Jungian Books

Books by, about, and for Jungians

Susan E. Schwartz (Author)

ISBN-10:
ISBN-13: 9781032974972
Routledge,
216 pages
Pbk
£29.99

cite: Schwartz, SE. (2026). Absent Fathers, Yearning Sons: A Jungian Analysis of the Father-Son Dynamic. Routledge.

Description

Building on the success of her first book that explored the father/daughter relationship, Susan Schwartz turns her attention to the father/son dynamic in this compelling new work. Drawing on the fields of psychoanalysis, Schwartz applies the concepts of absence to the Jungian concept of the search for the self.

This fascinating book examines the profound psychological and cultural consequences of father absence, a topic often overlooked in Jungian explorations of the psyche, clinical studies and case examples. Through vivid vignettes, Schwartz delves into the generational trauma and neglected complexities of the father/son relationship. She highlights how the absence of a father figure shapes individual and collective experiences, offering insights into the psychological impact and the broader cultural implications. Her exploration sheds light on the unspoken grief and unresolved tensions that ripple through families and society, providing a fresh perspective on Jungian concepts regarding this critical yet underexplored subject.

This is an essential resource for analytical and depth psychologists, therapists, academics, and students with Jungian and post-Jungian interests. It also serves as a valuable guide for anyone seeking to understand and heal the intricate dynamics between fathers and sons.

 

Table of Contents

1. Where have the fathers been?
2. Father’s Shadow
3. Body disturbed
4. Dedalus and Icarus: Father envy
5. Projections, losses and gains
6. The melancholia of nigredo
7. Father dreams
8. The culture of father
9. Father transference in analytical and therapeutic treatment
10. The complex relationship between the archetypes of senex and puer
11. Kafka and father alienation
12. Transgenerational betrayal
13. The Three Languages fairy tale
14. Negation and the negative: André Green
15. Integrating the range: Feminine/anima/masculine/animus
16. The ability to hope and imagine

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