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Introduction to Psychoanalysis: Contemporary Theory and Practice is an introductory overview of contemporary psychoanalysis written from an integrative perspective. Impressively broad in their scope, Bateman and Holmes present the significant concepts pertaining to current psychoanalytic theory and practice in an informative way by clearly defining terms, explaining ideas, and summarizing relevant contributions in particular topic areas. While emphasizing current psychoanalytic thought, the authors explain how conceptualizations have evolved from Freud to the present so that the reader can better appreciate how the field has developed and changed.
Concerned about how current controversies between advocates of different psychoanalytic models divide psychoanalysis, Bateman and Holmes adopt a perspective of “qualified eclecticism” (p. 20) in which they “attempt to bring together the varying strands of psychoanalytic theory and practice, to highlight their ‘common ground’ (Wallerstein, 1992) as well as their differences” (p. viii). While trying to keep in mind where divergent positions cannot be reconciled, the authors strive to synthesize the diversity of psychoanalytic thinking to create a “common framework” (p. viii) of clinical theory that can inform practice. They compare their approach with Wallerstein's (1992) contribution not only in defining the “common ground” that can unite psychoanalysts of different theoretical persuasions, but also by grounding their integration in clinical data and relevant scientific findings.
The book is divided into a theory section and a practice section. As the authors themselves note, the theory section is intended to convey an up-to-date overview of current psychoanalytic theory of interest to experienced practitioners and beginners alike, while the practice section is more introductory.