A Critical Dictionary of Psychoanalysis (Penguin Reference Books)

Excellent content and breakdown of complex psychoanalytic terminology. It helped me a lot with my therapeutic training.

Love it, loathe it, agree with it, disagree with it, psychoanalysis has made a major contribution to our culture and to the treatment of mental and psychic disorders. Charles Rycroft was a major contributor to this. Perhaps not of the order of say Freud, Melanie Klein, or even Winnicott but still very important.Though Rycroft describes himself as being a Freudian, this dictionary originally complied from his own notes, offers clear definitions of terms from Freud, Klein, Adler, Winnicott, Jung plus many more variants on psychoanalysis as well as psychiatric and behaviourist terms. In this he is largely non-partisan, though he may be critical. As he explains in his introduction this is a "critical dictionary, not a dictionary of criticisms." This means he defines what a psychoanalytic terms mean but he will also point out criticisms and limitations of this view point, though in the end he leaves readers to decide for themselves.As Rycoft points out in the introduction this dictionary has been influential. There has since been a  A Critical Dictionary of Jungian Analysis  which as he states is "partially influenced by this volume." This volume is worth looking at in its own right. It is a model for other dictionaries to follow. But it is a tribute to Rycroft that this is a wonderful reference point for navigation round psycho-dynamic schools of psychotherapy. Its definitions are beautifully lucid, written with great verve.My one sadness (I won't say criticism) is that this volume does not include some of the terms of the Humanistic and Transpersonal schools of psychology such as Gestalt, Rogerian Client Centred Therapy and Archetypal Psychology, though I suspect this is more down to history than bias. Maybe this book could become like Roget's Thesaurus, a presiding spirit for future dictionaries of psychotherapy. That would be a wonderful tribute to the author of this dictionary as well as his own very real achievements.But let's praise this volume for what it does do: it's a wonderful volume, essential for students of all forms of psychotherapy.

It's a good reference book although the print is rather small

I purchased this little book recently. Came across it accidentally on the Amazon Book site when looking for another book. I find it brilliant. As someone who is just startinga course in Psychotherapy I find it invaluable. I use it all the time when reading the books on the course to look up the terms I dont understand. I cant find words to recommend it highly enough.One of my best buys.

I loved this book during my studies! I leant to someone and never got back. Going to buy again!

Brilliant reference if you want a better understanding of mental health conditions and the system. However in some areas of the book it refers to as "him" which I find a bit sexist. But that's the only bad point.

good

Arrived in good time and in good condition.

Taking classes...required and suggested reading...bought lots of books lately.

There's a reason why this book is out of print.It is missing huge key concepts and even defines words completely wrong.I was impressed with Penguin's Dictionary of Critical Theory so I thought I'd take the chance on this one.Save your time and money for a LaPlanche Dictionary of Psychoanalysis.