Freud and Beyond: The Evolution of Psychoanalytic Thought
Freud and Beyond: The Evolution of Psychoanalytic Thought
Instructor: Ruth Zeligman, Ph.D.
The language of Psychoanalysis and its fundamental concepts are deeply ingrained within Western culture and yet Psychoanalytic theory and practice remain enigmatic and, for the most part, poorly understood. This course traces the evolution of psychoanalytic thinking, beginning with Freud’s pioneering work, through major revisions and developments in the field from Ego Psychology, Object Relations theories, Self Psychology to contemporary Relational Psychoanalysis. Drawing on seminal theoretical papers and case studies, we will examine various key psychoanalytic concepts such as the unconscious, transference and countertransference, drives and sexuality as they evolved over time in light of the historical and cultural context.
Course Requirements:
- Response papers (20%)
- Attendance and participation (10%)
- Final paper (70%)
Readings:
Main Textbook: Mitchell, S. A., & Black, M. J. (1995). Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought. New York: Basic Books.
Course Program
Class 1: Introduction. What is psychoanalysis? Four major myths
Class 2-5: Sigmund Freud and Classical Psychoanalysis. Beyond the pleasure principle
- Mitchell & Black, Chapter 1: Sigmund Freud and the Classical Psychoanalytic Tradition
- Optional Reading: Freud, S. (1983). Katharina, Case Histories from Studies on Hysteria. The Standard Edition, 2: Studies on Hysteria, 125-134. London: Hogarth Press.
Class 6-7: Ego Psychology
- Mitchell & Black, Chapter 2: Ego Psychology (pp. 23-38 and 53-59)
Class 8-10: Melanie Klein and Contemporary Kleinian theory
- Mitchell & Black, Chapter 4: Melanie Klein and Contemporary Kleinian Theory
- Optional Reading: Klein, M. (1958). On the development of mental functioning. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 39, 84-90.
Class 11-12: British Object Relations: D. W. Winnicott
- Mitchell & Black, Chapter 5: The British Object Relations School: D. W. Winnicott (pp. 124-138).
- Optional Reading: Winnicott, D.W. (1953). Transitional objects and transitional phenomena—A study of the first not-me possession. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 54, 89-97.
Class 13-14: Interpersonal Psychoanalysis
- Mitchell & Black, Chapter 3: Harry Stack Sullivan and Interpersonal Psychoanalysis (pp. 60-84).
Class 15-16: Self Psychology
- Mitchell & Black, Chapter 6: Psychologies of Identity and Self: Erik Erikson and Heinz Kohut (pp. 149-169).
- Optional Reading: Kohut, H., & Wolf, E. S. (1978), The disorders of the self and their treatment: An Outline. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 59, 413-425.
Class 17-18: Relational Psychoanalysis
- Aron, L. (1996). The Relational Orientation: An Introduction. In Lewis Aron, A Meeting of Minds: Mutuality in Psychoanalysis (pp. 1-30). New York: The Analytic Press.
Class 19: Summary
