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This volume is an overview of the self psychology initiated by Heinz Kohut and elaborated by his colleagues. In classical psychoanalysis self psychology would be looked on as the effort to strengthen the ego and certainly this is a valuable endeavor. Recent years have seen efforts by many psychoanalysts to study more about the shattering and fragmentation of the ego with its attendant dread and anticipation of death and disintegration.
Self psychology studies what classical psychoanalysis studies but with particular emphasis on the relationships that foster cohesion and integrity of the ego. Since Freud said a psychoanalyst is the one who investigates the transference and resistance, self psychology lays great emphasis on these forces, inspecting especially the personal and impersonal objects that affect the cohesion of the ego. There is no doubt that the disintegrating and depleted ego is a source of much distress, aberrant behavior, and suicidal attempts, and so therapeutic attention to this problem is a worthy endeavor.
The particular emphasis placed by self psychology on the transference and countertransference studied by empathy is a valuable contribution. The classification of the various forms of transference carried out by self psychology is a new taxonomy of value. It adds clarity to the study of one of the central features of psychoanalysis.
Self psychology has developed a language of its own and to read it requires the acquisition of a new vocabulary. There is certainly no harm in this, but in