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Controversies in Analytical Psychology

• Edited by Robert Withers

• Price: $34.95
• Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
• Pages: 388
• Published by: Routledge
• Publication Date: 30th January 2003
• ISBN: 978-0-415-23305-7

About the Book

How can controversy promote mutual respect in analytical psychology?
Analytical psychology is a broad church, and influences areas such as literature, cultural studies, and religion. However, in common with psychoanalysis, there are many different schools of thought and practice which have resulted in divisions within the field. Controversies in Analytical Psychology picks up on these and explores many of the most hotly contested issues in and around analytical psychology.
A group of leading international Jungian authors have contributed papers from contrasting perspectives on a series of key controversies. Some of these concern clinical issues such as what helps patients get better, or how closely analysts should work with the transference. Other contributions focus on the relationship between analytical psychology and other disciplines including evolutionary theory, linguistics, politics and religion. A critical eye is cast over Jungian theories and practices, and a number of questions are raised:
* are they homophobic?
* do they denigrate women?
* do they confuse absolute with narrative truth?
* are the frequency of sessions chosen for political rather than clinical reasons?
Controversies in Analytical Psychology encourages critical thinking on a variety of issues, helping foster dialogue and investigation in a climate of mutual respect and understanding. It will be invaluable for Jungian analysts and psychoanalysts in training and practice and psychotherapists.

Table of Contents

R. Withers, Introduction. Controversy One: Prospects for the Jung/Klein Synthesis. Introduction. E. Urban, With Healing in her Wings. J. David, Classical Jungian Comment. R. Hinshelwood, Kleinian Comment. E. Urban, Response to Commentaries. Controversy Two: The Status of Developmental Theory. Introduction. C. Hauke, Uneasy Ghosts. J.A. Culbert-Koehn, Jung, Jungians and the Idea of Birth Trauma. Controversy Three: Transference, Counter-transference and Beyond. Introduction. V. Kast, Transcending the Transference. B. Proner, Working in the Transference. V. Kast, Response to Barry Proner. Controversy Four: The Political in Analysis. C. Hauke, Introduction. A. Samuels, Working Directly with Political, Social and Cultural Material in the Therapy Session. R. Withers, Politics in Practice. A. Samuels, Response. Controversy Five: Analysis and Implicit Homophobia. Introduction. C. Denman, Analytical Psychology and Homosexual Orientation. R. Carvalho, A Comment on Denman. C. Denman, Response to Carvalho. R. Carvalho, Reply to Denman's Response. Controversy Six: Approaching the Irrational. Introduction. R. Main, Analytical Psychology, Religion and the Academy. M. Withers, Religion and the Terrified. Controversy Seven: The Body, Analysis and Homeopathy. Introduction. E. Whitmont, Alchemy, Homeopathy and the Treatment of Borderline cases. R. Withers, The Demonisation of the Body in Analysis. Controversy Eight: The Contemporary Status of Archetypal Theory. Introduction. A. Stevens, Evolution and the Archetypes. P Kugler, Psyche, Language and Biology. Controversy Nine: Reflections on the Anima and Culture. J. Schaverien, The Feminine in Analytical Psychology. A. Shearer, Jung and the Feminine. Controversy Ten: Frequency and the Analytic Frame. Controversy Eleven: Interpreting and Relating. Introduction. R. Caper, Does Psychoanalysis Heal? A Contribution to the Theory of Psychoanalytic Technique. W. Colman, Interpreting and Relating: A Commentary on Caper. R. Caper, Response to Colman. W. Colman, Reply to Caper.