I believe that granting membership to all graduates of our institutes would strengthen our Association. Each candidate who decides to undertake psychoanalytic education makes a tremendous commitment in time, energy, and money. It is fitting, then, that those who graduate, after having made these sacrifices for their educational objective, should be entitled to membership. We are few in number, and such in-gathering would be beneficial in many ways, not the least being the elimination of this contentious issue. If this linkage were severed, both Board and Council would have more time and energy to confront the many issues that demand our attention in a rapidly changing society.
“If this linkage were severed, both Board and Council would have more time and energy to confront the many issues that demand our attention in a rapidly changing society.”
In 1960, Helen Ross and Bertram Lewin emphasized the “syncretistic dilemmas that in many ways are unique to psychoanalytic education. Our solutions to these challenges have provided answers variously over time and are still in the process of evolution in the light of our increased experience as educators. The need constantly to seek better answers is an indication that psychoanalysis is alive and vital.
Some people believe that if membership is not contingent on certification, many graduates will lose their interest in certification. Their assumption underestimates the intelligence and integrity of our candidates. They have all survived a rigorous competitive system, and those very qualities that enabled them to succeed would not allow let them to stop short of this final recognition of their competence. At the same time, they need to progress at their own pace—some sooner, others later. But the Association needs the vigor and sustained interest that all of them can contribute to our shared enterprise.
Further, it seems reasonable that with resolution of this issue the Committee on Certification might want to explore additional criteria for certification. While unquestionably the demonstrated ability to analyze is sine qua non, other evidences, such as scholarship, may be useful as well. Psychoanalysis is fortunate to have had so many distinguished and dedicated scholars. Surely scholarship makes the distinction between training and education more explicit, which is the ultimate goal of psychoanalytic education.