This text examines human sexuality through psychoanalytic theory and modern ego psychology, which looks at emotional meaning and its organization in symbolic representations of affect as organized by the ego.

It starts with an exploration of how symbolic representations are applied to the sensory experience of the body in human sexuality, both in reality and in fantasy. Next, the author delves into the phenomenon of romance as an important self-state in human growth and development. The book concludes with an examination of fetishes and fetish enactments, followed by a discussion of relevant treatments.

With its original and fulsome insights into the workings of human sexuality, this book will prove vital for psychoanalysts and psychotherapists in training and in practice, as well as all those seeking to understand human sexual experiences in greater depth.

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

About the Author

Eric R. Marcus is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Supervising and Training Psychoanalyst at Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research.

Reviews

"This book transcends the limitations of current approaches to sexuality by taking practitioners on an extraordinary journey into understanding the unique emotional meanings of sexual feeling, fantasy, behavior, and physical experience."

Francine Cournos, professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

"Dr. Marcus's work is one of the most important psychoanalytic contributions to our understanding of human sexuality since Sigmund Freud's Three Essays on Sexuality. His highly original application of modern ego psychology illuminates the complexity of the human sexual experience, utilizing and synthesizing concepts from all branches of psychoanalysis. This book is an invaluable resource for psychoanalytically understanding, teaching, and treating human sexuality. This work will be a classic."

Les Fleischer, associate professor, faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Lakehead University; psychoanalyst, private practice

"Marcus brilliantly uses Freudian ideas to decode the meaning of psychotic hallucinations and delusions in his book Psychosis and Near Psychosis. Marcus now, in another brilliant and revelatory work, turns to an experience equally misunderstood, sexual experience; manifest in symbol, fantasy, or rigid arrangements acted out in reality. He shows how physical sexual experiences and longings, carry and express our relationships, personalities, deep concerns, fears, hopes, wishes, traumas, and conflicts. He explains why sexual experiences are so powerful in our lives, how they can get stuck, and how treatment can help."

Norman Doidge, author of The Brain That Changes Itself

"This book by a master clinician and educator is an ideal book for learning about human sexuality and its psychodynamics. It is appropriate for all levels of training and education. I will use it in my teaching."

Eileen Kavanaugh, director, Psychiatric Institute Resident's Clinic; medical director, Psychology Externship, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center

Book Information
ISBN 9781138589308
Author Eric R. Marcus
Format Paperback
Page Count 142
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 260g