Author Description

Ring Of Fire Brings Together A Collection Of Original Contributions To An Understanding Of Primitive Object Relations And Intensely Critical Emotional States Which Present The Maximum Challenge To The Group Psychotherapist: The Ring Of Fire. The International Contributors, Based Primarily In The Us And Uk, Address The Areas Of Their Special Interest To Which They Have Devoted Considerable Research And Therapeutic Effort. They Provide Insights Into The Dynamics Of These Issues And Guide The Therapist In The Management And Interpretation Of The Groups' Events As They Unfold. While Much Has Been Written On Primitive Group States, The Information Is Scattered Throughout Many Journals And Books And All Too Often Does Not Address The Practical Problems Faced By The Group Therapist. Furthermore, There Have Been Significant Developments In Affect Theory And Object Relations Theory Which Have Yet To Be Assimilated Sufficiently Into The Theory And Technique Of Group Psychotherapy. List Of Contributors -- Foreword -- 1. An Editorial Introduction: Silence = Death -- 2. Between Theory And Practice, Light And Heat: On The Use Of Theory In The 'ring Of Fire' -- 3. The Phases Of Group Development And The Systems-centred Group -- 4. Attacks On The Reflective Space: Containing Primitive Emotional States -- 5. Bion's Post-experiences In Groups Thinking On Groups: A Clinical Example Of -k -- 6. Borderline Phenomena In Analytic Groups -- 7. Group Thanatropics -- 8. Therapeutic Responses To The Expression Of Aggression By Members In Groups -- 9. Utilizing Co-therapy In The Group Treatment Of Borderline And Narcissistic Patients -- 10. Intensive Group And Social Systems Treatment Of Psychotic And Borderline Patients -- 11. Glacial Times In Psychotic Regression -- Author Index -- Subject Index. Edited By Victor L. Schermer And Malcolm Pines. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.