Psychodynamic Psychology Podcast

Alina | Psychodynamic Psychology
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Jul 16, 2025 • 15min

Anna Freud: Altruism as a Defense

Anna Freud explores how altruism can be used to fend off anxiety (and fulfil "forbidden" wishes), with her interesting exploration of Altruism as a Defense.💌 Psychodynamic Newsletter → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter📖 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate link)The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense: https://amzn.to/467LwH9TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction01:16 Anna Freud02:27 Defense Mechanisms03:30 Altruism (as a Defense)05:02 Why People Use Altruism as a Defense06:45 How Altruism as a Defense Works08:45 Consequences10:15 (Superficial) Examples + Variations14:33 My TakeawayEQUIPMENT (affiliate links)Camera: https://amzn.to/40o7jahLens: https://amzn.to/420IgvbMicrophone: https://amzn.to/4fQQ0TNMusic: https://share.epidemicsound.com/un7jc6DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.
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Jun 25, 2025 • 12min

Anna Freud: Identification with the Aggressor

This is an introduction to Anna Freud's concept of the Identification with the Aggressor (from her book The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence). For more book recommendations and deep-dives into psychodynamic theory join my newsletter 💌 → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletterCORRECTION at 08:25: the term Anna Freud uses is not "acting out (=Ausagieren) aggression" but "abreaction (=Abreagieren) in the transference" in psychotherapy! I made a mistake.📖 Resources mentioned (Amazon affiliate link)Link to study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255419693_Does_Venting_Anger_Feed_or_Extinguish_the_Flame_Catharsis_Rumination_Distraction_Anger_and_Aggressive_RespondingThe Ego and Mechanisms of Defense: https://amzn.to/4lhgctETIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction03:06 What is Identification with the Aggressor?05:41 "Prophylactic" Aggression06:55 Helpful vs. Unhelpful08:57 Back to the Study...I'm Alina, a German psychoanalyst in training. I share what I read and learn online to make psychodynamic theory more accessible.DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.
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May 27, 2025 • 10min

How to Read Karen Horney

Dive into the insights of Karen Horney, an often-overlooked psychoanalyst. Discover her critiques of Freudian theory and the importance of personal history in understanding psychology. The discussion covers key concepts like basic anxiety, neurotic trends, and the idealized self, revealing how these ideas play a vital role in our lives. Perfect for those wanting a quick yet comprehensive introduction to her work!
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Mar 14, 2025 • 19min

Screen Hunger, Eternal Dilettante, Narcissism of Minor Differences | Salman Akhtar's Dictionary

Psychoanalysis is full of weird ideas, some are weird in a good way and some... well... see for yourself. In this video I take you along as I browse through Salman Akhtar's masterpiece the "Comprehensive Dictionary of Psychoanalysis" and *ramble* through how I discover and study three random new concepts as a psychoanalyst in training.💌 Psychodynamic Library + Newsletter → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com📖 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate link)Salman Akhtar: Comprehensive Dictionary of Psychoanalysis → https://amzn.to/3FshnH3Otto Fenichel: The Economic Function of Screen Memories (1927)Kata Levy: The Eternal Dilettante (1948)Sigmund Freud: The Taboo of Virginity (1918)🤳 Instagram: Casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychologyTimestamps00:00 Introduction01:41 Screen Hunger - Otto Fenichel09:11 Eternal Dilettante - Kata Levy14:43 Narcissism of Minor Differences - Sigmund FreudEquipement I use (affiliate links)Camera: https://amzn.to/40o7jahLens: https://amzn.to/420IgvbMicrophone: https://amzn.to/4fQQ0TNMusic: https://share.epidemicsound.com/un7jc6DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.
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Jan 20, 2025 • 15min

