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Curable and Incurable Neurotics
s/t: Problems of "Neurotic" Versus "Malignant" Psychic Masochism
471 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
20 people want to read
About the author
Edmund Bergler
62 books16 followersEdmund Bergler (1899 - 1962), an Austrian Jew, fled the Nazis in 1937-38 to live and practice in New York City. He wrote 25 psychology books along with 273 articles that were published in leading professional journals.
Bergler's contribution to psychoanalytic thought was remarkable. Delos Smith, science editor of United Press International, said Bergler was "among the most prolific Freudian theoreticians after Freud himself."
He extended and made clinically usable several of Freud's later concepts, including
superego cruelty, unconscious masochism, and the importance of the pre-oedipal oral mother-attachment.
Hitschmann spoke of his "extraordinary talent for the specialty of psychoanalysis . . . his command of the entire subject matter, his scientific acumen and literary erudition." Considered "one of the few original minds among the followers of Freud," Bergler presented his main ideas in The Basic Neurosis, in which he summarized his massive original contribution to the field.
Throughout his considerable body of written work, lucid case summaries in each book reveal clinical brilliance and a highly effective analytic technique. His own writing, as well as productive collaborations with Jekels, Eidelberg, Winterstein, and Hitschmann,
included works on theory and technique.
Bergler was Freud’s assistant director at the Vienna clinic in the 1930s, and is among the first generation of psychoanalyists after Freud. The centerpiece of Freudian psychoanalysis was initially the Oedipus complex; but Bergler notes that, over time, Freud began to realize how important the pre-Oedipal phase was in human development- particularly the earliest- oral- phase.
Unfortunately, many of Freud’s (and Bergler’s) predecessors have not followed
their lead: (p. 57)* “One sometimes has the impression that some colleagues treat everything ‘beyond Oedipus and the libido’ as unwelcome and bothersome intruders.” and (p. 62): “Prevailing analytic opinion failed to accept that substructure de facto and relegated pre-oedipality to a footnote.” Bergler certainly didn’t. On the contrary, the pre-Oedipal phase was the central feature of his work. In this essay, we will attempt to outline why he considered the pre-Oedipal to be so important.
"Bergler, Edmund (1899-1962)." International Dictionary of Psychoanalysis. . Retrieved July 23, 2018 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/psycholog...
* Almost all material included (with the exception of the Appendix) are quotes from Bergler's "Curable and Incurable Neurotics" (1961).
Bergler's contribution to psychoanalytic thought was remarkable. Delos Smith, science editor of United Press International, said Bergler was "among the most prolific Freudian theoreticians after Freud himself."
He extended and made clinically usable several of Freud's later concepts, including
superego cruelty, unconscious masochism, and the importance of the pre-oedipal oral mother-attachment.
Hitschmann spoke of his "extraordinary talent for the specialty of psychoanalysis . . . his command of the entire subject matter, his scientific acumen and literary erudition." Considered "one of the few original minds among the followers of Freud," Bergler presented his main ideas in The Basic Neurosis, in which he summarized his massive original contribution to the field.
Throughout his considerable body of written work, lucid case summaries in each book reveal clinical brilliance and a highly effective analytic technique. His own writing, as well as productive collaborations with Jekels, Eidelberg, Winterstein, and Hitschmann,
included works on theory and technique.
Bergler was Freud’s assistant director at the Vienna clinic in the 1930s, and is among the first generation of psychoanalyists after Freud. The centerpiece of Freudian psychoanalysis was initially the Oedipus complex; but Bergler notes that, over time, Freud began to realize how important the pre-Oedipal phase was in human development- particularly the earliest- oral- phase.
Unfortunately, many of Freud’s (and Bergler’s) predecessors have not followed
their lead: (p. 57)* “One sometimes has the impression that some colleagues treat everything ‘beyond Oedipus and the libido’ as unwelcome and bothersome intruders.” and (p. 62): “Prevailing analytic opinion failed to accept that substructure de facto and relegated pre-oedipality to a footnote.” Bergler certainly didn’t. On the contrary, the pre-Oedipal phase was the central feature of his work. In this essay, we will attempt to outline why he considered the pre-Oedipal to be so important.
