Table Of ContentPSYCHOANALYSIS AND POSITIVITY
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PSYCHOANALYSIS
AND POSITIVITY
Mariam Alizade
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First published in 2010 by
Karnac Books Ltd
118 Finchley Road
London NW3 5HT
Copyright © 2010 by Mariam Alizade
The right of Mariam Alizade to be identified as the author of this work has
been asserted in accordance with §§ 77 and 78 of the Copyright Design and
Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A C.I.P. for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-13: 978-1-85575-659-5
Typeset by Vikatan Publishing Solutions (P) Ltd., Chennai, India
Printed in Great Britain
www.karnacbooks.com
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CONTENTS
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ENGLISH VERSION vii
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ix
CHAPTER ONE
Positivity in psychoanalysis 1
CHAPTER TWO
Theoretical fundamentals 11
CHAPTER THREE
Clinical work and positivity 19
CHAPTER FOUR
Psychoanalysis and mental health 51
CHAPTER FIVE
Repetition and its reversal 67
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vi CONTENTS
CHAPTER SIX
Trauma and positivity 77
CHAPTER SEVEN
The internal setting 95
CHAPTER EIGHT
Reanalysis and impasse 105
CHAPTER NINE
Clinical vignettes 113
CHAPTER TEN
An essay on joy 121
CLOSING WORDS 141
REFERENCES 143
INDEX 151
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A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ENGLISH
VERSION
Positivity was published in Argentina in 2002. My observations on
the influence of positivity in my clinical work and the gradual devel-
opment of this concept at a theoretical and technical level led me to
explore new territory. Recent developments in the field of resilience
and the psychology of positivity increased my interest in the study
of this area.
I am fully aware that there may be resistance to my ideas, not
only because of the disturbing newness of this concept in the field of
psychoanalysis but also because it appears to contradict or oppose
certain principles or ideas regarding the development of the psycho-
analytical process.
To my delight and with great interest, I noted that there was a
panel at the International Psychoanalytical Congress in 2007 which
discussed this theme.
In parallel, I initiated the translation of this book into English
with the aim of finding concurrences and points of contentions with
colleagues from other latitudes.
It is my wish that to this publication will be added many oth-
ers from different authors with different lines of thought. I hope
that this fusion of ideas will result in theoretical applications and
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viii A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ENGLISH VERSION
technical modifications which will be beneficial for the cure or
psychic alleviation of our patients.
I would like to express my gratitude to the team of translators who
worked on this book, and especially to Lesley Speakman and David
Alcorn for their helpful comments and revision of the translation.
Buenos Aires
May 2008
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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
This book attempts to explore certain asymptomatic areas of the
mind and to integrate them within the overall domain of psycho-
pathological dynamics. It is in these areas that desire, de-alienation
and inner freedom play a predominant role. Far from being trivial,
the integrative work done on these issues has repercussions on
other psychic functions through associative channels. Facilitating
pathways are created that open up new avenues; the Oedipal trag-
edy and the other tragedies that are part of life are made easier to
negotiate. In the midst of the clamour of neurosis, working on health
collaborates in the treatment.
The comedy of life rises to the surface; ‘comedy’ in this sense
refers to representations of different scenarios that present drama,
license, naughtiness, and amusement. The multiplicity of these sce-
narios gives rise to the notion of relativity and minimizes pathogenic
events.
Normalcy as a clinical-cum-theoretical concept inevitably features
in this book. The positivity of the connection makes itself felt through
transference and counter-transference communication.
Without falling into unwarranted enthusiasm or naive opti-
mism, this book examines how positivity operates, and goes on to
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