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Dear Sir,
Fresh from a self-psychology conference of over seven hundred participants (the limit of the grand ballroom), I turned to Roger Kennedy's article, Becoming a subject: some theoretical and clinical issues (2000), and, to my dismay, found no reference to or discussion of Heinz Kohut's contributions to this subject. Either Roger Kennedy is ignorant of the work of Kohut (which I cannot believe) or has considered it of no significance (which at least merits a mention) or has some other reason for this omission. If I were to write an article on projective identification and proceeded to omit mention of Melanie Klein, I am sure the Journal referees would take me to task. Inasmuch as I, for one, felt that Kohut's work would add an important dimension to Kennedy's essay, and I am quite sure that most of the other seven hundred attendees of the conference would agree, I cannot help but wonder if Kennedy has made some personal decision as to its value. This is not a matter of mere acknowledgement but rather one of a distinct and important addition. Kohut's book, The Analysis of the Self (1971), is the second highest selling book in psychoanalysis, and Kohut was cited once as the most quoted author in American psychiatry. Surely a scholarly journal has an obligation to be more than a collection of personal musings and/or opinions?
Very truly yours,
Arnold Goldberg
Department of Psychiatry
Rush Medical College
Chicago, IL
November 2000