in the practice of couple therapy.

In this article, the author discusses common ways in which couple consultation and therapy are practiced by psychoanalysts and the limitations of each. The author argues for an approach to the assessment and treatment of patients who present with a disturbed relationship that addresses the vicissitudes of unconscious collusion and develops this principle as a fundamental criterion for making the recommendation of couple therapy over psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The author then elaborates an understanding of a variety of obstacles, those emotionally determined and those determined by analytic ideals, which limit the analyst's freedom to assess the most appropriate modality and to conduct couple therapy within the psychoanalytic model described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Critique of Relational Psychoanalysis.

Psychoanalysis today is largely a psychology of consciousness: Post- and neo-Freudians form a marginalized community within North America in comparison to contemporary relational and intersubjective theorists, who emphasize the phenomenology of lived conscious experience, dyadic attachments, affective attunement, social construction, and mutual recognition over the role of insight and interpretation. Despite the rich historical terrain of theoretical variation and advance, many contemporary approaches have displaced the primacy of the unconscious. Notwithstanding the theoretical hairsplitting that historically occurs across the psychoanalytic domain, one is beginning to see with increasing force and clarity what S. Mitchell and L. Aron (1999) referred to as the emergence of a new tradition, namely, relational psychoanalysis. Having its edifice in early object relations theory, the British middle school and American interpersonal traditions, and self psychology, relationality is billed as "a distinctly new tradition" (Mitchell & Aron, 1999, p. x). What is being labeled as the American middle group of psychoanalysis (C. Spezzano, 1997), relational and intersubjective theory have taken center stage. It may be argued, however, that contemporary relational and intersubjective perspectives have failed to be properly critiqued from within their own school of discourse. The scope of this article is largely preoccupied with tracing (a) the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary relational theory, (b) its theoretical relation to traditional psychoanalytic thought, (c) clinical implications for therapeutic practice, and (d) its intersection with points of consilience that emerge from these traditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genealogy in psychoanalytic education: Reinforced adherence or useful aids toward individuation?

It is very likely that disagreements leading to opposing factions and conflict are universal, and part of the very nature of academic (intellectually and behaviorally expressive) institutions. Analytic "education" shares in this tradition. Internal conflict and splits within and between psychoanalytic training centers have continued to reappear throughout the history of the psychoanalytic movement. They were greatly magnified with the formation of "official, formal training." The authors propose highlighting the composite of personal and professional genealogies within the training analysis couple as opportunities to provide experiential, graphic consideration of the affiliative, disaffiliative, and identification processes, greatly enhanced when analysands, training analysts, and the Institute regard this as a valuable method to study the parallel phenomena evoked, experienced, and shared communally. These personal and group considerations are part of the shared genealogy and history of psychoanalytic Institute and Society life, their "parent" organizations, and "relatives" nationally and internationally. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The adaptive design of the human psyche: Psychoanalysis, evolutionary biology, and the therapeutic process.

Reviews the book, The adaptive design of the human psyche: Psychoanalysis, evolutionary biology, and the therapeutic process by Malcolm O. Slavin and Daniel Kriegman (see record 1992-98703-000). The authors have been "absorbed and possessed" for some 25 years by "vexing questions...about whether psychoanalytic notions about the seemingly irrational, conflict-filled nature of the human mind could be reconciled with the Darwinian search for the fundamentally adaptive designs that govern all living creatures" (p. vii). They are knowledgeable and sophisticated psychoanalytic theorists eminently qualified to address such questions, experienced and insightful clinicians, and deeply informed students of modern evolutionary knowledge and theory. This book records their current thinking; their passionate quest for answers continues. This review discusses three significant contributions this book makes to psychoanalytic thought: (a) Slavin and Kriegman's discussion of how evolutionary biology is relevant to psychoanalytic discourse, (b) their analysis of the underlying assumptions of two main psychoanalytic narratives--the classical and the relational--and their integration of these narratives into a new synthesis informed by evolutionary biology, and (c) their exploration of the hidden adaptive dimensions of familiar psychodynamic processes when these processes are viewed in an evolutionary context. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lacanian perspectives on psychoanalytic supervision.

This article presents a Lacanian perspective on supervision within the context of the history of psychoanalytic supervision. Lacan emphasizes the importance of the personal analysis and how supervision, at times, can function as a resistance against the same. Eventually, Lacan concluded that an analyst is authorized by what he called the analyst's synthome and a few other analysts. What allows an analyst to effectively operate with the transference of the analysand is that, because of his/her own analysis, he/she knows that he/she does not know and, therefore, is generally not deceived by the transference to the "subject who is supposed to know". An analysis ends by virtue of the desire of the analyst not to remain in the position of the beloved subject who is supposed to know, and by virtue of the analysand's own "unknown-knowing." The analyst is an ex-analysand that has transformed the jouissance of his/her symptom into an Other jouissance of the synthome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychoanalysis and the disenfranchised: From therapy to justice.

