Comparative Psychoanalysis – serie

This book revaluates Carl Jung’s ideas in the context of contemporary research in the evolutionary sciences.Recent work in developmental biology, as well as experimental and psychedelic neuroscience, have provided empirical evidence that supports some of Jung’s central claims about the nature and evolution of consciousness. Beginning with a historical contextualisation of the genesis of Jung’s evolutionary thought and its roots in the work of the 19th century Naturphilosophen, the book then outlines a model of analytical psychology grounded in modern theories of brain development and life history theory. The book also explores research on evolved sex based differences and their relevance to Jung’s concept of the anima and animus.Seeking to build bridges between analytical psychology and contemporary evolutionary studies and associated fields, this book will appeal to scholars of analytical and depth psychology, as well as researchers in the evolutionary and brain sciences.

The Psychoanalytic Understanding of Consciousness, Free Will, Language, and Reason examines the ways in which we can use psychoanalysis in order to better understand humanity and explores the question of what makes us human. For thousands of years, thinkers have been trying to define what makes us human. Some of the main questions they have asked is: What is consciousness? Do we have free will? Do animals use language? And what does reason mean? Samuels argues that we need to better understand the psychoanalytic approach to human nature in order to answer these questions, as well as using it to provide a new way of understanding issues such as addiction, political conflict, ideology, and destructive personal relationship. This book will be of vital interest to psychotherapists, as well as students and researchers across the fields of psychoanalysis, philosophy, and psychology.

The Psychoanalytic Understanding of Consciousness, Free Will, Language, and Reason examines the ways in which we can use psychoanalysis in order to better understand humanity and explores the question of what makes us human. For thousands of years, thinkers have been trying to define what makes us human. Some of the main questions they have asked is: What is consciousness? Do we have free will? Do animals use language? And what does reason mean? Samuels argues that we need to better understand the psychoanalytic approach to human nature in order to answer these questions, as well as using it to provide a new way of understanding issues such as addiction, political conflict, ideology, and destructive personal relationship. This book will be of vital interest to psychotherapists, as well as students and researchers across the fields of psychoanalysis, philosophy, and psychology.

This book revaluates Carl Jung’s ideas in the context of contemporary research in the evolutionary sciences.Recent work in developmental biology, as well as experimental and psychedelic neuroscience, have provided empirical evidence that supports some of Jung’s central claims about the nature and evolution of consciousness. Beginning with a historical contextualisation of the genesis of Jung’s evolutionary thought and its roots in the work of the 19th century Naturphilosophen, the book then outlines a model of analytical psychology grounded in modern theories of brain development and life history theory. The book also explores research on evolved sex based differences and their relevance to Jung’s concept of the anima and animus.Seeking to build bridges between analytical psychology and contemporary evolutionary studies and associated fields, this book will appeal to scholars of analytical and depth psychology, as well as researchers in the evolutionary and brain sciences.

John Boyle provides an in-depth account of the neglected contributions made by Western esotericism in the formation of an occluded ‘psychoanalytic parapsychology’ active within psychoanalysis since its inception, the distinguishing features of which he argues have continued to persist within psychoanalysis to this day.The book provides a conceptual framework for understanding how the debates between Sigmund Freud, Sándor Ferenczi and Carl Gustav Jung on the role of the "occult" in psychoanalysis contributed to the formation of an "Orphic fragmentation" within psychoanalysis. It argues that the ensuing consequences of these discussions were covertly transmitted to later generations of psychoanalysts in the form of an "Orphic trajectory" encrypted within the main body of psychoanalytic theory and practice.This book offers new and original insights into the role played by heterodox forms of spirituality in the development of psychoanalysis. It will interest scholars of psychoanalysis and religion as well as those with a general interest in the role of the spiritual in contemporary psychoanalysis and psychology.

John Boyle provides an in-depth account of the neglected contributions made by Western esotericism in the formation of an occluded ‘psychoanalytic parapsychology’ active within psychoanalysis since its inception, the distinguishing features of which he argues have continued to persist within psychoanalysis to this day.The book provides a conceptual framework for understanding how the debates between Sigmund Freud, Sándor Ferenczi and Carl Gustav Jung on the role of the "occult" in psychoanalysis contributed to the formation of an "Orphic fragmentation" within psychoanalysis. It argues that the ensuing consequences of these discussions were covertly transmitted to later generations of psychoanalysts in the form of an "Orphic trajectory" encrypted within the main body of psychoanalytic theory and practice.This book offers new and original insights into the role played by heterodox forms of spirituality in the development of psychoanalysis. It will interest scholars of psychoanalysis and religion as well as those with a general interest in the role of the spiritual in contemporary psychoanalysis and psychology.

The Craft of the Psychodynamic Case Study: A Practical Guide is the first comprehensive guide to help clinicians transform their therapeutic experiences into compelling, meaningful case narratives that honor both clinical truth and literary craft.Every therapist faces the challenge of translating profound clinical experiences into coherent written case studies. This groundbreaking guide bridges a critical gap in professional training, offering practical tools for crafting compelling narratives while maintaining ethical boundaries and theoretical integrity. The book explores five major psychoanalytic approaches—Klein, Bion, Winnicott, Kohut, and Relational—each with specific writing strategies. Rich with clinical examples, it guides practitioners through diverse phenomena, from Klein’s manic repair and envy, through Bion’s alpha function and reverie, to relational self-disclosure. Readers learn to develop their narrative voice, structure long-term therapy into phases, write about transference and countertransference, and navigate confidentiality challenges.More than a technical guide, this book revolutionizes how we think about case studies as creative non-fiction, introducing the concept of “responsible creativity” that empowers clinicians to move beyond formulaic reports. Perfect for psychodynamic psychotherapists and mental health practitioners at all levels writing cases for exams, publications, conferences, team presentations, or personal reflection.