The urge to collect is a ubiquitous phenomenon which has anthropological, sociobiological and individual psychodynamic roots, but occurs far more frequently among men than women. The author examines the reasons for this gender difference and defines systematic collecting to distinguish it from addictive, obsessive and messy collecting, and from related phenomena such as perversion. The mode of collecting and choice of object are important indicators as to the unconscious psychodynamics of a collector and offer opportunity to describe his structural level. Collecting ranges across a broad spectrum, from an ego-syntonic integrated mode, i.e. sublimation, to a neurotic defence against pre-oedipal or oedipal traumas and conflicts. Alongside this drive-theoretical approach, object and Kleinian theory are also applied to the understanding of collecting. Collecting represents a specific form of object relating and way of handling primary loss trauma, which is different from addiction, compulsion, or perversion. Under certain circumstances collecting can also result in a successful Gestalt or way of life. The paper concludes with a case study showing how collecting develops from a pre-oedipal to a more integrated oedipal mode during the course of the analysis, which is reflected in changes in the transference.
Zum psychoanalytischen Verständnis der Harry PotterEntwicklungsromanePraxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie 57 (2008)
Zum psychoanalytischen Verständnis der Harry Potter-EntwicklungsromanePeter Subkowski
SummaryOn the psychoanalytic view of Harry Potter his paper analyzes the exemplary mental development that Harry Potter undertakes ater the massive traumatic loss of his parents at the early age of 15 months and the following neglect by his relatives until he becomes a mature adult. On the basis of his internalized mothers love and by identification with his father and his paternally friend Dumbledore Harry gains increasing self-confidence and new friends in his peer group in the course of time. Ater passing numerous conflicts and experiencing friendship Harry reaches the stage of initiation into the world of the adults. On the oedipal level he finally is able to deidealize his father and Dumbledore. And at the end Harry is not seduced by absolute power and the triumph over death itself. On the contrary he is ready to sacrifice himself for his friends and thus can overcome the fragmented Voldemort. Readers can identify with Harry, can recognize their own experiences and conflicts and can deal with the proposed conflict resolution patterns on different levels. his contemporary "Bildungsroman" deals with important typical interpersonal and cultural issues for young people. his is what leads young readers to strong resonance and identification processes and explains the great success of the Harry Potter story.Prax. Kinderpsychol. Kinderpsychiat. 57/2008, 571-585
KeywordsHarry Potter -PTSD -mental development -trauma -identification processes
ZusammenfassungIn dieser Arbeit wird herausgearbeitet wie Harry Potter nach dem traumatisierenden Verlust beider Eltern und der nachfolgenden Vernachlässigung durch seine Verwandten eine exemplarische psychische Entwicklung zu einem reifen Erwachsenen nimmt. Auf der Basis seiner verinnerlichten frühen Mutterliebe erwirbt er dabei über die Identifikation mit seinem Vater und dem väterlichen Freund Dumbledore zunehmend Selbstvertrauen und
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.