Leading articles

THE VIENNA PSYCHOANALYST wants to give not only already internationally established psychoanalysts, but also still unknown psychoanalysts the opportunity to post a self-written and not yet published article on the FrontPage of our online magazine!

Our Users then can leave comments, ask questions or discuss the articles in our forum. Our aim is to provide an international platform where for the first time anyone interested in psychoanalysis can exchange ideas on certain topics.
Articles are welcome in German and/ or English.

If you are interested, please send your article to
leadingarticle@theviennapsychoanalyst.at


(For reasons of readability, the male form is used with personal names, however the female form is also always intended.)

In our interview series "in conversation with“, we will briefly present the authors of the leading articles. We want to give our users the opportunity to read the leading article from a different point of view.

This week we are very glad to welcome Dieter Sandner from Munich, Germany:


Studies of psychology, sociology and philosophy at the University of Munich. Doctoral thesis on "die konzeptionelle Erfassung der psychischen Dynamik in Selbsterfahrungs- und Therapiegruppen“. Several years of research at the Research Center for Psychopathology and Psychotherapy in the Max Planck Society (project: the joint psychoanalytic treatment of neurotic and psychotic patients), further education in psychoanalysis and group analysis at Munich and Ulm. Since 1986 psychoanalyst and group analyst in Munich. Habilitation for "Psychology with special consideration of psychoanalysis" at the Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Klagenfurt (1995). Focus of the teaching: psychoanalysis, group analysis, psychoanalytic cultural psychology and clinical social psychology. Last book releases: Die Gruppe und das Unbewusste (2013), Die Gesellschaft und das Unbewusste. Kulturpsychologische Erkenntnisse (2017).



DWP: What brought you to psychoanalysis?

Dieter Sandner: Actually, after studying psychology, I had nothing to do with psychoanalysis. I then participated in a self- awareness weekend of a psychoanalytic group and was thrilled. Even then, I was mainly interested in group-analysis. Due to some of my own difficulties, I started a single analysis and wanted to become a psychoanalyst from then on.
 

DWP: If you had the opportunity to talk with Sigmund Freud, what would be the topic?
Are there any specific questions?

Dieter Sandner: I do not think Freud would be willing to have a real conversation. However, if so, I would ask why he is so afraid of women and all things feminine.


DWP: Fabric or leather couch?

Dieter Sandner: Actually, I prefer a leather couch, but I have a fabric couch.


DWP: Bruno Bettelheim pointed out the importance of fairy tales in childhood. Will you tell us your favorite fairy tale? And do you see parallels to your own adult life?

Dieter Sandner: I do not have a favorite fairy tale, but I am very interested in mythological tales such as "The Golden Ass" by Apuleius and the story of "Cupid and Psyche".
 

DWP: I dream,….

Dieter Sandner: I dream that psychological and social conflicts are resolved by mutual agreement, not by fighting and dominance of the strongest.
 

DWP: What do you find good or particularly good in psychoanalysis and is there anything you do not like about it?

Dieter Sandner: In psychoanalysis, I find it particularly good that it strives to find the hidden unconscious background history of human behavior. I do not like the fact that different psychoanalytic schools claim the truth for themselves, and do not make much effort to cooperate with one another which would allow for more complex considerations and assessments.


DWP: What challenges did you have to face during your analytic training?

Dieter Sandner: I have experienced that a certain analytical process or interpretation was seen by a supervisor as very good, by another as deficient. Nevertheless, I have learned a lot from both of them.

 
DWP: Do you have a favorite Freud - quote?

Dieter Sandner: “Men have gained control over the forces of nature to such an extent that with their help they would have no difficulty in exterminating one another to the last man. They know this, and hence comes a large part of their current unrest, their unhappiness and their mood of anxiety. And now it is to be expected that the other of the two ‘Heavenly Powers’, eternal Eros, will make an effort to assert himself in the struggle with his equally immortal adversary.” (Freud 1930, Civilization and Its Discontents)

 
DWP:  Are there other psychoanalysts, in addition to Sigmund Freud, who you like to study?

Dieter Sandner: CG Jung, Melanie Klein, WR Bion, Ferenczi, OF Kernberg and my fatherly psychoanalytic teacher, Walter Schindler (1896 to 1986), a student of Wilhelm Stekel.


Thank you very much for this conversation, we are already looking forward to your leading article!