New Books in Psychoanalysis Robert Caper, "Bion and Thoughts Too Deep for Words: Psychoanalysis, Suggestion, and the Language of the Unconscious" (Routledge, 2020)
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Dec 11, 2024 Robert Caper, a U.S. psychoanalyst and author, engages deeply with the foundations of psychoanalysis and W.R. Bion’s theories. He discusses the critical role of language in therapy, exploring how suggestion can divert from discovering deeper truths. Caper introduces the concept of maternal versus paternal containers, highlighting their influences on patient well-being. He stresses the analyst's responsibility to confront uncomfortable realities, rather than simply affirm patients’ beliefs, and delves into the complex dynamics of containment in therapeutic relationships.
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Song and Dance
- Condon filmed adults conversing and found they move their bodies subtly in sync with their speech.
- This synchronization, or "song and dance," is present even in newborns and transcends language.
Basic Assumption Mentality
- Bion observed "basic assumption mentality" in groups, where unconscious, unrealistic beliefs drive behavior.
- These unspoken agreements, like dependency or fear of an enemy, mirror infants' movement synchronization with speech.
Freud and Suggestion
- Freud initially used suggestion like Bernheim, but shifted to free association, uncovering transference.
- However, he still used positive transference strategically, blurring the lines between analysis and suggestion.
