The Death and Rebirth of Psychology

by Ira Progoff

An integrative evaluation of Freud, Adler, Jung & Rank & the impact of their insights on modern humanity.

Genres: Psychology, History

275 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

The former director of Dialogue House, Dr. Ira Progoff has worked toward a dynamic, humanistic psychology as private therapist, lecturer, and group leader. He has served as Bollingen Fellow and as Director of the Institute for Research in Depth Psychology at Drew University. He was a leading authority on C.G. Jung, depth psychology and transpersonal psychology as well as journal writing.

Dr. Progoff completed his doctoral dissertation on the psychology of C.G. Jung from the New School for Social Research in New York City. His thesis was published in 1953 as Jung's Psychology and Its Social Meaning. He is best known for his development of the Intensive Journal® Program and the Process Meditation method.

Reviews

[Bohdan Pechenyak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great synthesis of the theories developed by the four founding thinkers of depth psychology - Freud, Adler, Jung, Rank. The differences and parallels are pointed out, and the overall direction of development is interpreted first as the death of psychology, as Jung and Rank moved beyond it to study collective and historical dimensions of the human psyche, and then as the rebirth of a new psychology, as a parallel to new (quantum) physics, expanding into the realm of the spiritual and even, to some extent, the mystical. Written in 1950s, this work is unique in its clarity, precision, and comprehensive overview of all the main themes of depth psychology in its classical version.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading the final chapters covering Rank.
Page 146 "Under the influence of psychology, the artist increasingly fits the description of the 'neurotic type.' No longer believing in his soul, nor in the validity of the experience of his soul, the artistic mission that could have been the meaning of his life becomes pointless."

"Self-conscious and self-analytical , art becomes, like psychology, a way of rationalizing life and, ultimately, a means of avoiding it."

Otto Rank says "I have realized more and more, that because of the inherent nature of the human being, man has always lived beyond psychology, that is, irrationally." Progoff quoted this from Rank's book, "Beyond Psychology" page 13.