The Image and Appearance of the Human Body: Studies in the Constructive Energies of the Psyche

by Paul M. Schilder

Routledge is now re-issuing this prestigious series of 204 volumes originally published between 1910 and 1965. The titles include works by key figures such asC.G. Jung, Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget, Otto Rank, James Hillman, Erich Fromm, Karen Horney and Susan Isaacs. Each volume is available on its own, as part of a themed mini-set, or as part of a specially-priced 204-volume set. A brochure listing each title in the International Library of Psychology series is available upon request.

353 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1978

Reviews

[Natasha Galkina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My professor of "Anatomy for artists" recommended me this book. Definetly not of common kind of research. I'd say.. i couldn't even expect a book like that.if you are "psychiatric-minded" person you got to enjoy all those approaches to answer main questions, in let's say, "Oliver Sacks way".

the book fullfilled with examples of different sort of deviations. the most creepy example of some psychiatric deviation was an example about a woman who used to consider others bodies as if it were hers. OMG.

somehow it DOES help to understand how we learn our body and answer to questions like:
what appearance does it have for us and what is the impact of society on it?

Btw It contains nice explanation about children made paintings.

[Oumaima Abdellatif · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books is educational for all the right reasons. I haven't read it voluntarily. It was sort of a compulsory read for the course of my academic research. Nevertheless, unlike other forced readings, it didn't feel like I was pushing myself to read through it.
Paul Schilder sets out notions of body-image and perception using simple adequate examples of the analyses of his patients. Patients suffering from psychological disturbances, like Hemiatomatognosia, depersonalization, phantom limbs, and schizophrenia etc, have been diagnosed by Paul Schilder to have perception-related issues at the core of their mental illnesses. In fact, what Schilder highlights in the book is the importance of perception -one's self-perception in relation to others'- in the building of body-images and how the latters shape the psyche. These notions are widely interpreted in the field of psychoanalysis, this book simplifies them and touches on several psychological diseases that are highly common today.
It also suggests an explication of why people turn to means of imitation of the seemingly perfect model of the other -through plastic surgeries and such- in order to build a rather "more satisfying" body-image.
This book is as important as Paul Schilder is in the field of psychoanalysis. It is perhaps Schilder's magnum opus and only through reading it, can you understand why.