Jealousy and Envy

📘 About This Book

Jealousy and envy permeate the practice of psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic work. New experience and new relevance of old but neglected ideas about these two feeling states and their origins warrant special attention, both as to theory and practice. Their great complexity and multilayered nature are highlighted by a number of contributions: the very early inception of the "triangular" jealousy situations; the prominence of womb envy and hatred against femininity rooted in the envy of female procreativity; the role of shame and the core of both affects; the massive effects of the embodiment of these feelings in the conscience (i.e., the envious and resentful attacks by the "inner judge" against the self); the attempt to construct a cultic system of sacrifices the would countermand womb envy by an all-male cast of killing, rebirth, redemption, and blissful nourishment; and finally, the projection of envy, jealousy, and their context of shame and self-condemnation in the form of the Evil Eye. Taken together, the contributions to the stunning and insightful volume form a broad spectrum of new insights into the dynamics of two central emotions of rivalry and their clinical and cultural relevance and application.

📖 Summary

Leon Wurmser's book Jealousy and Envy, published in 2011 across 229 pages, delves deeply into two pervasive and complex feeling states that frequently emerge within the practice of psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic work. The text addresses the critical need to revisit and revitalize old, often neglected psychoanalytic ideas concerning jealousy and envy, bringing fresh experiences and modern relevance to light. Wurmser and contributing perspectives highlight the multilayered and intricate nature of these emotions, demonstrating how profoundly they influence both psychological theory and clinical practice. One of the central themes explored in the work is the very early inception of triangular jealousy situations, suggesting that the roots of these feelings form much earlier in human psychological development than traditionally acknowledged. Furthermore, the book tackles profound topics such as womb envy and the deep-seated hatred against femininity, which are often intricately rooted in an envy of female procreativity. Another vital dimension examined is the fundamental role of shame as the core underlying both jealousy and envy, driving many of the defensive and aggressive postures associated with these affects. The text also investigates the massive and often destructive effects of these feelings when they become embodied within the human conscience, specifically noting how the inner judge can launch envious and resentful attacks against the self. Finally, the book touches upon more elaborate psychological maneuvers, such as the attempt to construct a cultic system of sacrifices designed to countermand womb envy. Through these various lenses, Wurmser provides clinicians, therapists, and serious readers with a rigorous exploration of how jealousy and envy shape internal reality, human relationships, and the therapeutic alliance, making it a valuable addition to the literature on family relationships and individual psychology.

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