The Eleventh Latin-American Psychoanalytic Congress took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina from July 25th to July 30th, 1976. Psychoanalysts from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Puerto Rico, the United States, Australia and of course from the host country, Argentina, represented by more than 300 analysts, gathered together in the Centro Cultural General San Martin in downtown Buenos Aires for a week of International Psychoanalytic exchange. Members of the American Psychoanalytic Association present were Drs. Edward D. Joseph, Victor Bernal, Rafael Padro and Martin Silverman. Representing the International PsychoAnalytical Association were Professors Serge Lebovici and Daniel Widlöcher from France. Professor Lebovici gave a Plenary Session address whose theme dealt with the psychoanalyst and the problem of hypermaturation.
The theme of the Congress was “Narcissism and the Unconscious.” After presentation of papers by members of the various Associations, participants were divided into discussion groups which met both mornings and afternoons. Discussion groups were also organized around each of the central themes from the panels on Children and Adolescence. One day was also dedicated to individual papers that were followed by general discussion from the floor.
The Congress was outstanding because of the competent manner in which it was organized by the Argentinian Psychoanalytic Society. Such details as having a printed book with all the papers, plus booklets containing names, addresses and the Society of those attending the Congress were very useful. There was a social program with lunches, soirees and invitations to local homes. The presence, participation and scientific enthusiasm of senior analysts, junior analysts and candidates provided a memorable occasion.
The next Pan American Congress XII will be held in Mexico City, July 1978. Dr. Darcy de Mendonca Uchôa of Sao Paulo, Brazil was elected President of the Organizing Committee of the Latin American Psychoanalytic Organizations (COPAL). Elected also were Dr. Luis Feder of Mexico as Vice President and Dr. Mauricio Abadi of Buenos Aires as Training Director. They will hold office for two years.
Victor Bernal y del Rio