Linking Rickman's work with Bion's thinking

Abstract

Starting from Marco Conci's presentation of the personal letters between Bion and Rickman, this paper tries to explore possible links between Rickman's and Bion's thinking that go beyond both authors’ interest in group dynamics in the 1940s. Such links can be seen in the psychodynamic of psychosis, the theory of institutions/organizations, the concept of containment, the role of the here-and-now, and the analyst's attitude of receptiveness. Discussing these areas, the author supposes that Rickman's personality and style of thinking may have had a longer lasting influence on Bion's work.

Keywords:

• Bion
• Rickman
• groups
• institutions
• psychosis
• past and present
• receptiveness
• psychoanalytic technique

Notes

¹See Bion 1985, pp. 46, 56. On p. 56, he mentions that “Rickman tentatively suggested that our war experience precluded the possibility of pursuing my analysis further,” and on pp. 86 and 106–7 he refers to Rickman's death