"Bergler, Edmund (1899-1962)." International Dictionary of Psychoanalysis. . Retrieved July 23, 2018 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/psycholog...
* Almost all material included (with the exception of the Appendix) are quotes from Bergler's "Curable and Incurable Neurotics" (1961).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 6, 2023
A word of caution to those psychiatrists, psychologists and psychoanalysts who would casually pick up any of Edmund Bergler's books. There are basic problems with Edmund Bergler's analysis of the unconscious with regard to the enjoyment of pain as a defense mechanism in the dynamic between the Ego (mediator) Id (infant wants) and Superego (judge) all in the unconscious. The unconscious is a Freudian concept which could never be proven and which, indeed, led to Freud's disastrous and ill advised patient techniques, especially with regard to women. Carl Jung's discussions of the unconscious as he separated from Freud are much more efficacious.
Bergler's "discovery" is unproven. Instead, one must work to prove via interpretations (prayerful brainwashing-slogans) that there is the dynamic of pleasure in pain being effected by the Ego's defense mechanism to ward off the Superego's judgment and condemnation. Bergler presumes that the mechanism is paramount. He does not take into consideration the past of the individual being psychoanalyzed. An individual is the sum total of his past when he arrives at the door of Berglarian therapy. Tragically, the therapy by-passes the individual's history and plugs in present behaviors to the psychic masochism paradigm and only the past behaviors which FIT the paradigm. Not only is an expurgation of the individual's past rendered moot, its application to the present and future is also rendered moot. Too much concentration is given to the plug in manipulation. Thus, once again, the empirical method is to come up with a theory, then prove it by any means necessary. The opposite should be the case...disprove it until all lines of inquiry lead to that theory as highly likely.
Sadly, Bergler's research was ethnographic and didn't have a large sample size like researcher Alfred Kinsey did in his research which debunks Bergler's. If you read Bergler, first read Kinsey and then see if you can identify the fallacies in Bergler's psychic masochism paradigm.
Based on one idea, Berglarian treatment and therapy is not only dangerous, but its practitioners have made terrible errors with patients and in one instance recently, have even abused them. Check out the articles on the Toronto psychiatrist who sexually abused his patients and had his license removed. Regarding sexuality, Bergler practiced conversion therapy for homosexuals. This is now outlawed in Canada. Conversion therapy presumes that homosexuality is a mental illness and the homosexual is unhappy being a homosexual. Instead of attempting to free an individual from condemnation and judgment, the treatment does the reverse and again, plugs in the background of the individual to the psychic masochism paradigm without confronting all of the issues of the individual's unique situation as a homosexual with empathy and understanding. In fact patients will not find empathy and understanding in Bergler's mien of writing. That alone is a clue of the arrogance of this psychoanalyst. Importantly, when dealing with psychological therapy, the mind and consciousness cannot be pigeonholed. That is a fast and dirty way toward error. And error, as Shakespeare implied with his characters, i.e. Cassius in Julius Caesar, births every kind of foul behavior that eventually ends up destroying the individual.
In closing, the individuals the Berglarian Toronto psychiatrist (he was de-licensed) sexually abused went to other therapists. These patients were so brainwashed that they didn't think the Toronto psychiatrist really did anything wrong, though they were suicidal, depressed and angry at him. It was their therapists, who were so appalled at his behavior, that they brought him up on complaints and charges. The patients did testify, reluctantly, because they suffered PTSD from the abuse and the brainwashing for years. On the one hand they wanted to believe that the Toronto psychiatrist was trying to help them by using sex. On the other hand, the psychiatrist never discussed his physical actions with them. If he had, certainly, he would have incriminated himself. Instead, he did what he did and then acted like it never happened. A classic case of sexual abuse. And to this day, the Toronto psychiatrist denies anything sexual happened between him and his patients.
