Editorial

No. 1/2021 of the Romanian Journal of Psychoanalysis proposes the topic of fraternal relations as the main topic of debate, with all the implications and vicissitudes that appear within such relationships, both at the intrapsychic level and at the inter-relational level. Along with the works that focus on fraternal relations, within the Journal you will find other extremely interesting topics that we hope will capture your attention. We present to you a few ideas about the articles you will be discovering:

In her work, ‘Contribution to the Study of the Dynamics of the Self’, Cleopatre Popesco presents an analysis of the opposing forces that govern the Self, ‘the reality-ego’ and ‘the narcissistic-ego’. The reality-ego ties the Self to its objects and represents ‘the life drive’, while the narcissistic-ego does not rely on objects at all, but on itself - it is independent and self-sufficient. Hence all the narcissistic defenses of omnipotence. Within the analytical process, in optimal conditions, the processes of separation, loss and mourning are mobilized. At the same time, the resistance of narcissistic defenses is activated. By presenting a clinical vignette, the author describes and emphasizes the vital importance of the necessary connection between these two categories of opposing forces of the Self, as the balance between ensures the mental health and vitality of the individual.

The work of Susann Heenen-Wolff, ‘Brotherhood and Destructivity in Siblings Relationships’, reveals to us the complex nature of fraternal relationships at the instinctual level and how they are transformed and perceived as ‘brotherhood’ at the social level, brotherhood in a group/community. At the instinctual level, there are a series of affects between brothers and/or sisters: rivalry, jealousy, hatred, destructiveness, envy, desire, pleasure, but also feelings of camaraderie and solidarity, affects that form and shape the personality of individuals. The author shows us how these affects