Heinz Hartmann
Encyclopedia
Heinz Hartmann was a psychiatrist
and psychoanalyst. He is considered one of the founders and principal representantives of ego psychology
.
The death of Karl Abraham
prevented Hartmann from following the training analysis he had envisioned with him, and instead he undertook a first analysis with Sándor Radó. In 1927 he published Grundlagen der Psychoanalyse, which he followed with a number of studies on psychoses, neuroses, twins, etc. He also participated in the creation of a manual of medical psychology. Sigmund Freud
offered him free analysis if he stayed in Vienna just as he was offered a position at the Johns Hopkins Institute
. He chose to enter into analysis with Freud and was noted as a shining star amongst analysts of his generation – as "one of Freud's favourite pupils."
In 1937, at the Viennese Psychological Society, he presented a study on the psychology of ego, a topic on which he would later expand when writing his work translated into French under the title of La psychologie du Moi et le problème de l'adaptation (The Ego Psychology and the problem of its adaptation). It was this work that marked the development of the theoretical movement known as ego-psychology.
In 1938 he left Austria
with his family to escape the Nazis
. Passing through Paris and then Switzerland, he arrived in New York in 1941 where he quickly became one of the foremost thinkers of the New York Psychoanalytic Society
. He was joined by Ernst Kris
and Rudolph Loewenstein, with whom he wrote many articles – "the ego-psychology triumvirate of Heinz Hartmann, Ernst Kris, and Rudolph Loewenstein." In 1945 he founded an annual publication The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child with Kris and Anna Freud
.
In the 1950s he became the president of the International Psychoanalytical Association
(IPA) and after several years of his presidency, he received the honorary title of lifetime president.
In 1939, "Hartmann, in a very interesting paper, tried to show that adaptation has been studied too much from the point of view of mental conflict. He points out that there is also a 'sphere without conflict'" – something that would be repeatedly emphasized in ego-psychology. In the same year, in "Psychoanalysis and the Concept of Health", "the difficulties of exactly defining 'normality' and 'health' from a psychoanalytic point of view [were] discussed [...] in a very impressive way by Hartmann."
It has been suggested that his subsequent "development of ego-psychology as a branch of psychoanalysis, which reflected a shift of interest from the earlier instinct theory to the adaptive functions of the ego [...] facilitated some rapprochement between psychoanalysis and psychology." "'Ego-psychology' has until very recently prevailed in the USA. [...] American psychoanalysts are now showing a new interest in 'object relations.'" From the latter standpoint, while Heinz Kohut
"launched his theory in opposition to the ego psychology of Heinz Hartmann, he has built his self psychology
on Hartmann's libido
theory. [...] He is still rooted in Hartmann's drive theory."
Jacques Lacan
focused much of his ire on "'ego psychology' à la Hartmann...as a repudiation of psychoanalysis" – taking issue with its "insistence that there is within the ego, a 'conflict-free zone' which, if reinforced, will lead to improved reality-testing, increased control over the drives and, ultinately, better adaptation to social reality." Nevertheless it is clear that "ego psychology does have a claim to having a Freudian ancestry," even if not to be its sole heir.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
and psychoanalyst. He is considered one of the founders and principal representantives of ego psychology
Ego psychology
Ego psychology is a school of psychoanalysis rooted in Sigmund Freud's structural id-ego-superego model of the mind.An individual interacts with the external world as well as responds to internal forces. Many psychoanalysts use a theoretical construct called the ego to explain how that is done...
.
Life
Hartmann was born to a family known for producing writers and academics. His own father was a professor of history, and his mother was a pianist and sculptor. After completing secondary school he entered the University of Vienna where he received his medical degree in 1920. His interest was in Freudian theories.The death of Karl Abraham
Karl Abraham
-Further reading:* Freud, S. . Mourning and Melancholia. Standard Edition, 14, 305-307.* May-Tolzmann, U. . The Discovery of the Bad Mother: Abraham’s contribution to the theory of Depression...
prevented Hartmann from following the training analysis he had envisioned with him, and instead he undertook a first analysis with Sándor Radó. In 1927 he published Grundlagen der Psychoanalyse, which he followed with a number of studies on psychoses, neuroses, twins, etc. He also participated in the creation of a manual of medical psychology. Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
offered him free analysis if he stayed in Vienna just as he was offered a position at the Johns Hopkins Institute
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He chose to enter into analysis with Freud and was noted as a shining star amongst analysts of his generation – as "one of Freud's favourite pupils."
