Editor's Introduction

In this section, we are printing a spirited and scholarly discussion of Marianne Spitzform's article, “The Ecological Self: Metaphor or Developmental Experience?” by Salmon Akhtar. Dr. Spitzform's article has encouraged considerable interest and she seems to have opened up a new aspect of self/ego functioning that has been relatively ignored in the literature. We strongly encourage readers to respond to the articles, as has Dr. Akhtar, when interest is aroused. It surprised us, for example, that Dr. Munder Ross's article on the complex dynamics of development of the American psychoanalytic movement (JAPS, Vol. 1, No. 1) has not encouraged more commentary. Perhaps we have not made it sufficiently clear that letters to the editors on any article are strongly encouraged and these letters need not be as detailed as Dr. Akhtar's commentary, but may be brief observations, questions, criticisms.

In addition, we are publishing a summary of two discussion groups chaired by Dr. Lloyd Mayer. These discussions groups have particular interest because they address areas that have encouraged considerable controversy, both in psychoanalytic and in positivist scientific circles. Freud had an interest in “thought transference,” but these “paranormal” phenomena have not received the commentary and scholarly study that is needed. This discussion group has allowed an open forum for clinicians to review their ideas without prejudice.

We encourage anybody participating in discussion groups, study groups of any sort, where a desire to network with others is present, to let us know, and we'll be happy to publish brief or detailed commentary that will enable networking. This includes networking for research concepts, for example, if you are looking for cases of a particular type or looking to contact workers who have a similar research focus to your own. We are also very open to publishing reports of interdisciplinary case conferences, or Grand Rounds where the patient's problems are reviewed