“Sex, Society, and Relationships” and “The Mythology Surrounding Freud and Klein” – Charlotte Schwartz

Abstract:

In this session, I revisit two of my books in connection with themes of this conference.  Sex, Society and Relationships: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (2019, IPBooks) examines sexual behavior, especially monogamy and adultery, from historical, psychological, biological, and sociological perspectives.  The Twenty-First century is a period of unbridled sexuality but also of destabilized culture, personal relationships, and child rearing.  This book aims to learn from the human past to better understand our present.

The Mythology Surrounding Freud and Klein: Implications for Psychoanalysis (2017, Roman and Littlefield) challenges current misperceptions and theoretical ideas surrounding Sigmund Freud and Melanie Klein through a systematic review of their respective theoretical work and clinical studies.  I argue against the current perception that Klein originated object relations theory and that Freud’s metapsychology was a drive-centered theory with little regard for the object and object relations. The book further examines the development of drive and object relations theory through a review of key thinkers who influenced psychoanalytic training and treatment methodology in this area, including Ferenczi, Abraham, Jones, Fairbairn, Guntrip, and Winnicott.

Short bio:

Charlotte Schwartz, MSS, LCSW, is a psychoanalyst in private practice in the Chicago area, and has taught pediatrics and social work at New York Medical College, Smith College School for Social Work, and NYU School of Social Work.  She is the author of three books and numerous articles on clinical and psychohistorical topics.