The Structure of Freudian Thought: By Melvin Feffer. New York: International Universities Press. 1982. Pp. 298.

Melvin Feffer, a staff member at the Institute for Cognitive Studies at Rutgers University, has written 'The Structure of Freudian Thought' in order to present his criticisms of the 'Freudian' position.

The author's first criticism is that Freudian theory seems to require the 'primitive individual first be capable of purpose and delay before he can acquire these very same attributes in the course of development'. His second criticism involves what he views as the internal inconsistency in Freudian theory, namely that primitive activity is characterized as possessing qualities of purpose and delay while at the same time being 'mechanically reactive and blind'.

Feffer, after outlining his objections to Freudian theory, turns to a review of those concepts embodied in contemporary psychoanalytic ego psychology as put forth by Heinz Hartmann, David Rapaport, and Robert White. In tracing the development of Hartmann's conflict-free version of ego development, Feffer cites the presence of 'inborn conflict-free apparatuses' designated as the structures of 'primary autonomy'. Feffer further notes that in spite of the 'radical nature' of Hartmann's ideas, little attention was paid to the delineation of the steps involved in the transition from primary to secondary autonomy. Feffer faults Hartmann as he did Freud when he points out that 'to the extent that these prior structures are viewed as being inadequate to the task of securing long-term gratification, then they are functionally equivalent to the non-delaying id', thus lacking qualities required to enable secondary autonomy to come into being. What Feffer fails to realize is that at any point along the developmental continuum, ego structures can be invested with conflict or remain conflict free, or more importantly be disconnected from conflict. Psychoanalysts know from clinical experience that ego functions which are involved in conflict can, after conflict resolution, persist for a lifetime as valuable sublimations i