The Hartmann Era

Ten papers from an October 1997 conference in New York City review the period when ego psychology dominated American psychoanalysis and its brightest luminary was Heinz Hartmann. Bergmann (psychology, New York U.) contributes the central study, which examines Hartmann's influence on as era that continues to influence the profession. Other topics include the idealization of theory and the aim of adaptation, the interplay of different ways of thinking, and illusion and disillusion in an attempt to present a more reasonable theory of the mind. The final 150 pages is a transcript of discussions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)