The 1969 Fall Meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, December 11-14, drew some 1500 registrants, making it one of the largest meetings in APsaA history. Those attending the Meeting, in addition to members of the Association and its affiliated Societies, included Institute candidates, members of the psychiatric community, psychiatric residents, students in related disciplines and the wives of members and candidates.
The scientific activities began on the afternoon of Thursday, December 11, with the workshops which have become a regular and popular feature of the national meetings of the APsaA. Some 500 participants attended the twenty-four workshops, which covered a wide range of topics: clinical and theoretical aspects of psychoanalysis, a variety of applications of psychoanalysis to other fields, interdisciplinary seminars and colloquia. Friday and Saturday mornings were devoted to a number of panels: “Social Deprivation in Childhood and Character Formation,” “Acting, Acting Out and the Symptomatic Act,” “Research in Psychoanalysis: Experimental Studies,” and “Negative Therapeutic Reaction.” The afternoon sessions were reserved for the presentation of individual papers.
Continuing a trend visible in recent years, the problems of adolescence received attention in a variety of ways. A number of papers, such as those on the student revolt, on the Woodstock music festival, and
on militant students at Columbia University, dealt directly with this area. A paper discussing the movie “Bonnie and Clyde” approached it from another direction, and the Sunday Afternoon Open Meeting was given over to a panel entitled “The Scope of the Psychoanalyst as a Consultant in Colleges.”
The largest audience for any single feature of the program was attracted by an unusual presentation, consisting of the screening and discussion of a film, “Secrets of a Soul,” (Geheimnisse einer Seele) made in Germany in 1926. This film was a serious attempt to present in cinematic form the then current ideas of psychoanalysis. The film makers had had as consultants Drs. Karl Abraham and Hanns Sachs. The discussion of the film included a presentation of correspondence between Abraham and Freud on the pros and cons of becoming involved in such a film venture altogether, with Abraham very much in favor and with Freud very dubious, but willing to have Abraham go along with it. Audience reactions indicated that the viewers found the film historically fascinating, charming, quaint, and in some places highly amusing.
At a well attended plenary session on Sunday morning Dr. Samuel Ritvo, who completed his term as President of the Association in May, 1969, delivered an address entitled “Psychoanalysis as Science and Profession: Prospects and Challenges”. His address was followed by the annual business meeting of members.
The Executive Committee and other Committees started work earlier in the week. The Board on Professional Standards and the Executive Council met on Wednesday and Thursday; their proceedings are reported elsewhere in this issue.