Oedipus and Beyond : A Clinical Theory

Psychoanalysis is a vital yet divided discipline. A confusing array of mutually contradictory theories compete for the loyalty of clinicians and for the attention of all those interested in understanding human experience.

In "Object Relations in Psychoanalytic Theory", Jay Greenberg and his coauthor Stephen Mitchell brought clarity to the confusion surrounding psychoanalytic disputes. "Oedipus and Beyond" builds on Greenberg's earlier contribution.

Beginning with a critique of the conceptual framework of psychoanalysis, he provides fresh insight into Freud's theory, demonstrating how attempts to resolve some of its shortcomings have generated their own theoretical and clinical dilemmas.

In the process he illuminates the roles of the Oedipus complex, the drives, the unconscious, and psychic structure in shaping the sensibilities of alternative psychoanalytic approaches.

Greenberg does not attempt to synthesize the two models, because he believes that diversity is essential if psychoanalysis is to remain strong. Instead, he proposes a practical clinical theory in which Freud's insistence on the importance of inner motivation, psychic conflict, and personal agency effectively informs a relational emphasis on the fundamental influence of social living.

The book concludes with some illustrations of how the new model can enrich clinical work.

Greenberg rethinks the process of making the unconscious conscious, and arrives at new approaches to the analyst's neutrality, to transference analysis, and to countertransference.

The result reflects the author's insight into the structure of psychoanalytic theory and the contribution of diverse psychoanalytic schools.