This book's quite extraordinary accomplishment derives from two factors. The authors' editing and careful explication provide a coherent overview on the topics of envy and jealousy by defining these strong feelings thoroughly, and also differentiating them from other feelings like shame and admiration. In addition, this book helps clinicians to widen the perspective on the dynamics of envy and jealousy. Understanding both feelings in the context of oedipal and/or preoedipal conflicts enriches psychoanalytic theory and practice. This valuable book shows a great breadth of theoretical and clinical issues around envy and jealousy. - Manfred Cierpka, M.D., Director of the Institute for Family Therapy, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Envy and jealousy, demons that inhabit the human breast and ingredients in numerous plots in film, literature, and the theater, are frequent problems in people who seek therapy. In this timely and very readable book, editors Wurmser and Jarass and contributors offer a wealth of experience, information and wisdom which should be of interest to both the professional and general reading public. - Zvi Lothane, M.D., Author, In Defense of Schreber: Soul Murder and Psychiatry (Analytic Press, 1992)
Leon Wurmser has once more taken psychoanalysts into areas of pain and madness usually avoided. In previous work he confronted us with issues of shame, of sadomasochism, of tyrannical superego functioning, and now, with his colleague Heidrun Jarass, he challenges us to face the devastating experiences of jealousy and envy. With the participation of an impressive group of international experts, the editors help us reclaim the crucial importance of jealousy and envy in our theory and clinical work. This book is essential reading for all thoughtful students of human behavior. - Jack Novick, Ph.D., Co-author, Fearful Symmetry and Good Goodbyes
It is not easy to comment on this rich and profound work, which deepens and enriches our understanding of two central motives and affects almost ever-present in our daily analytic and psychotherapeutic work, but there are three points which, above many other in this book, exert a lasting impression on me and will surely influence my understanding of these motivations and my clinical work profoundly: the understanding of envy and jealousy not as entities and last causes not to be further explored in their origin, but as processes; the fundamental role of shame in these processes; and the fundamental role of traumatic experiences in the development of both jealousy and envy. Especially in the contributions of the editors and main authors of this monograph, the profound psychoanalytic, developmental, and historical investigations are enlarged and explained by transparently described case-material without any obscuring overload of conceptual interpretations, which are too often found in other contemporary psychoanalytic or psychodynamic accounts. A particular merit of this book is the broad inclusion of a sociocultural and gender perspective by literature (Othello), examination of sacrifice rituals, womb envy, and especially the scrutiny on the Evil Eye. It is not difficult to predict that this book will inspire many readers in their clinical work as well as more research on the many facets of the discussed phenomena.- Gunter , Ph.D., Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Goettingen, Germany
