"An altogether admirable book—one of the most concise, precise, and lucid expositions of the nature, possibilities, and limitations of psychoanalytic treatment to be found anywhere . . . A lucid defense of the essence of psychoanalysis against moralistic and conformistic misuse."—Ernest van den Haag, National Review
"Szasz remains essential reading for psychiatrists, their patients, and all who are inspired to 'help' others . . . he both possesses significance and inspires respect."—Anthony Storr, The London Sunday Times
"Dr. Szasz has made, and continues to make, significant contributions not only to psychiatry but also to therapy, correction, law, and ethics."—Humanist
Description
In the Ethics of Psychoanalysis, Thomas Szasz describes psychotherapy as a social action, not as healing. Conceived in this way, psychoanalytic treatment is characterized by its aim—to increase the patient’s knowledge of themself and others and hence freedom of choice in the conduct of their life; by its method—the analysis of communications, rules, and games; and lastly, by its social context—a contractual, rather than a therapeutic, relationship between analyst and the one being analyzed. The Ethics of Psychoanalysis remains one of the most concise, precise, and lucid expositions of the nature, possibilities, and limitation of psychoanalytic treatment to be found anywhere.
Table of Contents
PART I: THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF PSYCHOTHERAPY
1. The Psychoanalytic Relationship as a Scientific Problem
2. The Professional Identity of the Psychotherapist
3. Psychoanalytic Treatment as Education
4. Psychoanalytic Treatment as a Game
PART II: THE THEORY OF AUTONOMOUS PSYCHOTHERAPY
5. The Initial Contact between Patient and Therapist
6. The Trial Period
7. The Contractual Phase: I: The Concepts of Contract and Status
8. The Contractual Phase: II: Contract Bridge and Contractual Psychotherapy
9. The Terminal Period
PART III: THE METHOD OF AUTONOMOUS PSYCHOTHERAPY
IO. The Initial Contact between Patient and Therapist
11. The Trial Period
12. The Contractual Phase: I: Implementing the Contract
13. The Contractual Phase: II: Analysis of the Analytic Situation
14. The Terminal Period
Epilogue: Advice to Therapists
Index
About the Author
Thomas Szasz is professor emeritus of psychiatry at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. His books include Law, Liberty, and Psychiatry, The Manufacture of Madness, Ideology and Insanity, Ceremonial Chemistry, The Myth of Psychotherapy, Psychiatry: The Science of Lies, and The Medicalization of Everyday Life, all published by Syracuse University Press.
5.25 x 8.25, 248 pages
December 1988