''Self and Others'' is a psychological study by R. D. Laing, first published in 1961. It was re-issued in a second edition (1969), which (in Laing's words) was “extensively revised, without being changed in any fundamental way”. The book formed part of a series of writings by Laing in the 1960s on the relationship of madness to the self within a social context or

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, writings which created something of a cult of Laing at the time.

Structure

''Self and Others'' is divided into two parts, called respectively 'Modes of Interpersonal Experience' and 'Forms of Interpersonal Action'. In the first part, Laing sets out from a critique of the Kleinian view of

unconscious phantasy Object relations theory is a school of thought in psychoanalytic theory and psychoanalysis centered around theories of stages of ego development. Its concerns include the relation of the psyche to others in childhood and the exploration of re ...

, as set out by

Susan Sutherland Isaacs Susan Sutherland Isaacs, CBE (née Fairhurst; 24 May 1885 – 12 October 1948; also known as Susan S. Brierley or Ursula Wise) was an English educational psychologist and psychoanalyst. She published studies on the intellectual and social dev ...

, for its lack of recognition of the interpersonal dialectics inherent in human experience. He also uses Kleinian thought to emphasize the omnipresence of social phantasy systems. In the second part, Laing explored the extent to which an individual is or is not invested in their own actions, using ideas drawn from

Martin Buber Martin Buber (; , ; ; 8 February 1878 – 13 June 1965) was an Austrian-Israeli philosopher best known for his philosophy of dialogue, a form of existentialism centered on the distinction between the I and Thou, I–Thou relationship and the I� ...

and

Jean-Paul Sartre Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (, ; ; 21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary criticism, literary critic, considered a leading figure in 20th ...

. He also extended the American concept of the

double bind A double bind is a dilemma in communication in which an individual (or group) receives two or more mutually conflicting messages. In some scenarios (such as within families or romantic relationships), this can be emotionally distressing, creati ...

to cover the experience of the schizoid patient. In both sections, Laing uses material from

Dostoyevsky Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. () was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist. He is regarded as one of the greatest novelists in both Russian and world literature, and many of his works are considered highly influenti ...

to illustrate his theoretical points.R. D. Laing, ''Self and Others'' (1969) p. 61, p. 132 and p. 165

References

{{Reflist, 2}

External links

The Self and Others

* ttp://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=16853 R. D. Laing, ''Self and others'', Literary Encyclopedia Anti-psychiatry History of psychiatry

Structure

See also

References

Further reading

External links