Reality and Dream: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian

by George Devereux

Un récit d'aventures - celles d'un Indien Blackfoot vivant dans une réserve, donc en marge de la société américaine, en proie à l'esprit de ses ancêtres et souffrant de troubles psychiques - accompagné du compte rendu d'une analyse - transcription des enregistrements des séances d'analyse. Paru en 1951, c'est le premier livre de G. Devereux (1908-1985), l'un des fondateurs de l'ethnopsychanalyse.

Genres: Psychology

615 pages, Hardcover

First published March 18, 1969

About the author

George Devereux (born György Dobó) was an American - French ethnologist and psychoanalyst, born in a Jewish family from Banat. He was one of the pioneers of ethnopsychoanalysis and ethnopsychiatry.

Reviews

[Dries]

Capita selecta

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

An entire psychotherapy session, published in 1951, that took place between George Devereux (founding father of ethnopsychiatry) and Jimmy Picard, a Blackfoot Indian. Narrating Picard's physical illness and mental troubles that warranted his arrival at Winters VA Hospital in Topeka, Kansas, his meeting and following treatment under Devereux, with subsequent resolution of many of his psychic issues, Devereux argues for the full incorporation, in psychoanalytic practice, of a patient's cultural background, if one's goal was to return "the patient to himself."

Hence the "ethno-" part of "ethnopsychiatry." Devereux uses this cultural take of psychoanalysis to help Picard interpret the vivid dreams he's been having: relying upon said dreams' time-honored status amongst Picard's tribe to help reorient Picard and help him gain psychic footing in a world that is rapidly disappearing for Native Americans. Fascinating in parts, it IS an academic read that is most likely out dated in many aspects.