Psychoanalytic Diagnosis (and Why It Matters) | Nancy McWilliams

If I could only recommend one book to every psychodynamic psychotherapist (in training), this would be it: Psychoanalytic Diagnosis - Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process by Nancy McWilliams. It’s a masterpiece that you shouldn’t miss in your own library to improve your clinical knowledge and practice. 📖 Get the book (Amazon affiliate link) → https://amzn.to/4hkDwF3 🎥 Videos mentioned Defense Mechanisms: https://youtu.be/tiQRJh0HL4E Dwight Schrute: https://youtu.be/Xjbzbe0ubqU 💌 Psychodynamic Library + Newsletter → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter 🤳 INSTAGRAM: Casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology TIMESTAMPS 00:00 My favourite psychodynamic book 00:51 Why (psychoanalytic) diagnosis matters 04:22 Content of the book 09:19 Personality types aka my favourite part 11:40 Limits EQUIPMENT (affiliate links): Camera: https://amzn.to/40o7jah Lens: https://amzn.to/420Igvb Microphone: https://amzn.to/4fQQ0TN Music: https://share.epidemicsound.com/un7jc6 DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.
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Jan 1, 2025 • 14min

What I Read in December 2024 (as a Psychoanalyst in Training): Karen Horney, Thomas Ogden, and more

In this ongoing series of “What I Read” I hope to help you find interesting new books to discover (and at least sometimes understand) the great minds and ideas of psychoanalysis. Here is what I read in December 2024 as a psychoanalyst in training. 💌 NEWSLETTER: Get my Psychodynamic Library → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter 🤳 INSTAGRAM: Casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology 📚 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate links): Karen Horney, New Ways in Psychoanalysis: https://amzn.to/470yo55 Karen Horney, Final Lectures: https://amzn.to/49rektU Andrew Morrison, Essential Papers on Narcissism: https://amzn.to/4fz2Upk Heinz Kohut, The Restoration of the Self: https://amzn.to/3WRbKsc TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Overview 01:28 Karen Horney, New Ways in Psychoanalysis 05:01 Thomas Ogden, Reading Loewald: Oedipus Reconceived 06:07 Karen Horney, Final Lectures 08:23 What’s next DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.
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Dec 19, 2024 • 23min

Best (Psychodynamic) Books of 2024 | What I Read as a Psychoanalyst in Training

Here are my favourite psychodynamic books and articles out of 4200+ pages I read in 2024 (as a psychoanalyst in training). Each of them allowed me to dive into another great mind, theory, or contribution of psychoanalysis. 🎥 Watch the video version here on YouTube: ⁠https://youtu.be/sRsfqNkNwBo⁠ 💌 Psychodynamic Library + newsletter → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter 🤳 Instagram + casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology 📚 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate links): "Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's Guide" by Nancy McWilliams: https://amzn.to/4ccruul "The Hidden Spring" by Mark Solms: https://amzn.to/3SB7tqg "The Neuroscientific Underpinnings of Psychoanalysis" by Mark Solms: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00294/full "The Shadow of the Object" by Christopher Bollas: https://amzn.to/3T13N1B "Psychoanalytic Studies of the Personality" by W. R. D. Fairbairn: https://amzn.to/3ywLKJp "Why Read Fairbairn?" by Thomas Ogden "New Ways in Psychoanalysis" by Karen Horney: https://amzn.to/470yo55 "A Mind of Her Own: The Life of Karen Horney" by Susan Quinn: https://amzn.to/3XOMuSO "Triangulierung" Jürgen Grieser: https://amzn.to/3YzPwwq "Schopenhauer’s Porcupines: Intimacy and Its Dilemmas" by Deborah Luepnitz: https://amzn.to/3yqDlHw TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 02:03 Nancy McWilliams, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's Guide 04:16 Mark Solms, The Hidden Spring 06:53 Mark Solms, The Neuroscientific Underpinnings of Psychoanalysis 07:46 Christopher Bollas, The Shadow of the Object 10:29 W. R. D. Fairbairn, Psychoanalytic Studies of the Personality 13:08 Thomas Ogden, Why Read Fairbairn? 13:50 Susan Quinn, A Mind of Her Own: The Life of Karen Horney 15:33 Karen Horney, New Ways in Psychoanalysis 17:38 Jürgen Grieser, Triangulierung 19:52 Deborah Luepnitz, Schopenhauer’s Porcupines: Intimacy and Its Dilemmas DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.
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Dec 11, 2024 • 22min

What I Read (as a Psychoanalyst in Training) | Oedipus Complex, Fairbairn, Karen Horney...

