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This is the sixth book in five years from this prolific American author. Gerald Alper was a novelist and short story writer who trained as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Blind Alleys is presented as the continuation of his first book as a psychotherapist: The Singles Scene - A Psychoanalytical Study of the Breakdown of Intimacy . In The Singles Scene Alper came to the conclusion that there has been a systematic and unconscious erosion of what is generally meant by intimacy. The blind alleys referred to in the title are, according to the author; ‘relational deadends, standoffs and tradeoffs’ (pp. iv). Throughout the book Alper refers to ‘intimacy -hunger’ and ‘intimacy panic’ as the two factors which encourage blind alleys. It is the individual resolution of the tension between these two urges of need and fear which determines whether someone finds themself in a ‘blind alley’ which preserves the status quo or, alternatively, is able to find a more creative solution. Alper stresses that he does not simply see blind alleys as dysfunctional defences but that he regards them as serving the protective and dynamic function of foreclosing the prospects of the terrors of intimacy. Alper refers throughout the book to the theories of Freud, Bollas and Winnicott. He sees himself as a psychoanalytical psychotherapist in the objectrelations tradition. However he also incorporates a wider social view of the difficulties of achieving intimacy and how these difficulties are played out within the arena of society.
It is not entirely clear towards whom the book is primarily targeted. On the face of it the book is addressed to a general reader. It is full of popular colloquialisms and the language is lively and informal. On the other hand it also addresses complex theoretical concepts which perhaps are better understood by the professional reader. Moreover, the author's unwieldy sentences may present a challenge to any reader.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part is pr