Some Jungian and Freudian Perspectives on the Oedipus Myth and Beyond

The author traces some of the differences and similarities between those psychoanalysts and analytical psychologists who met in London to discuss contemporary attitudes to the oedipal situation. The conference provided an opportunity to consider briefly whether the characterisation of Jung as an apostate was correct or whether this was a consequence of the political need, following the separation of Jung and Freud, to protect psychoanalysis from professional criticism until it had become sufficiently well-established to be able to tolerate dissenting opinion. The author considers the misjudgements of history, why psychoanalysts do not read Jung, and some of the differences between the conceptual foundations of psychoanalysis and those of analytical psychology. After setting out some of the directions in which Jungian thought has been moving, particularly in respect of the work of Fordham, Klein and Bion, the author compares current clinical approaches as exemplified by established practitioners and includes parts of the discussion between members of the two associations. A brief indication of what the papers contained is also included.