Modern Structural Theory

Adult Psychoanalytic Training (APT)
2019-20, 1st Trimester — Fridays, 3:30-5:00pm
Donald Schimmel, PhD

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November 8, 2019 — Bridging the gap between ego psychology and object relations theory

[28 pages]

Loewald, H.W. (1960). On the Therapeutic Action of Psycho-Analysis. IJP, 41:16-33.

Loewald, though retaining the language of classical ego psychology, significantly moved it in the direction of a two-person psychology. Loewald’s ideas (here outlined in his landmark article) were the major impetus for the gradual movement of many analysts toward object relational ideas.  He argued for the idea of the analyst as a new object for the patient, and his ideas are often described as a bridge to incorporating object relations within ego psychology.  He is a key figure representing the shift to a postmodern sensibility in psychoanalytic theory.

Chodorow, N.J. (2018). Love, respect, and being centered Upon: Loewald’s image of development in childhood and the consulting room. The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 71:224-233.

In this article, Chodorow highlights what she feels are the unique contributions Loewald’s perspective brought to the evolution of psychoanalytic thinking.  She points out that Loewald brought a more patient-centered perspective focused on the patient’s individuality, with greater attention paid to preoedipal issues and the oscillation between preoedipal and oedipal configurations.  She also comments on the attention Loewald paid to the inclusion of women in analytic thinking, and thus the way in which he laid a path toward psychoanalytic feminism well in advance of its formulation.

Optional Reading

Cooper, A.M. (1988). Our Changing Views of the Therapeutic Action of Psychoanalysis: Comparing Strachey and Loewald. PAQ, 57:15-27.

Cooper’s article places Loewald’s idea in context by comparing the approaches of Strachey and Loewald.