Edmund Bergler's theories was the heart of this psychiatrist's therapy. Allegedly, he psychoanalyzed himself after his mentor psychiatrist was out of the picture. Clearly, the psychiatrist was in error, first by embracing Bergler's faulty treatment, secondly by leading his patients into error. Finally, the error grew so great that he abused two patients on record. Most probably, there are more he abused sexually and certainly, he psychically abused all the patients under his care, for which he never was held accountable. If they left, they "saw the light" and went on to seek other therapists or sought other means of consolation. The only way he was held accountable was through the two patients going to other therapists and revealing how depressed and suicidal they were with their former psychiatrist. He is de-licensed. But after 5 years he may seek to practice again. This would be disastrous. And as of yet, no one in the profession in Canada wishes to deal with his behavior as criminal. They want to bury it under the proverbial rug of if it goes away it never will return. Meanwhile, the trauma continues for the two patients he sexually abused, and perhaps others I predatorized.
Thus, dear reader, before you jump in, read about the Toronto psychiatrist and check out the testimony which is also online. Then, if you are a proponent that homosexuality is a disease that should be converted, by all means jump in. Edmund Bergler is a fine plug in justification to such beliefs. But know that conversion therapy is banned in Canada, New Zealand and France and other countries are working on legislation to make it illegal and criminal. I say this with sardonic irony...You are always welcome to Red States in the U.S. which would embrace and do embrace conversion therapy. They also embrace violence, gun proliferation, inhumanity, racism, genderism and misogyny.
The Toronto de-licensed failed doctor reminds me of Donald Trump who dupes and connives to exploit individuals for his purpose then calls it something else. The failed psychiatrist in his abuse which he made the patients keep secret for the purpose of the therapy, could only be viewed as terribly damaging, unethical and fraudulent. And yet, no criminal charges have been brought against the failed psychiatrist. However, at least there are excellent therapists in Canada who saw their patients suffering, had empathy for them and then brought up the former doctor on charges.
But Edmund Bergler was the instrument and weapon of abuse; Berglarian treatment advocates for conversion therapy of homosexuals; it is in error for that and for the very basis of the therapy of psychic masochism-Bergler's boondoggle to compete with Freud another who was in err and who did harm to women. Jung and Wilhelm Reich were actually on a better path. Indeed Freud had massive issues himself that he never dealt with.
Consciousness, indeed, is unfathomable and perhaps it would have been more efficacious if LSD and guided exploration research into consciousness would have been given to alleviate patient stress and depression. There is a growing resurgence of its use and other plant based magicals which have been used for millennia. See the film 'How to Change Your Mind' on Netflix for reference.
Bergler's "discovery" is unproven. Instead, one must work to prove via interpretations (prayerful brainwashing-slogans) that there is the dynamic of pleasure in pain being effected by the Ego's defense mechanism to ward off the Superego's judgment and condemnation. Bergler presumes that the mechanism is paramount. He does not take into consideration the past of the individual being psychoanalyzed. An individual is the sum total of his past when he arrives at the door of Berglarian therapy. Tragically, the therapy by-passes the individual's history and plugs in present behaviors to the psychic masochism paradigm and only the past behaviors which FIT the paradigm. Not only is an expurgation of the individual's past rendered moot, its application to the present and future is also rendered moot. Too much concentration is given to the plug in manipulation. Thus, once again, the empirical method is to come up with a theory, then prove it by any means necessary. The opposite should be the case...disprove it until all lines of inquiry lead to that theory as highly likely.
Sadly, Bergler's research was ethnographic and didn't have a large sample size like researcher Alfred Kinsey did in his research which debunks Bergler's. If you read Bergler, first read Kinsey and then see if you can identify the fallacies in Bergler's psychic masochism paradigm.
