Relational and Intersubjective Perspectives in Psychoanalysis: A Critique

by Roger Frie (Contribution by), Bruce Ries (Contribution by), M Guy Thompson (Contribution by), Jon Frederickson (Contribution by), Peter L. Giovacchini (Contribution by)

Overview

This volume is the first concentrated effort to offer a philosophical critique of relational and intersubjective perspectives in contemporary psychoanalytic thought. The distinguished group of scholars and clinicians assembled here are largely preoccupied with tracing the theoretical underpinnings of relational psychoanalysis, its divergence from traditional psychoanalytic paradigms, implications for clinical reform and therapeutic practice, and its intersection with alternative psychoanalytic approaches that are co-extensive with the relational turn. Because relational and intersubjective perspectives have not been properly critiqued from within their own schools of discourse, many of the contributors assembled here subject advocates of the American Middle School to a thorough critique of their theoretical assumptions, limitations, and practices. If not for any other reason, this project is of timely significance for the field of psychoanalysis and the competing psychotherapies because it attempts to address the philosophical undergirding of the relational movement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461630432
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	05/20/2005
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Jon Mills, Psy.D., Ph.D., ABPP, is a psychologist, philosopher, and psychoanalyst in private practice in Ajax, Ontario, Canada. He is a diplomate in psychoanalysis and clinical psychology with the American Board of Professional Psychology and is currently president of the Section on Psychoanalysis of the Canadian Psychological Association.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Intersubjectivity: From Theory Through Practice
Chapter 2 Phenomenology of Intersubjectivity: An Historical Overview and its Clinical Implications
Chapter 3 The Problem of Relationality
Chapter 4 Subjectivity and the Ephemeral Mind
Chapter 5 Object Relations and Intersubjectivity
Chapter 6 Creation and Discovery in the Psychoanalytic Process
Chapter 7 Moral Deliberation and Relationality in the Analytic Dyad
Chapter 8 Somnolence in the Therapeutic Encounter
Chapter 9 Where Do We Go From Here? Relational Psychoanalysis, Intersubjectivity, and the Struggle Against Positivism
Chapter 10 Relational Perspectives and the Strong Adaptive Paradigm of Communicative Psychoanalysis
Chapter 11 The Autobiographical Dialogue in the Dialogue Between Analysts
Chapter 12 Process Psychology
Chapter 13 Psychoanalysis the Relational Turn and Philosophy

Editorial Reviews

All those with an interest in the philosophical underpinnings of current psychoanalytic debates and controversies will want to read Relational and Intersubjective Perspectives in Psychoanalysis. These papers are often tendentious and contentious, but perhaps just on this account they provoke thought and force a clarification of fundamental assumptions and a confrontation with key questions in our field.” —Lewis Aron, Ph.D., Director, New York University, Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis

“...contains much thoughtful and provocative writing. This book will be of interest to mental health professionals who want detailed explanations of the theoretical, particularly philosophical basis for contemporary psychoanalysis, and to academic psychotherapists and philosophers with a direct interest in the subject.” —Canadian Psychology

“This book is a superb indictment of the philosophical pretensions of relational and intersubjective theory. Well written and carefully edited, Jon Mills manages what no one else has done: to place contemporary psychoanalytic theory in historical and intellectual context. The papers are informed, fair where appropriate, and stinging in their criticism where needed.” —Charles B. Strozier, Author, Heinz Kohut: The Making of a Psychoanalyst

From the Publisher

...contains much thoughtful and provocative writing. This book will be of interest to mental health professionals who want detailed explanations of the theoretical, particularly philosophical basis for contemporary psychoanalysis, and to academic psychotherapists and philosophers with a direct interest in the subject.

Canadian Psychology

All those with an interest in the philosophical underpinnings of current psychoanalytic debates and controversies will want to read Relational and Intersubjective Perspectives in Psychoanalysis. These papers are often tendentious and contentious, but perhaps just on this account they provoke thought and force a clarification of fundamental assumptions and a confrontation with key questions in our field.

Lewis Aron

This book is a superb indictment of the philosophical pretensions of relational and intersubjective theory. Well written and carefully edited, Jon Mills manages what no one else has done: to place contemporary psychoanalytic theory in historical and intellectual context. The papers are informed, fair where appropriate, and stinging in their criticism where needed.

Charles B. Strozier