Introduction: Tensions Between Loyalism and Expansionism in Self Psychology

What a new system of thought in psychology needs in order to establish the relevance and accuracy of its explanatory approach is not only the concreteness and realism of the innovator and of his close co-workers and friends, but the confirmatory response of workers at a distance from the innovator, of individuals who are not exposed to frequent contact with the teacher figure, and whose views are not influenced by the feelings of loyalty and devotion toward the leader which inevitably arise under these circumstances. The situation that is most favorable in this regard is one in which, not only is there an absence of direct contact, but where we are dealing with individuals who are working in areas that had not been investigated by the primary research.

[W]e must turn to a search for something that goes beyond heroes…. We gain comfort from our heroes, but they visit a … paralysis on us, one that comes from the never-ending test of fidelity…. Self psychology has postulated addiction in its many forms as reflecting some sort of psychological deficit, and our need to hang on to the great leaders in our field signifies the same deficit.

In considering some of the controversies that exist within contemporary self psychology, I have found it useful to divide the various current contributors