Relational Perspectives
About the Book Series
Series Editor: Steven Kuchuck
Founding Editor:
Stephen Mitchell
Editor Emeritus:
Lewis Aron
Former Editors:
Adrienne Harris
Eyal Rozmarin
The Relational Perspectives Book Series (RPBS) publishes books that grow out of or contribute to the relational tradition in contemporary psychoanalysis. Jay Greenberg and Stephen Mitchell first coined the term relational psychoanalysis as a way of identifying a common theme among an otherwise diverse group of theories that had never before been considered connected in any way. Each of these schools—primarily; interpersonal psychoanalysis, British object relations theory, and self-psychology, emphasized a person’s embeddedness in the social context rather than the isolated individual with drives pressing for discharge as the main unit of study (Greenberg & Mitchell, 1983).
Following his work with Greenberg, Mitchell (1988) began using the term relational psychoanalysis to also refer to a newly developing perspective that arose from a melding of British Object Relations theory with Interpersonal psychoanalysis, feminist, queer, gender and other social, philosophical, political, cross-cultural and attachment theories as well as empirical infancy research and elements of contemporary Freudian and Kleinian thought. In more recent years, aspects of Field theory and Intersubjective Systems theory, as well as understanding of oppression, economics, race and other systemic issues have also become integrated into this tradition, which understands relational configurations between self and others, both real and fantasied, as the primary subject of psychoanalytic investigation. This new and expanded perspective is sometimes referred to as "big R" Relational psychoanalysis in order to distinguish it from Mitchell’s original use of the term relational as an umbrella term for already existing theories (Kuchuck, 2021).
Originally, we referred to the Relational tradition, turn, or perspective rather than to a Relational school, to highlight that we were identifying a general trend or tendency within contemporary psychoanalysis, not a more formally organized or coherent system of beliefs. And given the centrality of the concept of analyst as subject and eschewing of positivism in Relational thinking, we recognize that no two Relationalists think or practice in exactly the same way. Still, while debated, Relational psychoanalysis (as differentiated from Greenberg and Mitchell’s initial use of the term), has arrived at a moment in time when some believe we can now rightly think of it as a proper theoretical orientation.
Now under the editorial supervision of Steven Kuchuck, the Relational Perspectives Book Series originated in 1990 through the efforts of the late Stephen A. Mitchell. Mitchell was not only the first, but also the most prolific and influential of the originators of the Relational tradition. Committed to dialogue among psychoanalysts, he abhorred the authoritarianism that dictated adherence to a rigid set of beliefs or technical restrictions. He championed open discussion, comparative and integrative approaches, and promoted new voices across the generations. Mitchell was later joined by the late Lewis Aron, also a visionary and influential writer, teacher and major thinker in Relational psychoanalysis. Leading Relational scholars Adrienne Harris, Steven Kuchuck and Eyal Rozmarin eventually partnered with Aron as series editors.
Included in the Relational Perspectives Book Series are authors that come from within the relational/Relational traditions, those that extend and develop that scholarship, and works that critique these approaches or compare and contrast them with alternative points of view. The series includes our most distinguished senior psychoanalysts, along with younger contributors who bring fresh vision. Our aim is to enable a deepening of thinking about theory and technique while reaching across disciplinary and social boundaries in order to foster an inclusive and international literature.
Works Cited
Greenberg, J.R. and Mitchell, S.A. (1983). Object Relations in Psychoanalytic Theory. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Kuchuck, S. (2021). The Relational Revolution in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. London: Karnac Books.
Mitchell, S.A. (1988). Relational Concepts in Psychoanalysis: An Integration. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
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