Psychoanalytic Approaches to Forgiveness and Mental Health

Ronald Britton is a training and supervising analyst with the British Psychoanalytical Society. He first trained as a doctor, and as a child psychiatrist; he was chair of the Department of Children and Parents at the Tavistock Clinic, where he was involved in treatment of deprived children and their parents. This experience was influential to his psychoanalytic thinking where he maintains the importance of ‘childhood’ as a formative experience.Aleksandra Novakovic is a training and supervising analyst of the British Psychoanalytic Association and a group analyst. She was consultant clinical psychologist, joint head of the Inpatient & Community Psychology Service, and she worked with patients with severe mental health problems and facilitated staff groups for mental health teams. She worked at Tavistock Relationships and supervised on the Reflective Practice Course at IGA.

"This is profound book on a deep subject by an erudite and reflective group. Yes, forgiveness in the face of catastrophic loss and the vital role the capacity for it plays in all lives, gets to the heart of many questions in mental health. But as these authors show, it is a topic far wider – stretching into the deepest and most monstrous issues in our societies and their histories and to the deepest concerns of poets, novelists, philosophers, and theologians. It is hard to think of a better group of people to tackle the subject. And it is a very contemporary subject looking at the world today - particularly enlightened by new looks at the idea of the internal saboteur within each of us and the hardened myths and repetitive behaviours it threatens. Very strongly recommended to all with an interest in the human condition." - Professor David Tuckett, Department of Science, Technology and Public Policy, University College London, Fellow, Institute of Psychoanalysis, London"The central role of forgiveness in psychic life is attested by this fine book and underlined throughout the various authors’ inspiring chapters. Ronald Britton suggests that what feels unforgiven or unforgiveable arises from the internalization of unforgiving internal objects. With chapters ranging from deep reflections on the clinic to analyses of works of literature, religion, and music, as well as a chapter on the Holocaust, this skilfully edited and important book is full of gems and illuminating insights." - Rosine Perelberg is a Training and Supervising Analyst, and Past President of the British Psychoanalytical Society. She has written and edited several books, including Sexuality, Excess and Representation."Britton and Novakovic have, in this most stimulating collection of contributions, put ‘Forgiveness’ at the center of the psychoanalytic spotlight. This is most appropriate in the current climate where forgiveness is often overshadowed by pressure from grievance and revenge. Forgiveness is considered in individual, interpersonal, institutional, and societal contexts and includes illustrations in literature and music. An important theme is Sodre’s view that ‘nobody who has not felt forgiven can expect to forgive’ indicating the necessity for kindness towards the self from one’s internal objects." - Dr. David Simpson FRCPsych. F.Inst. Psychoanal. Former President British Psychoanalytic Association.

• AcknowledgementsAbout the Editors and ContributorsIntroductionChapter 1: The lost good object regained: Coexisting pars of self and the generosity of forgiveness, Aleksandra NovakovicChapter 2: Forgiving as malice relented: the depressive position in action, Chris MawsonChapter 3: The developmental importance of forgiveness and compassion: In psychoanalysis and Buddhism, Hiroshi AminoChapter 4: Revenge or Forgiveness: the Oresteia, Ronald BrittonChapter 5: Cry Havoc and Reconciliation, David MillarChapter 6: Revenge And Resentment In The ‘Oedipus Situation’, John Steiner Chapter 7: She waited, Kate Croy… Forgiveness in Henry James’ "The Wings of the Dove": the Villain’s Tragedy, Ignês SodréChapter 8: Contessa perdono! Mozartian sexual betrayal and forgiveness, Francis Grier Chapter 9: Forgiveness Work in Society, Institutions and Large Groups, Gerhard WilkeChapter 10: Forgiveness in the Recognition of Actuality, Karl FiglioChapter 11: In the grip of un-forgiveness : Some notes on forgiveness and orientation from a German background, Claudia FrankChapter 12: The Unforgiving Self, Ronald Britton