Report on the Tenth International Congress of the I.A.A.P. (2-9 September 1986)

All Our international congresses have their own special ambience, and the tenth in Berlin was no exception. Berlin itself contributed so much towards our thinking about the theme of this congress and to our comfort and enjoyment. Its geography, an island in a continent, its history of power and humiliation, invigoration and despair, unity and division, were frequently referred to and often in our minds as background and illumination for our discussions. For many of us, whether infrequent visitors, returning after ‘long ago’ previous visits, or the duress of war, or returning to a homeland long since foregone, to come to Berlin is an emotional experience, heightened by an excursion beyond the Wall.

The programme of scientific papers was one of great variety within the central theme. Personal, symbolic and historical elements were distinguished and woven together. Some speakers confined themselves to clinical expositions, others engaged in pursuing the demonstration of collective shadow projections. Subjects ranged from the function of shame in the individual and in the family to the containment of the shadow in a unified world. Other speakers were concerned with morality, religious and symbolic aspects of shadow projections in the community, family and therapeutic groups. The consequences of the many historical events and of the collective shadow on the development of the personal shadow was an especially fitting subject. Each main paper was responded to by a specially selected discussant and there was time in the afternoon for a general debate. Also in the afternoons we could choose to join small groups for further unstructured discussion about the speaker's argument. This gave an opportunity for any of us to consider, challenge, develop or affirm the speaker's stance. The organising committee are to be congratulated on this flexible arrangement within a firm structure.

Although the business which has to be undertaken at the delegates' meeting is a separate issue, it