"Neurotic misery" is not the only treatable source of suffering that can be subtracted from the sum of unavoidable "everyday unhappiness." Social inequality and injustice represent another powerful source of unnecessary suffering that, in principle, can be modified and diminished. This article explores the implications of psychoanalytic understanding for developing better approaches to addressing this dimension of human distress, which has been largely neglected in the psychoanalytic literature. In the process, it also reexamines some commonly held assumptions about the nature of the psychoanalytic process and considers how new observations deriving from work with people from different cultural and class origins can contribute to the refinement and further development of psychoanalytic propositions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Building a psychoanalytic psychotherapy practice through collaborations with primary care physicians.

Primary care physicians (PCPs) represent an important, and largely untapped, source of referrals for psychoanalysts. Other mental health professionals have built successful relationships with PCPs by adapting their interventions to the rushed, medicalized world of primary care by making treatments short-term and symptom-focused. In contrast, the present article describes a model of collaboration between psychoanalysts and PCPs that does not require a similar compromise of psychoanalytic treatment methods or values. The collaboration is built on the analyst being user friendly to the PCP by being: responsive (return PCP and patient calls the same day), relevant (do not minimize the importance of symptom relief), and responsible (for all referrals received, even if some patients are eventually referred to another clinician). PCPs benefit in this collaboration in that they get help with meeting patient needs. Primary care patients benefit in that they get effective treatment from psychoanalytic psychotherapists who are skilled in listening, understanding and empathizing. Finally, the psychoanalyst benefits from having the opportunity to help an interesting and diverse group of patients using psychoanalytic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The analyst's vision of the patient and therapeutic action.

As psychoanalytic therapy shifts from a conflict resolution theory to a model of self-realization, the analyst's vision of the patient takes on a more prominent role in the process. This article builds on H. Loewald's (1960/1980) concept of the analyst as "behind" because he or she can only build from the patient's spontaneous productions and yet "ahead" in that the analyst goes beyond the patient's material to construct an image of who the analysand can become. In this way, the future becomes a prominent component of the analytic process. The famous case of Anna O. is used to demonstrate the deleterious effects of failing to include the analyst's vision in the treatment process. This case is contrasted with the contemporary treatment of a young woman, a case that illustrates the use of the analyst's vision in the conduct of psychoanalytic treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The dissociative mind.

Reviews the book, The dissociative mind by Elizabeth F. Howell (see record 2005-14945-000). In her book, The Dissociative Mind, Elizabeth Howell presents a complex and thorough overview of what she describes as a "sea change" in psychoanalytic theory. From her vantage point as both psychoanalyst and traumatologist, she demonstrates how, in the last 15-20 years, relational trauma and the resulting impact on the individual mind-namely the splits and fissures that comprise dissociation- have made their way back into psychoanalytic thinking. Howell's elaboration of the overwhelmed, traumatized mind is very useful in clients who present with problems in thinking or who have limited capacity to symbolize. However, detailed clinical material of how an analyst thinking of dissociated self states would work with such a client, what Bromberg termed the "relational bridge," would support her fundamental assertions more effectively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The pursuit of failure and the idealization of unhappiness.

Presents a psychoanalytic account of unconscious mental processes involved in entrenched psychical suffering, arguing that reported failures have been pursued at least as much and as actively as they have been the result of inescapable adversity. Patients in this regard often indulge in inappropriate self-blaming and thus compound their sense of failure and unhappiness. Freudian tenets of the pursuit of failure by those who are "wrecked by success" are examined. Case examples are presented to illustrate contradictory infantile meanings of success, failure, happiness, and unhappiness. Although disturbed ideal-self development appears to characterize both sexes, the unconscious active pursuit of failure seems more prevalent in men and the unconscious idealization of unhappiness in women. This relative sex difference is attributed to sexist influences on women, typical fantasies and problems of early development, and the analyst's interpretive activity that inevitably influences the dialogic construction of psychoanalytic life histories and that varies among and within schools of psychoanalytic thought. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The application of postmodern thought to the clinical practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy

