Dynamic psychology is an extremely articulated branch of psychology and is based on psychoanalysis. However, even in the field of psychoanalysis, there are various trends of thought which differ from one another, therefore putting the coherence and unity of this discipline in doubt. These trends of thought have increased considerably, each having its own trademark (post-Freudian, post-Kleinian, post-Kohutian etc...) and each claiming attention and visibility. Are we heading towards a mixture of languages which will simply cause confusion? This book provides an overall picture of the discipline on the basis of its origins and historical development. The authors underline the elements the various schools of thought have in common regardless of the risk of eclecticism and "wars of religion". The book is aimed at readers who wish to adopt a systematic approach even if they already have a good knowledge of the subject and elements of psychoanalysis are part of their everyday life.

Contents: Introduction. - Part One: the Freudian system. I. Freudian thought: constructions and reconstructions. - II. The Freudian model: the basic concepts. - Part Two: The trends of thought. - III The initial debate: K. Abraham, S. Ferenczi, W. Reich, O. Rank. - IV. The Ego psychologists: A. Freud, H. Hartmann, R.A. Spitz, M.S. Mahler. - V. The inside world: Melanie Klein. - VI. The independent psychoanalysts: W.R.D. Fairbairn, D.W. Winnicott, M. Balint. VII. Self psychology: Heinz Kohut - VIII. The models of psychopathology. - Part Three: Further developments. - IX. The origin of thought: Wilfred R. Bion. - X. The concept of field: the Barangers and the Italian notions. - XI. The representational world: Joseph Sandler. - XII. The borderline personality: Otto Kernberg. Part Four: Recent child research. - The affection theory: John Bowlby. - XIV Evolution as a standpoint: Stanley Greenspan. - XV. The development model in psychoanalysis: Daniel Stern. XVI. The multimotivation theory: Joseph D. Lichtenberg. Part Five: The basis of psychoanalytical thought. - XVII. The comparison between various lines of development. Glossary. - Bibliography. - Name index.

Adriana Lis is a professor of Clinical Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology of Padua University.

Silvio Stella is a professor of Dynamic Psychology at the Catholic University in Milan.

Giulio Cesare Zavattini is a professor of Dynamic Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology of "La Sapienza" University in Rome.