Drive, Ego, Object, And Self: A Synthesis For Clinical Work

by Fred Pine

In this important new book, the noted theoretician Fred Pine provides a synthesis of the four conceptual domains of psychoanalysis: drives, ego functioning, object relations, and self experience. He argues that a focus on the clinical phenomena themselves, and not on the theoretical edifices built around them, readily illuminates the inevitable integration of the several sets of phenomena in each person's unique psychological organization. With superb clarity, Pine shows how one or another or more of these becomes central to a particular individual's psychopathology. Drawing on a wealth of detailed clinical material -- brief vignettes, process notes of sessions, and full analyses -- he vividly demonstrates how a broad multimodel perspective enhances the treatment process, and is, in fact, its natural form. He also applies these ideas to such crucial clinical issues as preoedipal pathology and ego defect, the so-called symbiotic phase, and the mutative factors in treatment. Conceptually elegant and immensely practical, this highly original work is certain to be, in the words of Arnold Cooper, "a guide for theorists and clinicians for many years to come."

Genres: Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the classic attempts at a synthesis of the vast literature and schools of thought within the psychoanalytic tradition, and Pine makes a pretty persuasive argument. While I find his dismissal of the legitimate concerns regarding integration of bodies of theoretical literature, particularly the fact of the disparate and competing philosophical assumptions that underlie the four major schools, to be a bit too perfunctory, his mechanism for integration, the idea of parallel and simultaneous operation of all four systems throughout developmental and clinical "moments," does a functional job of patching over this. Pine does an excellent job of laying out the implications of his approach, alternating between a developmental and clinical lens, and illustrates it all with illuminating clinical examples. I would definitely recommend this book for any clinician attempting to make sense of or contend with the frankly overwhelming body of Psychoanalytic literature.

[Jonathan Ridenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle of this book is completely accurate - "a synthesis for clinical work." Fred Pine appears to be the first to succinctly interweave the theories of drive, ego, object, and self into a coherent theory from a clinical, theoretical, and development approach to psychology. He uses the analogy of the blind man and the elephant to orient the reader to why there has been so much conflict within psychoanalytic circles, and even in psychology as a whole.

Pine begins this book going through the four psychologies form a theoretical perspective. He does not spend this section diving the 4 into groups or subgroups but by trying to shine light on the metaphorical elephant in the areas of psychoanalysis, clinical work, developmental process, personality structure, and motivation. I recommend the reader to pay special attention to the chapter on motivation, as I have not seen anyone lay out a theory along these lines.

Pine next spends a significant proportion of the book describing entire courses of therapy with various patients and how the 4 psychologies are necessary at different times with the same patient. I especially like how he uses interpretation and explains why some interpretations fall on “deaf ears” while others are life changing. He proposes that (besides from the interpersonal domains), interpretation needs to be in the right domain of the 4 psychologies for the patient to “hear” it.

Pine interweaves his clinical experience into applied areas of pathology, ego defect and deficiency, and the infant and symbiosis. I like his example of the difference between ego defect and ego deficiency. The former involves areas of weakness in structure while the latter is an actual deficit (which means it is missing). I also appreciate Pine’s work with the infant and how certain infants and parental figures lead to magnification of significance to “merger moments, for others orality, or toilet training, or gender confusion, or sexual curiosity, or triadic rivalries.” In other words, this period of development lays the foundation for certain areas of emphasis and areas of defect in later adulthood.

As you probably can see from the extent of this review, I was a HUGE fan of this book. Pine concludes the book with a postscript, discussing certain reactions to his theories. I found myself easily following into the group of students that he described as saying, “What’s all the fuss about?”. In essence, today’s psychologists and students have been familiarized with most of these domains of psychoanalysis. Also, we live in a postmodern society that can sit with ambivalence and not see things as either/or but complimentary. I see Pine arguing voraciously for the need for all of the 4 domains and speaking to an audience that needs proof and validity, instead of an audience that is OK with conflictual theories at times, though he argues and I believe they are just different parts of the elephant.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

You had me at 4 psychologies. I get why using all 4 lenses is important for psychotherapy and client analysis and healing....but the book could be half the length if Pine didn't spend so long trying to convince you to consider it...