INDIVIDUATING THE PSYCHOANALYTIC EXPERIENCE:
BENJAMIN WOLSTEIN’S CONTRIBUTION TO THEORY &
PRACTICE
NYU Postdoctoral Program G89.4580.001
Thomas Jordan Ph.D.
Course readings and discussion will focus on Benjamin Wolstein’s views on
psychoanalytic theory and practice. Wolstein’s interest in psychological
individuation, co-participation, and direct experience evolves a
psychoanalytic approach that began with Sandor Ferenczi, Erich Fromm,
and Clara Thompson. We will review a selection of Wolstein’s seminal
contributions and develop our understanding of the ways his approach to
mutuality and psychological individuation further deepens a more intimate
practice of psychoanalysis.
Historical Influences on Benjamin Wolstein
Historical influences on Benjamin Wolstein’s approach to psychoanalytic
theory and practice.
class 1
Introduction/No Readings
Shapiro, Sue A. (2000). Publications of Benjamin Wolstein. Contemporary
Psychoanalysis, 36: 361-367. (reference article only)
class 2
Wolstein, Benjamin (1989). Ferenczi, Freud, and the Origins of
Interpersonal Relations: Review of The Clinical Diary of Sandor Ferenczi.
Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 25: 672-685.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1993). Sandor Ferenczi and American Interpersonal
Relations. In The Legacy of Sandor Ferenczi, ed. L. Aron & A. Harris.
Hillsdale, NJ: The Analytic Press.
Fromm, E. (2009) Being Centrally Related to the Patient. In The Clinical
Erich Fromm, ed. R. Funk, Rodopi, New York, 7-37.
Wolstein’s Psychoanalytic Legacy
Wolstein’s review of his own work and vision for psychoanalysis as
discussed in two personal interviews.
class 3
Guarton, Gladys (1998). Interview with Dr. Benjamin Wolstein. Adelphi
Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Newsletter, 13, 4-11.
Hirsch, Irwin (2000). Interview with Benjamin Wolstein. Contemporary
Psychoanalysis, 36: 187-232.
Meta-psychology & Structure of Psychoanalytic Inquiry
Review of Wolstein’s efforts to separate (individuate) direct experience from
meta-psychology both in theory and practice, and define a universal
structure of psychoanalytic inquiry as the essence of psychoanalytic practice
regardless of meta-psychology.
class 4
Wolstein, Benjamin (1999). A Psychology of Unconscious Experience
without Interpretative Meta-psychology. In Storms in Her Head: New
Perspectives on Breuer and Freud’s Studies on Hysteria, ed. M. Dimen &
A. Harris. New York: The Other Press.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). The Biological Model. In Human Psyche in
Psychoanalysis. Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 3-12.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). Questions About Id Therapy. In Human Psyche
in Psychoanalysis. Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 13-24.
class 5
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). The Sociological Model. In Human Psyche in
Psychoanalysis, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 25-41.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). Questions About Ego-Interpersonal Therapy. In
Human Psyche in Psychoanalysis, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 42-54.
class 6
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). Evolutionary Psychoanalytic Meta-psychology.
In Human Psyche in Psychoanalysis, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 55-68.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). Experience, Behavior and Individual Psyche. In
Human Psyche in Psychoanalysis, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 69-86.
class 7
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). Structure of Inquiry. In Human Psyche in
Psychoanalysis, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 87-101.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1982). The Psychoanalytic Theory of Unconscious
Psychic Experience. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 18: 412-437.
Wolstein’s Psychoanalytic Relationship
Wolstein’s earlier perspectives on co-participation and mutuality evolved
into a view of the psychoanalytic relationship as a shared analytic experience
that becomes uniquely individuated.
class 8
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). The Psychological Model. In Human Psyche in
Psychoanalysis, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 102-115.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). Questions About Therapy of Shared Experience.
Human Psyche in Psychoanalysis, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 116-131.
class 9
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). The Pivotal Problem of Suggestion. In Human
Psyche in Psychoanalysis, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 132-146.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1974). “I” Processes and “Me” Patterns: Two Aspects
of the Psychic Self in Transference and Counter-transference. Contemporary
Psychoanalysis, 10: 347-357.
class 10
Wolstein, Benjamin (1959). Chapter Five: Therapy & Chapter 6: Summary.
In Counter-transference. New York: Grune & Stratton, 124-171.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1975). Counter-transference: The Psychoanalyst’s
Shared Experience and Inquiry With His Patients. Journal of the American
Academy of Psychoanalysis. 3: 77-89.
class 11
Wolstein, Benjamin (1983). Transference and Resistance as Psychic
Experience. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 19: 276-294.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1990). Five Empirical Psychoanalytic Methods.
Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 26: 237-256.
Psychological Individuation in Psychoanalysis
For Wolstein the primary objective in psychoanalysis is psychological
individuation defined as the emergence of the psychic center of self
into direct experience as unique individuality.
class 12
Jordan, Thomas (1999). Introduction. In Individuation in Contemporary
Psychoanalysis: The Emergence of Individuality in Interpersonal &
Relational Theory & Practice, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 3-27.
Jordan, Thomas (2005). Personal Reflections on the Therapeutic Mastery of
Benjamin Wolstein, unpublished manuscript, 1-44.
class 13
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). The Psyche in Analysis. In Human Psyche in
Psychoanalysis, Illinois: C.C. Thomas, 147-162.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1971). Interpersonal Relations Without Individuality
Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 8: 75-80.
class 14
Wolstein, Benjamin (1974). Individuality and Identity. Contemporary
Psychoanalysis, 10: 1-14.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1975). Toward a Conception of Unique Individuality.
Contemporary Psychoanalysis. 11: 146-160.
class 15
Wolstein, Benjamin (1987). Anxiety and the Psychic Center of the
Psychoanalytic Self. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 23: 631-658.
Wolstein, Benjamin (1994). The Evolving Newness of Interpersonal
Psychoanalysis: From the Vantage Point of Immediate Experience.
Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 30: 473-499.