Orna Afek

Psychoanalysis Through the Lens of Narcissism

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

This critical historical review of psychoanalytic theory and practice reflects on the place of psychoanalysis in contemporary Western culture in light of its preoccupation with the self and associated failure to emphasize the role of close interpersonal relationships as central to the human psyche.

The elusive presence of the separate other in psychoanalytic theory is discussed vis-à-vis the life stories of Freud, Winnicott, and Kohut. The underlying narcissistic bias in the theories of these three pioneers of psychoanalysis - classical Freudian drive theory, Winnicott's theory of the parent-infant relationship, and Kohut's theory of self-psychology - is traced back to their narcissistic personality traits, which impacted their views and perceptions and obscured the fundamental centrality of interpersonal relationships per se in the inner world of the individual, with far-reaching implications for psychoanalytic thought and practice.

With fresh insights on the subjectivity of personality theories, the core features of the narcissistic personality, and the implications of the narcissistic position for theory and clinical practice, this book will interest psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, and other professionals in the field, specifically those interested in personality diagnosis, narcissism, attachment theory, and psychotherapeutic approaches and psychoanalytic theories in general.

Produktdetails

• Evolutions in Psychoanalysis Book Series
• Verlag: Taylor & Francis; Routledge
• Seitenzahl: 206
• Erscheinungstermin: 12. Februar 2025
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 234mm x 156mm x 11mm
• Gewicht: 340g
• ISBN-13: 9781032884332
• ISBN-10: 1032884339
• Artikelnr.: 71577160

Autorenporträt

Orna Afek, MA, is a senior clinical psychologist and head of the Tamuz Institute for Psychotherapy, established by her in 1994. She also serves as a supervisor and lectures on critical evaluation of psychoanalytic theories, narcissism, dream analysis in psychotherapy, and personality diagnosis, which are her main areas of interest.

Inhaltsangabe

1. The elusive presence of the separate other in psychoanalytic theory and
practice 2. The inevitable impact of personal and subjective factors on
personality theories 3. The self-sufficient grandiose self: A discussion of
narcissism 4. The theorists and their theories viewed through the lens of
narcissism 5. The attachment to the other - the theorists pushed to the
margins 6. The relational intersubjective school 7. Loss and grief
processes - a mini-theory shift 8. Reflections on the current status of
psychoanalysis as a therapeutic method

Rezensionen

'In this groundbreaking work, Orna Afek offers a fresh and insightful perspective on psychoanalysis, examining its development through the lens of narcissism. With remarkable clarity and depth, Afek exposes a critical gap in mainstream psychoanalytic theory: the undervaluation of interpersonal relationships as a fundamental human need. By exploring the narcissistic traits of influential theorists and their impact on psychoanalytic thought, Afek presents a compelling case for a more balanced approach. This book is an essential read for clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in the evolution of psychoanalysis. Afek's work not only challenges established paradigms but also paves the way for a more holistic understanding of the human psyche.'

Prof. Aner Govrin, Editor of Routledge Introductions to Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Director of the doctoral program "Psychoanalysis and Hermeneutics," Bar Ilan University, Israel