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Otto Kernberg: A contemporary Introduction
In this book, Frank E. Yeomans, Diana Diamond, and Eve Caligor provide a systemic review of Otto Kernberg’s multiple contributions to psychoanalysis, psychiatry, psychology, and our understanding of the mind and group behavior.
The book spans the full scope of Kernberg’s career, both highlighting the diversity of topics on which his writings have shed light and emphasizing conceptual threads that link the different areas of his work. It accessibly follows the experiences that had an impact on the development of his thought and the increasingly strong impact his writing and thinking have had on psychoanalysis and related fields. The authors draw on their decades of working closely with Kernberg to offer a unique insight into his teaching and research, focusing on his work on borderline and narcissistic pathology and the fundamental conceptualization of personality disorders.
Including an overview of Kernberg’s critique and expansion of traditional psychoanalytic training, as well as his role in developing transference-focused psychotherapy, this book is an invaluable guide to students, researchers, and analysts in practice and training looking to integrate Kernberg’s ideas into their own clinical and theoretical work.
The book spans the full scope of Kernberg’s career, both highlighting the diversity of topics on which his writings have shed light and emphasizing conceptual threads that link the different areas of his work. It accessibly follows the experiences that had an impact on the development of his thought and the increasingly strong impact his writing and thinking have had on psychoanalysis and related fields. The authors draw on their decades of working closely with Kernberg to offer a unique insight into his teaching and research, focusing on his work on borderline and narcissistic pathology and the fundamental conceptualization of personality disorders.
Including an overview of Kernberg’s critique and expansion of traditional psychoanalytic training, as well as his role in developing transference-focused psychotherapy, this book is an invaluable guide to students, researchers, and analysts in practice and training looking to integrate Kernberg’s ideas into their own clinical and theoretical work.
- GenresPsychoanalysis
136 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 22, 2025
While the text veered too far in the direction of primitive idealization, it represents a simple and clear introduction to Kernberg's interesting model of the mind and therapeutic practice for those with severe personality disorders.
Perhaps the most interesting section was the last chapter, which discussed the social and political implications of his views. The authors discuss group dynamics, why times of stress lead groups to select narcissistic leaders, the relationship between narcissistic culture and pathological narcissism, and (what I found most interesting) how positive and erotic love relations may help people resist toxic group norms.
Perhaps the most interesting section was the last chapter, which discussed the social and political implications of his views. The authors discuss group dynamics, why times of stress lead groups to select narcissistic leaders, the relationship between narcissistic culture and pathological narcissism, and (what I found most interesting) how positive and erotic love relations may help people resist toxic group norms.
August 16, 2025
A clear and comprehensive guide to Otto Kernberg's contribution to psychoanalytic theory and psychiatry. The stages of personality development are explained demonstrating how Kernberg integrates the work of object relations theorists such as Klein and Fairbairn with that of ego psychologists such as Mahler and Erikson. These stages of development are then related to Kernberg's overarching organizational categories i.e. psychotic, borderline personality organization and neurosis and the personality styles-defence mechanisms that are common to these categories in relation to the difficulties/conflicts typical for them. There is also a clear description and rationale for Kernberg's development of transference focused psychotherapy especially in relation to borderline personality organization.
I read the book on the strength of Nancy McWilliams preview of it, she being one of the modern authors who used Kernberg's approach to clarify and expand the psychoanalytic theory (see McWilliams' 'Psychoanalytic Diagnosis' book for an accompanying overview of Kernberg's organization in relation to personality styles).
I read the book on the strength of Nancy McWilliams preview of it, she being one of the modern authors who used Kernberg's approach to clarify and expand the psychoanalytic theory (see McWilliams' 'Psychoanalytic Diagnosis' book for an accompanying overview of Kernberg's organization in relation to personality styles).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews