Research Catalog

Title

The quest for conscience and the birth of the mind / Annie Reiner.

Author

Reiner, Annie

Publication

London : Karnac Books, c2009.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xxiv, 161 p.; 23 cm.

Summary

"This book offers a new perspective on conscience as an as yet unrealized human potential, but a potential toward which human beings are naturally driven. A distinction is made between a "mature" or "healthy" conscience - a "conscience capable of maturation"--And the classical notion of the superego; it also postulates that the two may represent two separate lines of development. Conscience is seen to be inseparable from consciousness; the development of a mature conscience is seen to have its foundation in the development of a true or authentic self, while the classical notion of the superego is viewed as an often pathological manifestation of this natural mental potential." "Theological ideas are relevant to any discussion of morality, conscience and guilt. Freud's and Bion's perspectives on religion are closely examined, revealing fundamental differences in their views of the mind. The author incorporates the metaphysical perspective central to Bion's concept of "O" as fundamental to an understanding of the development of a healthy conscience. Detailed clinical examples clearly illustrate obstacles to the development, both of conscience and of an authentic self. These are examined with reference to early emotional trauma, including the failure of mental containment by the primary object, ideas which have their foundation in Fairbairn's theories about the infant's "moral dilemma"."--Jacket.

Subject

• Superego
• Conscience
• Philosophy of mind
• Psychoanalysis
• Psychoanalytic Theory

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-155) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Philosophical and psychoanalytic background -- The true self and psychological birth -- The spiritual perspective in psychoanalysis -- Theories of conscience -- Clinical examples -- Summary and conclusions.

ISBN

• 9781855757059 (pbk.)
• 1855757052 (pbk.)

LCCN

^^2010459077

OCLC

• 466359043
• SCSB-12454314

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library