New Books in Psychoanalysis

Jan Abram, a leading British psychoanalyst and scholar of Winnicott, explores her groundbreaking concepts in this engaging discussion. She introduces the dual idea of surviving and non-surviving objects, emphasizing their impact on psychic health and therapy. Abram ties in the beauty of ukiyo-e art to illustrate maternal bonds and the child's perception of the world. She delves into gender dynamics, the nuances of transference, and critiques classical theories, all while highlighting the profound relationship between survival, emotion, and therapeutic joy.

Amrita Narayanan, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, delves into the intricate dynamics of women's sexuality in modern India. She discusses the importance of understanding sexual agency beyond societal suffering and cultural narratives. The conversation highlights the emotional complexities faced by women, particularly the interplay of personal desires and communal pressures. Narayanan also examines father-daughter relationships, the psychological impact of losing sexual autonomy, and the paradoxes of pleasure and renunciation in women's experiences.

In this engaging discussion, Roberta Satow, a seasoned psychoanalyst and author, delves into her novel, 'Our Time Is Up.' She skillfully navigates the tension between patient and analyst, revealing how her protagonist, Rose, embodies both roles. The conversation highlights the complexities of transference, the importance of intimacy in therapy, and the creative process behind blending autobiographical elements with fiction. Satow also reflects on how personal experiences and emotions shape therapeutic dynamics, sparking a rich dialogue on regret, guilt, and connection.

Dive into the concept of 'negative life,' a fascinating exploration of the tension between individual survival and the broader ecological narrative. The discussion critiques traditional views on human exceptionalism and encourages a deeper understanding of environmental ethics. It also unveils the symbolic barriers that complicate human-nature connections, calling out romanticized approaches in ecocriticism. Finally, the speakers tackle existentialism, reflecting on the interplay of brokenness and potential in shaping our future.

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Joel Whitebook, a philosopher and psychoanalyst from Columbia University, delves into his major work on Freud's intellectual biography. He explores the intricacies of Freud's life and theories, emphasizing the interplay between personal experiences and intellectual achievements. Whitebook critiques resistance to introspection in therapy, discusses the fusion of Marxist and Freudian ideas, and reveals hidden traumas that informed Freud's work. He presents a fresh perspective on Freud's legacy as both timeless and relevant.

On this episode, J.J. Mull interviews scholar and historian Camille Robcis. In her most recent book, Disalienation: Politics, Philosophy, and Radical Psychiatry in Postwar France (University of Chicago Press, 2021), Robcis grapples with the historical, intellectual, psychiatric and psychoanalytic meaning of institutional psychotherapy as articulated at Saint-Alban Hospital in France by exploring the movement’s key thinkers, including François Tosquelles, Frantz Fanon, Félix Guattari, and Michel Foucault. Anchored in the history of one hospital, Robcis's study draws on a wide geographic context—revolutionary Spain, occupied France, colonial Algeria, and beyond—and charts the movement's place within a broad political-economic landscape, from fascism to Stalinism to postwar capitalism.J.J. Mull is a poet, training clinician, and graduate student at Smith College School for Social Work currently living in Northampton, MA. He can be reached at jmull@smith.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychoanalysis

The figure of Sigmund Freud has captivated the Western imagination like few others. One hundred and twenty-five years after the publication of Studies on Hysteria, the good doctor from Vienna continues to stir controversy in institutions, academic circles, and nuclear households across the world. Perhaps Freud’s sharpest and most adamant critic, Frederick Crews has been debating Freud’s legacy for over thirty years. His latest work, Freud: The Making of an Illusion (Picador, 2018) challenges us with an extensive psychological profile of the legend here revealed as scam artist. What some analysts might argue to be a 750 page character assassination, Crews maintains is simply a recitation of facts which leaves readers to draw their own conclusions. One might wonder if the story of facts that is conveyed is not itself a counter myth.Was Freud a megalomaniacal, greedy, cocaine-addled opportunist and psychoanalysis a pseudoscience that has reigned tyrannically over twentieth century thought? Making use of Freud’s extensive letters to Martha Bernays, Crews paints a “damning portrait” (Esquire) of a money hungry, adulterous, and uncaring man. How can this portrait be reconciled with the radically meaningful and deeply transformative process many of us know psychoanalysis to be? Is the tyranny of rationality preferable to the tyranny of myth? Does the unmaking of the myth of the man undo the gift of his work?In this interview Crews responds to questions of what it means to have an empirical attitude, how we should “test” the process of healing, what’s so tempting about Freud, and what should become of psychoanalysis today. Meticulously researched, the Crews of the Freud wars is back again, and he’s going in for the kill shot.Cassandra B. Seltman is a writer, psychoanalyst, and researcher in NYC. cassandraseltman@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychoanalysis

James Baldwin’s “Going to Meet the Man” is a powerful short story that describes the life of Jesse, a 42-year-old white police officer whose experiences alternate between his present-day struggles with impotence and his memories of racial violence. As the narrative unfolds a pivotal childhood memory of a lynching, sets the tone and comes to represent the fundamental weakness of white supremacy. His need for racist violence to regain potency suggests that the system of white supremacy requires constant reinforcement to maintain itself. Projective identification, a powerful mechanism of defense, also plays a significant role in exploring the complex psychological dynamics of racism and its impact on both the oppressor and the oppressed.Dr. Karyne E. Messina is a psychologist and child, adolescent and adult psychoanalyst. In addition to maintaining a full-time private practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland, she is on the medical staff of Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland which is part of Johns Hopkins Medicine. She is a podcast host for the New Books Network and chair of the Department of Psychoanalytic Education’s (DPE) Scholarship and Writing section which is part of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA). She is a member of the AI Council of APsA (CAI). She has also written and edited seven books. Her topics focus on applying psychoanalytic ideas to real-world issues we all face in our complex world.Dr. Felecia Powell-Williams is a child and adolescent supervising psychoanalyst at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston, Texas, where she also holds the position of President of Board of Directors. Dr. Felecia Powell-Williams is also a faculty member in the Child and Adult Training Programs. In addition, she provides clinical supervision for the State of Texas licensing board, as well as supervision as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor with the Association for Play Therapy. She is also the chair of the Department of Psychoanalytic Education’s (DPE) Diversity section which is part of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychoanalysis

Desy Safán-Gerard, a psychoanalyst and painter, dives into the fascinating relationship between chaos and control in creativity. She explores how accidents can fuel artistic expression and how emotions like envy and forgiveness shape the creative process. Safán-Gerard shares personal insights, highlighting the importance of acknowledging destructiveness as part of artistic growth. The conversation also touches on the therapeutic potential of art, examining how personal struggles can transform into powerful creative works.

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.