Table Of ContentSándor Ferenczi
This book aims to present an up-to-date introduction and critical
study of one of the most important psychoanalysts of all time,
Sándor Ferenczi.
The book presents Ferenczi as a person; his discovery of
psychoanalysis and his relationship with Freud; the theoretical
and clinical novelties he introduced to psychoanalysis; his deep
political and social commitment, striving for the democratization
of psychoanalysis; and the great relevance of his thought and
perspective for the future. It also talks about his repression in the
history of psychoanalysis as well as his influence in the following
generations of psychoanalysts. The reader will be presented with
the most relevant historical milestones and concepts, with new
insights regarding some of Ferenczi’s most fundamental ideas
(such as his trauma theory, his technical innovations or his
developments regarding the end of analysis), as well as an
informed viewpoint of his legacy, the contemporary readings of
his work and the institutions and associations that continue
following the path traced by l’enfant terrible of psychoanalysis.
This book will be of interest both for the novel reader who has
had none or scarce contact with the person and/or work of Sándor
Ferenczi, as well as to the psychoanalysts, clinicians and scholars,
who have a deeper contact and understanding of the work of the
Hungarian analyst.
Alberto Fergusson, M.D. is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst
working in Colombia and in the United States. Since 1982, he has
been the head and founder of the Institute of Accompanied Self-
Rehabilitation. He was also the Founder of FUNGRATA in
Colombia and FAS in Washington DC. He is currently Director
and Full Professor at the Center for Psychosocial Studies (CEPPS)
of the Universidad del Rosario, Colombia. He has been actively
involved in the peace process in Colombia, at present as advisor to
the president of the Truth Commission.
Miguel Gutiérrez-Peláez, Ph.D., is a Full Professor at the Center
for Psychosocial Studies (CEPSS) of the Universidad del Rosario,
Colombia and has been part of the Psychology Program since
2011. He is a member of the World Association of Psychoanalysis
(AMP) and the New Lacanian School (NEL) and has his clinical
practice in Colombia. He is author of the book Confusion of
Tongues: A Return to Sándor Ferenczi (Routledge, 2018).
Routledge Introductions to Contemporary
Psychoanalysis
Aner Govrin
Series Editor
Tair Caspi
Associate Editor
Books in the Routledge Introductions to Contemporary Psychoanalysis will
serve as concise introductions dedicated to influential concepts, theories, leading
figures, and techniques in psychoanalysis.
The length of each book is fixed at 40,000 words.
The series’ books are designed to be easily accessible so as to provide informative
answers in various areas of psychoanalytic thought. Each book will provide
updated ideas on topics relevant to contemporary psychoanalysis – from the
unconscious and dreams, projective identification and eating disorders, through
neuropsychoanalysis, colonialism and spiritual-sensitive psychoanalysis. Books
will also be dedicated to prominent figures in the field, such as Melanie Klein,
Jaque Lacan, Sandor Ferenczi, Otto Kernberg and Michael Eigen.
Not serving solely as an introduction for beginners, the purpose of the series is to
offer compendiums of information on particular topics within different psycho-
analytic schools. We ask authors to review a topic but also address the readers
with their own personal views and contribution to the specific chosen field. Books
will make intricate ideas comprehensible without compromising their complexity.
We aim to make contemporary psychoanalysis more accessible to both
clinicians and the general educated public.
Published Titles
Projective Identification: A Contemporary Introduction
By Robert Waska
Donald Meltzer: A Contemporary Introduction
By Meg Harris Williams
Sándor Ferenczi: A Contemporary Introduction
By Alberto Fergusson & Miguel Gutiérrez-Peláez
Sándor Ferenczi
A Contemporary Introduction
Alberto Fergusson and
Miguel Gutiérrez-Peláez
First published 2022
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Alberto Fergusson and Miguel Gutiérrez-Peláez
The right of Alberto Fergusson and Miguel Gutiérrez-Peláez to be
identified as authors of this work has been asserted in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents
Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be
trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for
identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British
Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Fergusson, Alberto, author. | Gutieŕrez-Pelaéz, Miguel, author.
Title: Sań dor Ferenczi : a contemporary introduction / Alberto
Fergusson & Miguel Gutieŕrez-Pelaé z.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2022. |
Series: Routledge introductions to contemporary psychoanalysis |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2021040710 (print) | LCCN 2021040711
(ebook) | ISBN 9780367426750 (hardback) | ISBN
9780367426767 (paperback) | ISBN 9780367854355 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Ferenczi, Sań dor, 1873-1933. | Psychoanalysts. |
Psychoanalysis.
Classification: LCC RC339.52.F48 F47 2022 (print) | LCC
RC339.52.F48 (ebook) | DDC 616.89/17‐‐dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021040710
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021040711
ISBN: 978-0-367-42675-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-42676-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-85435-5 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9780367854355
Typeset in Times New Roman
by MPS Limited, Dehradun
Alberto Fergusson:
To my four children and six grandchildren.
Miguel Gutiérrez-Peláez:
To my sons for teaching me about things no book can
teach.
Contents
Acknowledgements xi
Introduction 1
1 The democratisation of psychoanalysis.
Sándor Ferenczi, from forced disappearance
to resurrection 4
2 Sándor Ferenczi’s biographical outline 9
3 Ferenczi’s encounter with psychoanalysis 15
4 Ferenczi as a translator and divulgater of
Freud’s work 27
5 The concept of “Introjection” 31
6 Ferenczi’s introduction of technical innovations 40
7 Thalassa and bioanalysis 57
8 The end of analysis 60
