On overcoming ancestor worship and on flawed, yet generative dyads: Commentary on paper by Joyce Slochower

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/Debate

Abstract

My response to Joyce Slochower's paper emphasizes the value of de-idealization of psychoanalytic parental figures, as part of developing an autonomous analytic identity, and sharply differentiates de-idealization from devaluation. Slochower's view of Winnicott is seen as moving in this direction, and therefore as substantially different from hostile attempts at Winnicott bashing. I view her specific interpretation as a thought-provoking and enriching speculation, and a valuable contribution to understanding nuances of the transference-countertransference cycle. I warn against over-confidence in interpretations based on hindsight. I also suggest that Winnicott's work with Khan and with Guntrip, with all its shortcomings, clearly contributed to their productivity and creativity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-37
Number of pages5
JournalPsychoanalytic Dialogues
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'On overcoming ancestor worship and on flawed, yet generative dyads: Commentary on paper by Joyce Slochower'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this