Core Concepts in Classical Psychoanalysis: Clinical, Research Evidence and Conceptual Critiques

327 Pages·2017·9.233 MB·English

by  Morris N. Eagle

“Morris Eagle strikes us once again. Relentlessly, and brilliantly, he examines across
these two books every aspect of the major psychoanalytic concepts. And differently
from most authors, he does not remain at the theoretical level, but always relates
theory to clinical evidence and empirical research, in the best academic tradition.
These works will be a classic, an unavoidable reference for our field, and will be
used by training programs worldwide.”
– Paolo Migone, MD, editor of the journal Psicoterapia e
Scienze Umane (www.psicoterapiaescienzeumane.it)
“These two works, both ‘Classical’ and ‘Contemporary’, should be in the library
of every serious student of psychoanalysis and the psychoanalytic therapies. Applying
his wide-ranging critical intelligence to decades of empirical research and cross-
disciplinary scholarship, Morris Eagle evaluates seminal psychoanalytic ideas with
verve and incisiveness. His comprehensive integration is easy to read, persuasive,
and – rare in the professional literature – fascinating.”
– Nancy McWilliams, PhD, ABPP, Visiting Full Professor,
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology
“In order to prosper it is important for any complex theory in psychology to undergo
evaluation of its core constructs to ascertain which aspects have received support,
clarify areas in need of modification and also, if we are to be honest and fair, identify
those elements that need to be jettisoned. In both ‘Classical’ and ‘Contemporary’,
Eagle undertakes such an examination of psychoanalytic theory in a thoughtful,
clear and incisive review of research evidence, clinical material and conceptual issues.
Be forewarned, this is no rubber-stamp of or love letter to psychoanalytic theory.
To the contrary, it is a balanced and often critical review of psychoanalytic
constructs discussed in an experience-near descriptive manner, eschewing meta-
psychological jargon, delivered with a good deal of wit and skillfulness that is typical
of Eagle’s previous work. Agree or disagree with his conclusions, any serious
psychoanalytic scholar or student will benefit a great deal from the discussion
contained in these volumes and be much better situated to help psychoanalytic
theory evolve and thrive in the contemporary mental health landscape.”
– Mark J. Hilsenroth, PhD, Professor, Derner School
of Psychology, Adelphi University
“Morris Eagle’s thoughtful, probing, and insightful writings have long stood out
as examples of the finest thinking the psychoanalytic tradition has to offer. Bringing
a remarkable clarity and rigor of thought to reexamining some of our most
fundamental concepts and assumptions, Eagle offers fresh insights that both
affirm and challenge analysts of all stripes. These two books, ‘Classical’ and
‘Contemporary’, the capstone of a long and brilliant career, are virtually a blueprint
for how psychoanalysis can survive in the coming decades.”
– Paul L. Wachtel, PhD, CUNY Distinguished Professor, Doctoral
Program in Clinical Psychology, City College of CUNY
“The clarity and richness, the thoughtful analysis and overall assessment of where
psychoanalysis stands in these two books by Morris Eagle makes them indispensable
for all psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic therapists who are concerned for the future
of our field.”
– Otto F. Kernberg, Professor of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College
of Cornell University; Director of the Personality Disorders Institute
of the New York Presbyterian Hospital (Westchester Division),
Training Analyst at Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic
Training and Research of New York and Past-President of
the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA)
“Eagle’s integrative work just goes on improving! This is the best, most compre -
hensive and visionary work so far. He is the best commentator on theoretical and
clinical psychoanalysis bar none. A highly recommended book.”
– Peter Fonagy, Professor of Contemporary Psychoanalysis and
Developmental Science, University College London
CORE CONCEPTS IN CLASSICAL
PSYCHOANALYSIS
In Core Concepts in Classical Psychoanalysis, alongside its companionpiece Core Con -
cepts in Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Morris N. Eagle asks: of the core concepts and
formulations of psychoanalytic theory, which ones should be retained, which should
be modified and in what ways, and which should be discarded?
The key concepts and issues explored in this book include:
• Unconscious processes and research on them – what evidence is there for a
dynamic unconscious?
• Is there a universal Oedipus complex?
• The importance of inner conflict.
• The concept of defense.
Unlike other previous discussions of these concepts, this book systematically
evaluates them in the light of conceptual critique as well as recent research-based
evidence and empirical data.
Written with Eagle’s piercing clarity of voice, Core Concepts in Classical Psycho-
analysis challenges previously unquestioned psychoanalytic assumptions and will
appeal to psychoanalysts, psychoanalytic psychotherapists, and anyone interested
in integrating core psychoanalytic concepts, research, and theory with other
disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, and social work.
Morris N. Eagle, PhD, is Distinguished Educator-in-Residence at California
Lutheran University, Professor Emeritus at the Derner Institute for Advanced
Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, and is in part-time private practice. He
is the author of From Classical to Contemporary Psychoanalysis: A Critique and
Integration and many journal articles. He is former President of the Division of
Psychoanalysis of the American Psychological Association and recipient of the
Sigourney Award, 2009.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES BOOK SERIES
