From the Editors

In this, our final issue of 2014—the year of the 50th anniversary of Contemporary Psychoanalysis—we are most excited to present this special issue, honoring the memory of Harry Stack Sullivan, a pioneer as well as an iconic figure in the history and development of interpersonal psychoanalysis. Along with Erich Fromm, Clara Thompson, Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, David Rioch, and Janet Rioch, Sullivan was a founder of the William Alanson White Institute. His so-called “one genus” hypothesis or postulate, “… everyone is much more simply human than otherwise” (Sullivan, 1953, p. 32) is the theme of this issue and includes articles by an impressive group of authors, all of whom presented papers at the 2012 White Society Colloquium Series, spearheaded by Karen Marisak. In her introduction, Dr. Marisak introduces these authors: Philip M. Bromberg, Sandra Buechler, Marilyn Charles, Diane Ehrensaft, Mary Gail Frawley-O’Dea, Richard B. Gartner, John Kerr, and Spyros D. Orfanos.

One of Sullivan's (1953) major contributions was the concept of malevolent transformation. This construct refers to the reaction of a child whose need for tenderness is rebuffed and who, expecting this reaction from everyone, responds with hostility to others throughout life. In keeping with the focus on Sullivan in this issue, our “unsung gem”† is “Malevolent Transformation: Some Clinical and Developmental Notes” and reflects on Sullivan's idea. Ruth R. Imber introduces this “gem,” written in 1978 by the brilliant David E. Schecter.

Also, we want to tell you about our recent celebratory event. In October, we held a roundtable discussion highlighting the past 50 years of Contemporary Psychoanalysis and the concomitant growth of psychoanalysis. Our speakers were editors emeriti Jay Greenberg, Donnel Stern, Philip Bromberg, and Mark Blechner; and Darlene Ehrenberg, Jay Kwawer, and Edgar Levenson. We hope to present the proceedings of this roundtable in an upcoming issue.