Freudian Psychoanalysis 100 Years Later

• Published in: PsycCritiques Vol. 58; no. 25; p. No Pagination Specified
• Main Authors: Curtis, Rebecca Coleman, Jeannette, Erin Aimee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Psychological Association 19.06.2013
• Subjects: Freud (Sigmund); Freudian Psychoanalytic School; Human; Psychoanalysis; Psychoanalytic Theory
• ISSN: 1554-0138; 1554-0138
• DOI: 10.1037/a0031708

Reviews the book, What Is Psychoanalysis? 100 Years after Freud's "Secret Committee" by Barnaby B. Barratt (see record 2012-28319-000). This is a very provocative and stimulating book. Barratt provides the four fundamental concepts of Freud’s theory, reviving the revolutionary spirit of Freud’s thinking. These concepts are (a) the repressed nature of unconscious processes, (b) repeating what is not remembered, (c) libidinal energy, and (d) Oedipal complexities and the incest taboo. He then provides guidelines for technique. The developments in theory of the past 100 years that deviate from these fundamentals are considered to be “mistaken paths”—self psychology, Kleinian theory, object relations theory, interpersonal/relational theory, and others. Barratt provides a fresh and penetrating new look at these concepts that will irritate psychoanalysts who give his ideas some thought but have reached other conclusions. His discussion of libidinal energy, sexuality, and sensuality is most compelling and exciting. Most psychologist–psychoanalysts are not likely to think that his ideas represent psychoanalysis 100 years later, but Barratt appears eager to have the debate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)