DAVID WOLITZKY
Series Editor
The basic mission of Psychological Issuesis to contribute to the further development
of psychoa nalysis as a science, as a respected scholarly enterprise, as a theory of
human behavior, and as a therapeutic method.
Over the past 50 years, the series has focused on fundamental aspects and
foundations of psychoa nalytic theory and clinical practice, as well as on work in
related disciplines relevant to psychoanalysis. Psychological Issues does not aim to
represent or promote a particular point of view. The contributions cover broad
and integrative topics of vital interest to all psychoanalysts as well as to colleagues
in related disciplines. They cut across particular schools of thought and tackle key
issues, such as the philosophical underpinnings of psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic
theories of motivation, conceptions of therapeutic action, the nature of unconscious
mental functioning, psychoanalysis and social issues, and reports of original empirical
research relevant to psychoanalysis. The authors often take a critical stance toward
theories and offer a careful theoretical analysis and conceptual clarification of the
complexities of theories and their clinical implications, drawing upon relevant
empirical findings from psychoanalytic research as well as from research in related
fields.
The Editorial Board continues to invite contributions from social/behavioral
sciences such as anthropology and sociology, from biological sciences such as
physiology and the various brain sciences, and from scholarly humanistic disciplines
such as philosophy, law, and ethics. Volumes 1–64 in this series were published by
International Universities Press. Volumes 65–69 were published by Jason Aronson.
Routledge titles in this series:
Vol. 75 Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Conflict
Edited by Christopher Christian, Morris N. Eagle, & David L. Wolitzky
Vol. 76 Death and Fallibility in the Psychoanalytic Encounter
Mortal Gifts
Ellen Pinsky
Vol. 77 Core Concepts in Classical Psychoanalysis
Clinical, Research Evidence and Conceptual Critiques
Morris N. Eagle
Vol. 78 Core Concepts in Contemporary Psychoanalysis
Clinical, Research Evidence and Conceptual Critiques
Morris N. Eagle
CORE CONCEPTS
IN CLASSICAL
PSYCHOANALYSIS
Clinical, Research Evidence
and Conceptual Critiques
Morris N. Eagle
First published 2018
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2018 Morris N. Eagle
The right of Morris N. Eagle to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying
and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification
and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-138-84249-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-84250-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-73146-9 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo and Stone Sans
by Florence Production Ltd, Stoodleigh, Devon, UK
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements viii
Introduction 1
1 Unconscious processes 5
2 Research on unconscious processes 57
3 The Oedipus complex 94
4 Inner conflict 148
5 The concept of defense 216
6 Some concluding comments 264
References 279
Index 309
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to express my appreciation to my wife Rita who provided her usual invalu -
able help with the substance and organization of each chapter; to Robert Holt
who commented on selected chapters with his usual care and precision; and to
Lauren Jensen for her impressive ability to track down references and most
remarkable, her ability to read my handwriting. My appreciation to Kate Hawes
for her confidence and flexibility in the simultaneous publication of this book
and the companion book. I also want to express my appreciation to Victoria Kelly
for her care, competence, and patience in the copy-editing.
INTRODUCTION
In an important sense, this book is concerned with the future of psychoanalysis.
More specifically, it is concerned with the question of what is worth preserving
about psychoanalytic theory, what needs to be discarded, and which psychoanalytic
hypotheses, concepts, and formulations need to be modified, and in what ways.
These issues are considered, not in the light of ever-appearing new “schools,” but
in the light of research evidence, clinical evidence, and findings from related dis -
ciplines, as well as conceptual analysis. I strongly believe that if psychoanalysis is
to survive as a viable body of thought, these fundamental issues need to be
confronted, boldly and systematically.
As the reader will see, I am quite critical of certain aspects of various psycho-
analytic theories and of the kind of thinking that all too frequently is reflected in
the psychoanalytic literature. However, my assessments are not those of an outside
hostile critic, but of someone who has devoted much of his professional life to the
study of psychoanalysis and who strongly believes that psychoanalytic values,
insights, and perspectives are very much worth preserving.
Thus, this book is a very personal one in that I have a deep conviction about
the views I present. Of course, I have had personal convictions about other papers
and books I have written. However, I have a sense of something being different
in regard to this book. I think it has partly to do with my advancing age, by virtue
of which I feel a need to be as direct, as frank and forthright as it is possible to be.
The task I have set myself is to express as clearly as I can the views that I have
developed over a period of thinking and writing about psychoanalysis for more
than 60 years.
When I described my plans for this book to colleagues who were not in a field
connected to psychoanalysis, a not uncommon reaction was essentially “why
bother writing about the future of psychoanalysis? We know that psychoanalysis
is in a period of decline and does not have much of a future.” They are right that