1. The elusive presence of the separate other in psychoanalytic theory and practice
2. The inevitable impact of personal and subjective factors on personality theories
3. The self-sufficient grandiose self: A discussion of narcissism
4. The theorists and their theories viewed through the lens of narcissism
5. The attachment to the other – the theorists pushed to the margins
6. The relational intersubjective school
7. Loss and grief processes – a mini-theory shift
8. Reflections on the current status of psychoanalysis as a therapeutic method
Biography
Orna Afek, MA, is a senior clinical psychologist and head of the Tamuz Institute for Psychotherapy, established by her in 1994. She also serves as a supervisor and lectures on critical evaluation of psychoanalytic theories, narcissism, dream analysis in psychotherapy, and personality diagnosis, which are her main areas of interest.
'In this groundbreaking work, Orna Afek offers a fresh and insightful perspective on psychoanalysis, examining its development through the lens of narcissism. With remarkable clarity and depth, Afek exposes a critical gap in mainstream psychoanalytic theory: the undervaluation of interpersonal relationships as a fundamental human need. By exploring the narcissistic traits of influential theorists and their impact on psychoanalytic thought, Afek presents a compelling case for a more balanced approach. This book is an essential read for clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in the evolution of psychoanalysis. Afek's work not only challenges established paradigms but also paves the way for a more holistic understanding of the human psyche.'
Prof. Aner Govrin, Editor of Routledge Introductions to Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Director of the doctoral program "Psychoanalysis and Hermeneutics," Bar Ilan University, Israel
