Field Theory is a powerful and growing paradigm within psychoanalysis, but has previously been split between various schools of thought with little overlap. In this book, a distinguished group of contributors from across all perspectives on Field Theory examine its uniting factors and set out future developments and directions for the paradigm within psychoanalysis.

Advances in Contemporary Psychoanalytic Field Theory represents the work developed for the first international meeting of the International Field Theory Association. Founded in 2015 to offer a community for those interested in psychoanalytic field theory and promote its understanding and further development, IFTA recognizes all models of psychoanalytic field theory and seeks to foster communication amongst psychoanalysts working in different models, languages and parts of the world.

At the first ever meeting of IFTA, an international group of psychoanalysts participated in a roundtable discussion of the different contemporary models of psychoanalytic field theory. Each participant wrote a paper in advance of the meeting, which were all shared among the group beforehand and then discussed together. These feature as the chapters in this volume, whilst a thirteenth member offers a unifying overview of all the papers. Each chapter provides new, contemporary ways of approaching field theory. Key excerpts from the discussion of the meeting are also featured throughout to give a flavour of the collaborative efforts of the participants. The emphasis of this book is on generating mutual understanding of the different models of field theory, their underlying concepts, and heuristic principles.

Drawing on insights from literature, critical theory and philosophy as well as psychoanalysis, this book sets out a program for the future of Field Theory. Advances in Contemporary Psychoanalytic Field Theory will appeal to psychoanalysts and mental health care practitioners as well as academicians in philosophy, psychology and literature.

About the Author

S. Montana Katz, Roosevelt Cassorla and Giuseppe Civitarese are psychoanalysts and the Founding Directors of the International Field Theory Association.

Reviews

"Field Theory has become an area of intense interest and research in Psychoanalysis and is quickly establishing itself as an important paradigm for both contemporary theoretical reflection and clinical practice. It is also interesting to note that through the work of IFTA, field theory is bridging the gap between the different conceptual approaches among psychoanalysts of various cultures and distinct training backgrounds and stimulating dialogue and discussion. One of the first products of this rich project (of which we expect much more to come) is this powerful volume. In its pages we find very clear presentations of different approaches to field theory, which lays central emphasis on bi-personal interactions within dreamlike frameworks. For the above reasons, I consider this volume to be indispensable reading to those wishing to remain well-informed about recent developments in psychoanalysis."-Elias Mallet da Rocha Barros, Latin American Chair of IPA Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychoanalysis Task, Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society and Training Analyst of the Brazilian Psychoanalytical Society of Sao Paulo.

"Central to contemporary developments in psychoanalytic theory is the recognition that both patient and analyst co-participate unconsciously in all analytic engagement. The evolution of this recognition has emerged independently from different traditions and different geographies. Though all field theories share significant common ground, these different strains are also distinct from one another in significant ways. This edited volume, presenting work from the entire spectrum of many of the leading contemporary field therapists, offers the fortunate reader a thorough map of the range of ways that field theory has become a central force in today's psychoanalytic conversation."-Irwin Hirsch, Adjunct clinical professor of psychology and supervisor, New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy; Author, The Interpersonal Tradition (2015).

This edited volume gives a perspective on psychoanalytic field theories that is both wide and deep. Authors from different theoretical perspectives and different psychoanalytic cultures create a rich accessible picture of how field theory shapes clinical practice, differences in clinical listening, in technical moves, in attention to the subtlety of how experience is represented, embodied and communicated. Field theories develop distinct metapsychologies and most crucially attend to the deeply intricate relation of analyst and analysand. For English speaking readers, I think it will be most interesting to notice the powerful effect of the cultural field on particular theoretical developments. South American, North American, Italian and European field theories differ and interrelate in complex ways. The editors of this collection have done an amazing job of conjuring up a complex field of theories. In a way unusual for comparative psychoanalytic books, these essays can hold the complexity of differences and commonalities."-Adrienne Harris, New York University.

"This book presents the most advanced ideas on a new frontier of Psychoanalysis today.
It offers a fundamental, comparative clarification of the different sources, meanings and developments of the concept of Analytic Field in the different Regions, creating innovative bridges, connections and dialogue among them. No better way for sharing a work in progress in our scientific community on a worldwide basis, in an authentic international perspective."-Stefano Bolognini, President International Psychoanalytical Association.

Book Information
ISBN 9781138884632
Author S. Montana Katz
Format Paperback
Page Count 212
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 338g