Ferenczi: His position in the realm of psychiatry

Abstract

This paper is aimed at placing the importance of Ferenczi's thinking in the wide field of psychiatry where Ferenczi has not been given any niche whatsoever. The author is in a position to approach topics that are fundamental for the work of both psychiatry and psychoanalysis. The Multifamily Psychoanalysis (MP), created by the author, not only allows professionals to counteract a current psychiatric trend aimed at eliminating the importance of subjectivity but MP also contributes to rescuing the thinking of Ferenczi, and to a better understanding of the Freud‐Ferenczi controversy. It is the author's contention that Ferenczi embodies the very spirit of pioneers: no difficulties, however insurmountable, could ever stop him. He paved the way for further psychiatric research work, and his clinical contribution extended the realm of metapsychology.

Keywords:

• Multifamily Psychoanalysis
• the Freud‐Ferenczi controversy
• knowledge‐operativeness opposition
• Argentina
• sickening web
• maddening inter‐dependence
• wearing out process
• transforming contenxt

Notes

In future, for the sake of simplicity, the pronoun ‘he’ is used for both male and female persons.

It should be noted that a) quotations have been translated into the English language from either Spanish or French versions of the referenced books or articles, b) Spanish and French titles in the references have been translated into English as a cooperation to readers, and c) quotations from Freud have been taken from the Spanish version of Freud's Complete Works published by Amorrortu, a Buenos Aires‐based publishing house, in 1982.