TY - JOUR
T1 - The utopian fantasy of a new person and the danger of a false analytic self
AU - Berman, Emanuel
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Utopian thinking may backfire and become destructive when its idealizations, splits, moralism, and perfectionism are followed uncritically. The utopian fantasy of the purified New Person, prominent in many religious, national, and political movements, may legitimize the harrassment of individuals seen as flawed, as failing to achieve the desired new identity. The expectation to mold a 'real analyst' may acquire some of the characteristics of the New Person fantasy and become persecutory for candidates. Some idealizations in psychoanalysis are discussed, as well as the way they can contribute to a paranoid atmosphere in psychoanalytic institutes, to regression and infantilization in candidates. One way of handling the impingements of a rigid and anxiety-provoking training is to develop a false analytic self, which hinders the intrinsic growth of analytic identity. Changes in the structure and climate of training programs can reduce such risks and allow a better fit between the institutional form of training and its substantial goals of individual growth.
AB - Utopian thinking may backfire and become destructive when its idealizations, splits, moralism, and perfectionism are followed uncritically. The utopian fantasy of the purified New Person, prominent in many religious, national, and political movements, may legitimize the harrassment of individuals seen as flawed, as failing to achieve the desired new identity. The expectation to mold a 'real analyst' may acquire some of the characteristics of the New Person fantasy and become persecutory for candidates. Some idealizations in psychoanalysis are discussed, as well as the way they can contribute to a paranoid atmosphere in psychoanalytic institutes, to regression and infantilization in candidates. One way of handling the impingements of a rigid and anxiety-provoking training is to develop a false analytic self, which hinders the intrinsic growth of analytic identity. Changes in the structure and climate of training programs can reduce such risks and allow a better fit between the institutional form of training and its substantial goals of individual growth.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034080019&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/0736-9735.17.1.38
DO - 10.1037/0736-9735.17.1.38
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:0034080019
SN - 0736-9735
VL - 17
SP - 38
EP - 60
JO - Psychoanalytic Psychology
JF - Psychoanalytic Psychology
IS - 1
ER -