Conceptions of Modern Psychiatry

by Harry Stack Sullivan

Book Overview

Conceptions of Modern Psychiatry reprints the first William Alanson White Memorial Lectures, delivered by Dr. Sullivan in 1939. Included with the lectures is Patrick Mullahy's definitive explanation of Sullivan's theory of interpersonal relations and the evolution of personality, an article that had appeared originally in Psychiatry.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393007405
• ISBN13: 9780393007404
• Release Date: October 1966
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Beyond Freud

This book is composed of the theoretical explanation and its applications. I read only the first chapter of the theory of H.S.Sullivan about the structure of the mind. The second part of its applications was too hard to understand because of its slangy conversations.The first chapter explains the mechanism of how to suffer from the psychopathic. H.S.Sullivan criticizes the hypothesis of Freud that misunderstands the most serious motivations of the human beings. The 'id' ('es' in German, also) is not influenced directly by the sexual desire, but depends on the social evaluation against it. It means that if the society is generous with this wish, it won't cause the psychiatric diseases. The reason that Freud determined 'id' as the sexual was the strict ethics of the time, which regarded it as a vice. This evaluation as immoral has made people, who has such a desire unconsciously, anxious and fearful. It is these emotions that cause the psychopathic. Since this redefinition of 'id' free from the physical, we have been able to recognize that the most important motives of the human beings are whatever brings anxiety and fear. It was the pivotal turning point where the transition from the physical to the social, that is, from the biochemistry to the sociology has begun at the psychiatry and psychoanalysis.The importance of H.S.Sullivan will be re-estimated strongly in the near future, and should be so.

Sullivan first but not necessarily best book

Conceptions of Modern Psychiatry was the only book published inSullivan's lifetime. Originally 5 lectures published in the journal, Sullivan published it privately in book form in 1940 and again in 1947, selling nearly 20,000 copies (a remarkable figure for a private publication). Sullivan puts forward the major tenants of his interpersonal theory in this book, but is often unsure of his ideas. Shortly after his death in Paris in 1949, a group of loyal friends and colleagues at the Washington School of Psychiatry formed to insure that Sullivan's thinking would not be lost. Using lecture notes and wire recordings, this group published through Norton three books of his lectures, two collections of articles, an old unpublished manuscript of Sullivan's very early works, and Conceptions. Of these books, "The Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry" and "THe Psychiatric Interview" are the most complete statements respectively of Sullivan's interpersonal theory and psychotherapy. For original sources start there. Barton Evans author "Harry Stack Sullivan:Interpersonal Theory and Psychotherapy" END

i was a pupil of Dr.Sullivan in 1966 at his lectures.

I was a residant at Gallinger City Hospital in Washington D.C. at which time Dr.Sullivan was on the Staff of St.Elizabeth Hospital and each week he lectured there. We( his students)were sure he was the worlds greatest Psychiatrist. He hardly ever wrote his books but always there was a student who took down every word. His works were a'vant garde to the extent that even he himself even feared he might be forgotten after his death.He died shortly after this while in an aeroplane his doctor had forbidden, going to Europe to lecture. His great heart did not survive the altitude. He has never been forgotten by his followers but much has been lost to Psychiatry. Since chemical cures have taken the place of psychiatry and today most Psychiatrists replace what Harry S.Sullivan did with his own brain based on based on intelligent observation. God bless you Harry Stack your work will rise again when they realize the truth about his works. place a'vant gard