Based on one idea, Berglarian treatment and therapy is not only dangerous, but its practitioners have made terrible errors with patients and in one instance recently, have even abused them. Check out the articles on the Toronto psychiatrist who sexually abused his patients and had his license removed. Regarding sexuality, Bergler practiced conversion therapy for homosexuals. This is now outlawed in Canada. Conversion therapy presumes that homosexuality is a mental illness and the homosexual is unhappy being a homosexual. Instead of attempting to free an individual from condemnation and judgment, the treatment does the reverse and again, plugs in the background of the individual to the psychic masochism paradigm without confronting all of the issues of the individual's unique situation as a homosexual with empathy and understanding. In fact patients will not find empathy and understanding in Bergler's mien of writing. That alone is a clue of the arrogance of this psychoanalyst. Importantly, when dealing with psychological therapy, the mind and consciousness cannot be pigeonholed. That is a fast and dirty way toward error. And error, as Shakespeare implied with his characters, i.e. Cassius in Julius Caesar, births every kind of foul behavior that eventually ends up destroying the individual.
In closing, the individuals the Berglarian Toronto psychiatrist (he was de-licensed) sexually abused went to other therapists. These patients were so brainwashed that they didn't think the Toronto psychiatrist really did anything wrong, though they were suicidal, depressed and angry at him. It was their therapists, who were so appalled at his behavior, that they brought him up on complaints and charges. The patients did testify, reluctantly, because they suffered PTSD from the abuse and the brainwashing for years. On the one hand they wanted to believe that the Toronto psychiatrist was trying to help them by using sex. On the other hand, the psychiatrist never discussed his physical actions with them. If he had, certainly, he would have incriminated himself. Instead, he did what he did and then acted like it never happened. A classic case of sexual abuse. And to this day, the Toronto psychiatrist denies anything sexual happened between him and his patients.
Edmund Bergler's theories was the heart of this psychiatrist's therapy. Allegedly, he psychoanalyzed himself after his mentor psychiatrist was out of the picture. Clearly, the psychiatrist was in error, first by embracing Bergler's faulty treatment, secondly by leading his patients into error. Finally, the error grew so great that he abused two patients on record. Most probably, there are more he abused sexually and certainly, he psychically abused all the patients under his care, for which he never was held accountable. If they left, they "saw the light" and went on to seek other therapists or sought other means of consolation. The only way he was held accountable was through the two patients going to other therapists and revealing how depressed and suicidal they were with their former psychiatrist. He is de-licensed. But after 5 years he may seek to practice again. This would be disastrous. And as of yet, no one in the profession in Canada wishes to deal with his behavior as criminal. They want to bury it under the proverbial rug of if it goes away it never will return. Meanwhile, the trauma continues for the two patients he sexually abused, and perhaps others I predatorized.
Thus, dear reader, before you jump in, read about the Toronto psychiatrist and check out the testimony which is also online. Then, if you are a proponent that homosexuality is a disease that should be converted, by all means jump in. Edmund Bergler is a fine plug in justification to such beliefs. But know that conversion therapy is banned in Canada, New Zealand and France and other countries are working on legislation to make it illegal and criminal. I say this with sardonic irony...You are always welcome to Red States in the U.S. which would embrace and do embrace conversion therapy. They also embrace violence, gun proliferation, inhumanity, racism, genderism and misogyny.
The Toronto de-licensed failed doctor reminds me of Donald Trump who dupes and connives to exploit individuals for his purpose then calls it something else. The failed psychiatrist in his abuse which he made the patients keep secret for the purpose of the therapy, could only be viewed as terribly damaging, unethical and fraudulent. And yet, no criminal charges have been brought against the failed psychiatrist. However, at least there are excellent therapists in Canada who saw their patients suffering, had empathy for them and then brought up the former doctor on charges.
But Edmund Bergler was the instrument and weapon of abuse; Berglarian treatment advocates for conversion therapy of homosexuals; it is in error for that and for the very basis of the therapy of psychic masochism-Bergler's boondoggle to compete with Freud another who was in err and who did harm to women. Jung and Wilhelm Reich were actually on a better path. Indeed Freud had massive issues himself that he never dealt with.
Consciousness, indeed, is unfathomable and perhaps it would have been more efficacious if LSD and guided exploration research into consciousness would have been given to alleviate patient stress and depression. There is a growing resurgence of its use and other plant based magicals which have been used for millennia. See the film 'How to Change Your Mind' on Netflix for reference.
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