Annotated Bibliography

Axelrod, S. D. (2012). "Self-awareness: At the interface of executive development and psychoanalytic therapy. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 32(4), 340–357.

In “Executive Development and Psychoanalytic Therapy,” Axelrod (2012) focuses on the singular concept of self-awareness, from a psychoanalytic point of view. Self-awareness, or self-knowledge, is a traditional and established goal of the psychoanalytic therapeutic process. Through psychoanalysis, the client gains insight into his or her own psyche, thereby initiating a self-driven change that has the potential to transform lives. Related concepts include self-monitoring, which can be used outside of the therapeutic relationship, as well as in therapy. Self-monitoring requires the invocation of an executive self, an aspect of the ego. Self-reflection is presented as a process that promotes self-awareness, but which is ideally promoted, guided, and enhanced by the therapist.

Axelrod (2012) focuses on emotional awareness, which can be connected to emotional intelligence. The author takes the research a step further by applying it to leadership development. Finally, the author suggests ways therapists can incorporate self-awareness methods and techniques. Specific types of activities in therapy can be used to stimulate self-reflection, self-monitoring, and ultimately, self-awareness. This article exemplifies applied psychoanalysis, and is suitable for integration with related sources on neo-Freudianism.

Hall, C. S., & Lindzey, G. (1957). Social psychological theories: Adler, Fromm, Horney, and Sullivan. In Theories of personality (pp. 114-156). Hoboken

As the title suggests, this chapter covers the social psychological theories of Adler, Fromm, Horney, and Sullivan. Although not a true primary source, this is nevertheless a classic reference for understanding neo-Freudian theorists and their work. The gist of this chapter is to distill the core elements of these four theorists to show how they each drew from the work of Freud to present a new and updated psychoanalytic perspective. Each of these theorists capitalized on Freud’s research on the subconscious...
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Instead of focusing on psychosexual stages or sexual hang-ups, these theorists stressed other psychological issues including interpersonal relationships, attachment styles, and coping mechanisms. Jung added to the discussion a deeper investigation of dreams, focusing on the concept of the collective consciousness as a repository of cultural symbols. However, Hall & Lindzey (1957) also stress Jung’s contributions to personality theory. Not an experimental study, Hall & Lindzey’s (1957) work is meaningful in that it encapsulates the major issues that emerged in the post-Freudian era.
This source acknowledges Freud’s contributions to social psychology, which are frequently overlooked. What is interesting about the Hall & Lindzey (1957) analysis is that the authors show how Adler, Fromm, Horney, and Sullivan became interested in humanistic issues like self-realization. The concept of self-realization was only implicit in Freud’s work, which was more focused on the processes and structures of the subconscious mind.

Scaturo, D. J. (2005). Clinical dilemmas in psychotherapy: A transtheoretical approach to psychotherapy integration. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Chapter 8 in Scaturo’s (2005) Clinical Dilemmas in Psychotherapy focuses on elements of the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic process, including transference, countertransference, and resistance, collectively referred to as “Unconscious Determinants of Dilemmas.” Therefore, this chapter addresses unique elements of neo-Freudian theory, specifically as it relates to therapy and clinical decisions. The emphasis on clinical dilemmas allows for a richer understanding of clinical reasoning. As with other sections of the book, Chapter 8 is trans-theoretical, allowing for a multifaceted and nuanced approach to traditional Freudian subjects like transference and countertransference. The chapter addresses the interface between an individual and his or her environment, and discusses the general issues that arise between client and therapist when interpersonal and transpersonal dilemmas arise,…