The purpose of this article has been to acquaint psychoanalysts and psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists with some of the most current ideas in philosophy and psychology, which have crucial implications for our professional organizations and our clinical work. The basic stance of this postmodern thinking constitutes a challenge to what is called foundationalism, which dominated scientific and philosophical thought until recently. In place of foundationalism, even in the production of scientific or philosophical works, we could hope for an ongoing dialogue between a king or queen who states the basic theoretical orientation, the loyal opposition that looks for inconsistencies and kinks in it, the jester who deconstructs the whole thing and introduces parenthetical digressions, and finally, a secret society of organization that functions to hold the adherents of the theory together and provide them with a unifying ego ideal. Postmodern thought is described and there is some discussion of its "four horsemen," Derrida, Rorty, Foucault, and Lyotard, who in general question the possibility of whether any form of interpretation can be thought of as related to reality or the truth. My own point of view is that an intermediate position is necessary rather than a binary opposition between nihilism and foundationalism or more specifically, postmodernism and traditional psychoanalysis. That is to say, within certain horizons and with an understanding of the cultural and historical referents that always affect and delimit both the patient and the therapist, it is still possible to reach conceptions about what is going on both in the psychoanalytic process and the psyche of the patient that have at least a tentative "truth." Careful attention to the patient's material following an interpretation can provide clues about the validity of our conception at the time. But the horizons and historicity that delimit all "truth" reduce the authority and the stature of the analyst, make the analyst less of an arbiter of what is "reality," and focus greater attention on the therapist-patient dyad, which is consistent with the modern trend in psychoanalytic treatment anyway. The notion of social constructions as constituting the psychoanalytic process was discussed and it was suggested that this notion suffers from the lack of sufficient attention to the historical determinants of how a given individual reacts in a given situation. A patient will react differently to different therapists, depending on the transference or projective identifications that the patient brings to the treatment, regardless of the interpersonal interaction. This is in opposition to the idea that transference is primarily an effect of the therapist-patient dyad, and preserves a major aspect of traditional Freudian theory. The dangers of postmodern thought disintegrating into nihilism are described, and the limitations of so-called postmodern thought are discussed, including the intrinsic paradoxical nature of any postmodern proposition. At the same time, postmodern thought is useful in calling attention to the "space of the Other" in human affairs, to the tendency to form binary oppositions in which the second element in each binary pair is part of the Other and is depreciated, and to remind us that there are always further interpretations of the narrative that emerges from the psychoanalytic situation. The feminization of psychotherapy and its relationship to feminism are important current issues. Postmodern thought is valuable in responding to the common complaint of feminists about Nietzsche's attitude toward women; postmodernist approaches emphasize the ambiguous and the allegorical aspects of Nietzsche's thought, to the extreme orf Derrida's contention that Nietzsche is not really interpretable at all. At the same time feminists legitimately object to postmodernist erosion of the grounds for political action. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)     

Cultural diversity and the cultural and epistemological structure of psychoanalysis: Implications for psychotherapy with Latinos and other minorities.

This article offers a critique of assumptions made by both the majority psychoanalytic culture and minority groups regarding the suitability of psychoanalysis for Latinos and other underserved ethnic groups. Both sides of the aforementioned controversy are rooted in the larger conflict between modern and traditional paradigms as well as in the epistemological and political contradictions of the "master's discourse" prevailing within educational institutions. The proposed theory articulates intrapsychic and extrapsychic dimensions into a single theoretical framework. The proposed reconceptualization includes a redefinition of the psychoanalytic concept of insight more in keeping both with the concept of the unconscious and with the conception of knowledge found in traditional cultures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Sexualities and homosexualities.

Reviews the book, Sexualities and homosexualities by Jaime P. Stubrin (see record 1994-97944-000). Stubrin's primary goal for this book is to outline the various theories that apply to an understanding of what he calls the sexual "deviations" ("perversions, neosexualities, and paraphilias"). He wants this consolidation of information to serve as a resource for psychoanalysts who may be feeling overwhelmed by all of the material on this topic. One theme repeated throughout the book is the need for analysts to approach "sexual deviants" with the "same affection and sympathy" which they feel toward obsessive, hysterical, borderline, or psychotic patients. Stubrin challenges the tendency in traditional psychoanalytic theory to assume mental illness or degenerative tendencies in those whose sexuality is not considered "normal." Throughout the book, Stubrin draws on literature, Freud's original work, and case examples to breathe life into his theoretical musings. The book is engaging and easy to read. At times, the translation (from Spanish) is quite choppy, but the ideas remain solidly stated. In summary, the reviewer believes that Stubrin accomplishes his primary goals of generating unrest and controversy through a challenging discussion of difficult psychoanalytic topics. The book will be of interest to those who hold very traditional psychoanalytic theoretical positions as well as those who work with the various sexualities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Commentary: Primitive splitting in the field of psychoanalysis.

Comments on the special section "Contemporary structural psychoanalysis and relational psychoanalysis" in Psychoanalytic Psychology, Vol 12 [1]. The articles highlight a problematic tendency prevalent in the field, among clinicians who declare (either explicitly or implicitly) exclusive possession of the genuine article of psychoanalytic knowledge in toto. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)