Theory VII: Viewpoints on Narcissistic and Borderline Character

PSA - Third Trimester 2006-07
Third Year Candidates
8:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.

Samuel Herschkowitz, M.D.
Chapman Attwell, M.D.

This course is an historical reconstruction of the problems which narcissism has presented to the classical model of neurosis, both in theory and practice. We examine the alternate schools which have arisen as attempts to answer these problems, focusing on the British school of object relations (Klein,Winnicott, Fairbairn) and the Americans (Mahler, Kohut and Kernberg). We explore the implications for the theory of affects and object relations, the inherent connections of object loss, mourning and identification, and especially the reciprocal relation of transference and countertransference. The course is grounded in the developmental findings of contemporary infant research.

In anticipation of this course, please review Freud's classic paper, Mourning and Melancholia as a classic reference point to a fuller understanding of the reading material. 

Class 1: Development Aspects of Character Pathology 

*Weil, A.P. (1985) "Thoughts about Early Pathology." JAPA 33:335-352

*Willick, M.S. (1983) "On the Concept of Primitive Defenses." JAPA 31:175-199
Class 2: Overview and Developmental Aspects of Narcissism 

*Loewald, H.W. (2000) "On Internalization" (1973) International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 54:9-17

*Emde, R.N.  (1990) "Mobilizing Fundamental Modes of Development Empathic Availability and Therapeutic Action." JAPA 38:881-914

Class 3: Definitions and Operational Viewpoints of Narcissism 

Leider, R.J. (1996) "The Psychology of the Self" in The Textbook of Psychoanalysis Ed. Nersessian/Kopff (American Psychiatric Text) Washington, D.C. pp127-164

*Stolorow, R. D. (1975) "Towards a Functional Definition of Narcissism." IJP 56: 179-185

*Spruiell, V. (1975) "Three Strands of Narcissism." PQ 44:577-594

Class 4: Affective States and Associated Phenomenon in the Narcissistic Character

*Reich, A. (1960) "Pathological Forms of Self-Esteem Regulation." Psa: Study of the Child 215-232

Lester, E.P. (2000) "Normal and Pathological Narcissism in Women" Changing Ideas in a Changing World. Ed: J. Sandler, R. Michaels, P. Fonagy, Karnac Books, London. pp. 88-93

*Rothstein, A. (1991) "On Some Relationships between Fantasies of Perfection and the Calamities of Childhood," IJP. 72:2 pp. 313-323

OPTIONAL:

*Salman, A. (2000) "The Shy Narcissist" IJP pp. 111-119

Class 5: Treatment for the Narcissistic Character: Conflict and Common Ground

*Kohut, H. (1968) "The Psychoanalytic Treatment of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder." Psa. Study of the Child 23:86-113

Kernberg, O. (1975) "The Treatment of the Narcissistic Personality." In Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism (Jason Aronson, Inc.) Chapter 8, Part II, 227-262

*Wallerstein, R. S. (1981) "The Bipolar Self: Discussions of Alternate Perspectives. JAPA 29: 377-394

Class 6: Developmental Aspects of the Borderline Personality

*Mahler, M.A. (1971) "A Study of the Separation-Individuation Process and Its Possible Application to Borderline Phenomena in the Psychoanalytic Situation." Psa: Study of the Child 26:403-424

*Fonagy, P. (2000) "Attachment and the Borderline Personality Disorder" JAPA 48/4, pp.1129-1146

Class 7: Definitions and Operational Viewpoints on the Borderline Personality

Kernberg, O. (1975) "The Syndrome." in Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism (Jason Arronson, Inc.) pp. 3-47

Porder, M.S. (1996) "The Borderline Concept." in The Textbook of Psychoanalysis Ed. Nersessian/Kopff (American Psychiatric Text) Washington, D.C. pp.271-299

Class 8: Clinical Case Material and Clinical Considerations

Abend, S., Porder, M., Willick, M. (1983) "Case Material." In Borderline Patients (IUP) The Kris Study Group pp 34-88

*Bram, A.D. and Gabbard, G.O.  (2001) "Potential Space and Reflective Functioning." IJP 82:685-698

Summers, F. (1999) "Psychoanalytic Boundries and Transitional Space" Psychoanalytic Psychology. 16:1 pp.3-20

Class 9: Clinical and Theoretical Considerations in Treatment

*Fonagy, P. (2000) "Playing with Reality: III. The Persistence of Dual Psychic Reality in Borderline Patients." IJP 81: 853-873

Kernberg, O. (2000) "Mourning and Melancholia Eighty Years Later" in Changing Ideas in a Changing World, Ed: J. Sandler, R. Michaels, P. Fonagy, Karnac Books, London. pp 95-103

Class 10: Transference and Countertransference Considerations

Abend, S., Porder, M., Willick, M. (1983) "Transference and Technique" in Borderline Patients (IUP) The Kris Study Group, pp 174-205

Searles, H.F.  (1979) "The Countertransference with the Borderline Patient" in Advances in Psychotherapy of the Borderline Patient (Jason Aronson) New York City, pp. 498-526