CFDL 602 Psychodynamic Psychology IV:
Self Psychology
R. Dennis Shelby, PhD
rdshelby@icsw.edu
This course will serve as an introduction to the basic concepts of self psychology. The works of Heinz Kohut and his colleagues will be used to examine the evolution of central ideas and their application to a range of clinical problems. We will approach the development of self psychology with a text that summarizes the evolution of the theory, original works of Kohut and papers by his colleagues that apply his ideas to theory and the clinical encounter.
Goals:
To achieve a working knowledge of the central concepts of self psychology
Recognition of self psychological phenomenon in clinical work and life in general
Application of self psychological concepts to clinical work
Appreciation for the “location” of self psychology in the continuing evolution of psychodynamic theory
Required Text
Siegel, A. (1996). Heinz Kohut and the psychology of the self. New York, NY: Routledge.
Readings
Students are expected to read all assigned readings. Each week a student will present a summary of one of the original readings. Students should feel free to bring case examples to class that they feel illustrate the concepts we are examining.
Evaluation of Learning
Attendance is mandatory. If a class is missed, a make-up activity will be negotiated with the instructor. An open book essay exam will be distributed after class eight. It is due back to the instructor two weeks after the final class. Class grades will be based on the following distribution:
Final Exam 50%
Class Participation 25%
Reading Presentation 25%
Topics and Assigned Readings
Class I Freud and Kohut
Siegel Chapters 1,2 and 3
Freud, S (1915) Instincts and their Vicissitudes S.E. XIV PEP
Kohut, H. (1966) Forms and transformations of narcissism. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 14:243-272. PEP
Class Two Idealization and Grandiosity
Siegel Chapters 5 and 6
Kohut, H. (1971). The Analysis of the Self. New York: International Universities Press Chapter 4. Clinical and therapeutic aspects of the idealizing transference PDF
Chapter 5. Types of mirror transferences: A Classification according to developmental considerations PDF
Class Three Restoration of the Self
Siegel Chapters 7 and 8
Kohut, H. (1977) . The oedipus complex and the psychology of the self. In The Restoration of the Self. New York: International Universities Press. PDF
Class Four How does analysis cure?
Siegel Chapters 10 and 11
Kohut, H., & Wolf, E.S. (1978), The disorders of the self and their treatment: An Outline. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 59: 413-425. PEP
Wolfe, E. (1979) Transferences and countertransferences in the analysis of disorders of the self. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 15:577-594. PEP
Basch, M. F. (1983). The perception of reality and the disavowal of meaning. The Annual of Psychoanalysis. 5: 229-263. PEP
Class Five Objects and Selfobjects
Tolpin, M. (1978). Self-Objects and Oedipal Objects—A Crucial Developmental Distinction. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 33:167-184. PEP
Goldberg, A. (1990) The prison house of psychoanalysis. Hinsdale, NJ: The analytic Press. Chapter 6, Psychoanalysis without representations PDF
Class Six Narcissistic Rage
Kohut, H. (1972). Thoughts on Narcissism and Narcissistic Rage. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 27:360-400. PEP
Terman, D.M. (1975). Aggression and Narcissistic Rage: A Clinical Elaboration. Annual of. Psychoanalysis., 3:239-255. PEP
Shelby, R.D. (200) Narcissistic injury, humiliation, rage and the desire for revenge: thoughts on Drescher’s Psychoanalytic Therapy and the Gay Man. Gender and Psychoanalysis, 5(3), 275-289. PDF
Class Seven Self psychology and Children
Palombo, J. (1987). Selfobject transferences in the treatment of borderline neurocognitively impaired children in The borderline patient, Vol. I (J.S. Grotstein, M. Solomon and J. Lang eds.) Hillsdale, NJ: The Analytic Press PDF
Palombo, J. (1985), Self psychology and countertransference in the treatment of children. Child & Adol Social Work Jour, 2 #1: 36-48 PDF
Ornstein, Anna. (1993). Little Hans: His phobia and his Oedipus Complex. In B. Magid (Ed.), Freud’s case studies: Self-psychological perspectives (pp. 87-106). Hillsdale, NJ: The Analytic Press, Inc. PDF
Class 8 Self psychology and sexuality
Tolpin, M. (1997) The development of sexuality and the self. In J Weiner (ed.) The Annual of Psychoanalysis, V25: 173-187. PEP
Goldberg, A. (1995) The problem of perversion. New Haven: Yale University Press. Chapters: 2) Sexualization and Desexualization, 4) A Certain Kind of Blindness, 7) Sexualization, the Depleted Self and Lovesickness, 8) Dehumanization, Rage and Aggression in Perversions PDF