Psychoanalysis and History in Conversation: A Dialogue with Thomas Kohut. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Frie, Roger; Kohut, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Psychoanalysis, self and context. Volume 14:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 62
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: bystander -- empathy -- Germany -- history -- Holocaust -- Nazi -- psychoanalysis; Psychoanalysis -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Self psychology -- Periodicals; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1080/24720038.2019.1549896
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2472-0038

Abstract

Abstract : In what ways do the fields of psychoanalysis and history interact and what can they learn from each other? In the attempt to bring psychoanalysis and history into conversation, I enter into dialogue with the German historian and psychoanalyst by training, Thomas Kohut. We discuss the challenges facing psychoanalysis today; Kohut's own history in relation to the evolution of psychoanalysis and the work of his father, Heinz Kohut; and the theme of German history and the Holocaust. We explore ways of overcoming the obstacles for cross-disciplinary dialogue and consider the importance of psychoanalytic understanding and empathy.