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The history of psychoanalysis can be read in the evolution of ideas of the locus of mental disorder. Freud identified ‘complexes’ and characterized them metaphorically from Greek drama, especially the Oedipus Complex. Jung, also turning to mythology, conceived of personas and
shadows, aspects of identity, conscious and unconscious. In a more descriptive move Adler named the “inferiority complex.” Sullivan (1956) offered “dynamism” as a conception of functions gathered around an emotion and serving adaptive purposes but subject to distortion and thus maladaptation. In my long career in psychiatry and psychoanalysis I have seen many changes in the characterization of maladaptive elements to which therapeutic efforts can be directed. Beginning in the Sixties we focused on internalization of objects and pondered introjection-projection formulations of persons and relationships. Soon we were beginning to move into the field of British Object Relations Theory. Only later Sylvan Tomkins was developing a massive system on affect, imagery and consciousness (1962-1999). His theory of affects, scenes and scripts is more developed than the structure presented in the book reviewed here.
Schema Therapy aims to be a treatment manual, “the bible,” for the practice of “schema therapy.” It comprises an introduction to the system, the history of its development, a comprehensive explanation, and a description of the therapeutic technique. By schema, the authors mean: “…self-defeating emotional and cognitive patterns that begin early in development and repeat throughout life.” They have been working for over two decades building a complete system of treatment resources which now includes the Schema Therapy Institute, of which psychologist Young is the founder and director; publication of a diagnostic and treatment instrument, the Young Schema Questionnaire, in eight languages, and a self-help book for the general public, Reinventing Your Life . There is a well-designed website, and a p