Search

In this commentary, I argue that if humor is to be considered in an intersubjective context, the impact of any comment or action by analyst or patient cannot be predicted with much confidence. An interaction that is experienced by both parties as humorous depends on an unconscious confluence that is largely spontaneous. Efforts to orchestrate a particular outcome to an intervention that is meant to be humorous may well reveal more than was intended, and thus have an unpredictable unconscious resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I argue that on both the small-scale level of the interpersonal relationship, and the large-scale level of society, the manic defense makes it difficult to care about others, and so militates against a sense of social responsibility. I address four basic questions: what is the nature of social responsibility? What is the nature of the manic defense? How does the manic defense interfere with the potential for social responsibility? And, on a more general level, what are the issues with respect to methodology for efforts such as this one to link psychoanalysis and social theory? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this discussion of papers by Gillian Straker and Melanie Suchet, the author draws some links between the two papers in the interest of expanding analysts' understanding of the nature of whiteness as part of a racist discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the developments in the journal "Psychoanalytic Dialogues." This development widened the membership of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis. Promotions from different positions are also presented in this article including Anthony Bass as the new executive editor, and Steven Cooper and Stephen Seligman as full editors in chief.