This is another rambly (video) podcast episode, where I share 5 niche psychodynamic/psychoanalytic articles and books I read in the last two months. In case you look to discover what to read next as a psychodynamic psychotherapist in traning, this might be interesting for you. Thematically they ranged from the Oedipus complex, to Fairbairn, solid introductions into psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and lots of Karen Horney. 💌 Psychodynamic Library + newsletter → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter 🤳 Instagram + casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology Articles and books mentioned (affiliate links): "The Waning of the Oedipus Complex" by Hans W. Loewald "Why Read Fairbairn?" by Thomas Ogden "Introduction to the Practice of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy" by Alessandra Lemma → https://amzn.to/3X7WPci "Feminine Psychology" by Karen Horney → https://amzn.to/3WUA9xj "A Mind of Her Own: The Life of Karen Horney" by Susan Quinn → https://amzn.to/3XOMuSO If you're new here: Hi! My name is Alina, I'm a German psychoanalyst in training. I dive into psychodynamic books for a living and hope to make the great psychodynamic thinkers more accessible. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 01:58 "The Waning of the Oedipus Complex" by Hans W. Loewald 06:02 "Why Read Fairbairn?" by Thomas Ogden 08:25 "Introduction to the Practice of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy" by Alessandra Lemma 13:10 "Feminine Psychology" by Karen Horney 15:57 "A Mind of Her Own: The Life of Karen Horney" by Susan Quinn DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.
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Sep 18, 2024 • 33min

Reading Fairbairn, Solms, and Fromm | What I Read in August 2024 (Psychodynamic Edition)

As a (beginning) psychodynamic practitioner, you know you should read more. But where to start and what is worth your time? Maybe I can help. If you're new here: Hi! My name is Alina, I'm a German psychologist and psychoanalyst in training. I dive into psychodynamic books for a living and try to simplify complex theories whenever I can. 💌 Newsletter: Get my psychodynamic library and updates in your inbox → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter 🤳 Instagram: Casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology On this podcast, I sometimes dive into concrete theories and present them in the most concise and clear manner I can muster. Other times, like today, I take you behind the scenes of what I'm reading. Be prepared for an unscripted, chatty episode. What I read in August 2024: Erich Fromm, The Art of Loving: https://amzn.to/4esWJ68 (Amazon affiliate link) W. R. D. Fairbairn, Psychoanalytic Studies of the Personality: https://amzn.to/3XQeJkf (Amazon affiliate link) Mark Solms, The Neurobiological Underpinnings of Psychoanalytic Theory and Therapy: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00294/full#note21a Resources mentioned in this episode: My video on the neuropsychology of dreams: https://youtu.be/n048WanjScA My video on different psychodynamic theories (an overview): https://youtu.be/gbmySNY-8Sw My video on Melanie Klein: https://youtu.be/DnT8o1DF0VE Thomas H. Ogden, Fear of Breakdown and the Unlived Life (2014) DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.
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9 snips
Sep 9, 2024 • 21min

The Neuropsychology of Dreams | Mark Solms and Neuropsychoanalysis

Delve into the fascinating world where neuroscience meets psychoanalysis. Discover how dream states reveal secrets about our brain functions and emotions. Learn about the role of the dopamine circuit in dream interpretation, reshaping our understanding of dreams as vital expressions of desire and emotion. Mark Solms' insights challenge traditional views, presenting dreams as profound reflections of our psyche. This exploration invites listeners to rethink the significance of their nightly journeys.

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