The Technique Of Psychoanalysis

by Smith Ely Jelliffe

Overview

First published in 1918, "The Technique of Psychoanalysis" is a treatise on psychoanalysis by Smith Ely Jelliffe and the first book ever written that was devoted the subject of analytic technique. Smith Ely Jelliffe (1866 - 1945) was an American psychiatrist, neurologist, and psychoanalyst who spent most of his life in New York City. Jelliffe started began by studying botany and pharmacy, but changed course and began studying neurology in the mid-1890s, followed by psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, and finally psychoanalysis. This fascinating volume will appeal to those with an interest in the development of modern psychoanalysis, and it is not to be missed by collectors of vintage literature of this ilk. Other notable works by this author include: "Diseases of the Nervous System: A Text-Book of Neurology and Psychiatry", "The Modern Treatment of Nervous and Mental Diseases", and "Sketches in Psychosomatic Medicine". Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this book today in an affordable, modern edition complete with the original text and artwork.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781444647792
Publisher:	Read Books
Publication date:	07/24/2009
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.41(d)

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER IV The Cedipus Hypothesis As A Psychological Measuring Unit. Its Evolution And Final Stabilization As A Social Force It has been my experience to be frequently asked by physicians, "What do you mean by the QEdipus Complex?" For a long time I was unable to answer the question, largely because it was asked in jest, but further by reason of the fact that it was impossible for me to phrase a reply in a way which I felt would be satisfactory to my questioner. When asked partly in jest I would frequently reply, "What is the Ehrlich side- chain theory ? " This is an apparent evasion. To others I have said, "It is a mode of explaining why any individual finds it difficult to break away from old ways of doing things in order to acquire new and better ones." Again to others, my reply has been, " It is a restatement of the world-old struggle of conservatism versus progressivism." Such a method of handling what Freud has termed the " root-complex" of the neurosis will hardly suffice. Yet after all the answers just enumerated may be found satisfactory if elaborated. In the first place the CEdipus Complex is solely an hypothesis, just as the Ehrlich side-chain theory is an hypothesis. It is a formulation to be used to handle the facts. Instead of terming it only the "root-complex" of the neurosis, however, I purpose giving it a much broader basis. It can be used as a unit of measurement for all psychological situations, not only for those " variations which are only perceived when they become great or inconvenient," and hence called abnormal, but for every so-called normal psychical activity as well. Even the tyro in science knows that the idea " normal" is a pure bugaboo. Normal meansaverage if it means anything. Just as we use a foot-rule to measure all space relati...