John Frosch

The New York Psychoanalytic Civil War.

The goal of this contribution is to give an overall survey of the analytic schisms in the New York area from 1934 on. The general background, laying the groundwork for potential schisms, is described. There were several major schisms in the New York area. The first related to Horneys departure from the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. There were multiple splits in this group which eventuated in a psychoanalytic facility at the New York Medical College, as well as the establishment of the William Alanson White Institute. Then there was the establishment of a psychoanalytic training facility at Columbia University, one at the Downstate Medical Center, and another at the New York University School of Medicine. The various factors that played a role in the splits are discussed. Finally, there is a discussion of why psychoanalytic schisms take place.

Technique in regard to some specific ego defects in the treatment of borderline patients

Any discussion of the treatment of the borderline patier~t requires the assumption of certain premises. When we speak of borderline, we mean borderline to psychosis. The problems that beset the latter run like a red thread through most borderline problems. T.he clinical picture of the borderline ranges on a spectrum from those who live constantly teetering precariously on the verge .of psychosis with freqeunt forays into decompensatory pictures characterizing their course of life, to those in whom the psychotic-like features may be well masked by a rigid adaptation only to appear during p.er~ods of de-

The relation between acting out and disorders of impulse control.

THE TERM acting out has been used in many different ways and has often been misused. It is frequently applied indiscriminately to behavior, especially antisocial behavior, which is viewed by the observer as difficult to understand or unacceptable. In this misuse, the term sometimes encompasses behaviors which reflect disorders of impulse control. However, acting out and disorders of impulse control differ in many ways and should be distinguished from each other. A previous communication (Frosch and Wortis, 1954) reported on the nosology of the impulse disorders without attempting to differentiate these from acting out in any extensive manner. In the present communication, it is my intention to pursue this differentiation phenomenologically, dynamically, genetically, and therapeutically.

The role of unconscious homosexuality in the paranoid constellation.

The literature dealing with Freuds original concept of unconscious homosexuality in the paranoid constellation is reviewed. Many of the more recent contributions view unconscious homosexual features as secondary to others; as such, they are pseudophenomena. This communication suggests that unconscious homosexuality in the male is denied, rejected, and projected because the passive, anal, sadomasochistic aspects are felt as degrading and humiliating. In the female, unconscious homosexuality is also felt as degrading and humiliating. In both sexes, the feeling of humiliation derives from real experiences in childhood. Unconscious homosexuality is viewed as the organizing principle in the paranoid constellation.

Severe Regressive States During Analysis Summary

T sEEnis ADVISABLE to restate the questions which were formulated in the introduction to describe how they were dealt with in the I various presentations and to decide whether any other conclusion can be drawn from them, rather than merely to outline the content of the contributions. 1. Are regressive states, severe to the point of disorganization, inherently possible in all analytic cases in varying degree, or are such states special phenomena which occur only in certain types of patients? I t is clear that in most of the cases presented, regardless of the diagnosis, the potential for the development of severe regressive states was a powerful one. The disturbances were often similar to those encountered in psychoses and conditions allied to them. Ego functions concerned with reality, contact with reality, feelings of reality, and especially reality testing, were generally involved. There were severe disturbances in the nature of the object relations to the point of dedifferentiation, as well as disruptions in the boundaries between the various psychic structures, so that id derivatives tended to overwhelm the ego and its functions. Primitive ego functions and defenses, such as projective-introjective techniques, were not uncommon, and were accompanied by alterations of ego states, splitting, and fragmentation. The very nature of the

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association: A Retrospective (1953–1972)

In this article, as Editor Emeritus, I review the early evolution of the Journal. It began with the Bulletin, of which I was Editor. It became necessary to give more attention and space to the publication of group discussions and panels. The early days of the Journal were characterized at times by internecine strife of a personal, political, and scientific nature. My ability to deal with this situation was hampered by my lack of knowledge, and even an amateurish quality concerned with editing a journal, although I had had considerable experience in editing The Annual Survey of Psychoanalysis. Out of the realization of the impact of this strife on the scientific activities of the Journal, grew the firm determination to emphasize the role of the Editor and the Journal as free from the political fluctuations that characterized the Association from time to time. This was essential in establishing freedom from pressure, and autonomy insofar as the scientific activities of the Journal were concerned. It was indicated especially in setting up the criteria for selection of papers, so as to create a climate of fairness and objectivity. These criteria are stated in the article. How the various problems mentioned above were dealt with is described in this contribution.