Events in the Psychoanalytic World

Dr. Martin Grotjahn, our Los Angeles correspondent, reports to us many activities taking place in that city. During February and March of 1948, the Educational Committee considered the applications of 43 individuals for training. Of these, 15 were selected to begin preparatory analyses during the current year, the number being determined by the available time in the schedules of the training analysts. The method of selection is difficult to evaluate, but there were apparently two interviews with members of the Educational Committee for each applicant, an interview consisting of one hour. All in all, a total of 86 hours was spent in the collective interview of candidates by the entire Educational Committee. The recent increase in fees for theoretical courses and seminars from $1.30 to $2.00 per hour reflects the general rise in cost of psychoanalytic training and education.

We also learned that Drs. George Frumkes, Norman A. Levy and Carel Vander Heide were appointed lecturers.

As in many other psychoanalytic institutes throughout the country, the Los Angeles group has had many guest speakers from other parts of the country. Dr. David Levy spoke on “Phases of the Hostile Act.” Dr. Franz Alexander gave a talk on “The Analysis of Therapeutic Factors” and Dr. Karl A. Menninger discussed the difficulties of being a training analyst today as contrasted to formerly.

Dr. Grotjahn, however, hastens to assure us that all was not hard work in Los Angeles. As a matter of fact, he writes that

“* * * life goes on in Los Angeles according to the unusual pattern which is usual in this city where Nature is so kind to grapefruit and oranges. One special feature was observed by the psychoanalysts of Los Angeles with delight. Like certain churches that have camp grounds and meeting places all over the country to meet and enjoy nature, so this year Los Angeles developed into an unofficial meeting ground for visiting analysts. Not quite everybody came, but those who did