In 1937, at the Viennese Psychological Society, he presented a study on the psychology of ego, a topic on which he would later expand when writing his work translated into French under the title of La psychologie du Moi et le problème de l'adaptation (The Ego Psychology and the problem of its adaptation). It was this work that marked the development of the theoretical movement known as ego-psychology.
In 1938 he left Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
with his family to escape the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. Passing through Paris and then Switzerland, he arrived in New York in 1941 where he quickly became one of the foremost thinkers of the New York Psychoanalytic Society
New York Psychoanalytic Society
The New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute — founded in 1911 by Dr. Abraham A. Brill — is the oldest psychoanalytic organization in the United States....
. He was joined by Ernst Kris
Ernst Kris
Ernst Kris was an Austrian psychoanalyst and art historian. Kris was the son of Leopold Kris, a lawyer, and Rosa Schick.Born in Vienna, Austria in 1900, died in New York City, New York in 1957....
and Rudolph Loewenstein, with whom he wrote many articles – "the ego-psychology triumvirate of Heinz Hartmann, Ernst Kris, and Rudolph Loewenstein." In 1945 he founded an annual publication The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child with Kris and Anna Freud
Anna Freud
Anna Freud was the sixth and last child of Sigmund and Martha Freud. Born in Vienna, she followed the path of her father and contributed to the newly born field of psychoanalysis...
.
In the 1950s he became the president of the International Psychoanalytical Association
International Psychoanalytical Association
The International Psychoanalytical Association is an association including 12,000 psychoanalysts as members and works with 70 constituent organizations. It was founded in 1910 by Sigmund Freud, on an idea proposed by Sándor Ferenczi...
(IPA) and after several years of his presidency, he received the honorary title of lifetime president.
Writings and influence
1922 saw the publication of Hartmann's first article, on depersonalization, and in 1927, "Heinz Hartmann, superbly trained as a physician, psychiatrist, and psychologist, and with an informed interest in philosophy, published his first book, The Fundamentals of Psychoanalysis, which foreshadowed the theoretical contributions to ego psychology he was destined to make later."In 1939, "Hartmann, in a very interesting paper, tried to show that adaptation has been studied too much from the point of view of mental conflict. He points out that there is also a 'sphere without conflict'" – something that would be repeatedly emphasized in ego-psychology. In the same year, in "Psychoanalysis and the Concept of Health", "the difficulties of exactly defining 'normality' and 'health' from a psychoanalytic point of view [were] discussed [...] in a very impressive way by Hartmann."
It has been suggested that his subsequent "development of ego-psychology as a branch of psychoanalysis, which reflected a shift of interest from the earlier instinct theory to the adaptive functions of the ego [...] facilitated some rapprochement between psychoanalysis and psychology." "'Ego-psychology' has until very recently prevailed in the USA. [...] American psychoanalysts are now showing a new interest in 'object relations.'" From the latter standpoint, while Heinz Kohut
Heinz Kohut
Heinz Kohut was an Austrian-born American psychoanalyst best known for his development of Self psychology, an influential school of thought within psychodynamic/psychoanalytic theory which helped transform the modern practice of analytic and dynamic treatment approaches.-Early life:Kohut was born...
"launched his theory in opposition to the ego psychology of Heinz Hartmann, he has built his self psychology
Self psychology
Self Psychology is a school of psychoanalytic theory and therapy created by Heinz Kohut and developed in the United States at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. Self psychology explains psychopathology as being the result of disrupted or unmet developmental needs...
on Hartmann's libido
Libido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
theory. [...] He is still rooted in Hartmann's drive theory."
Jacques Lacan
Jacques Lacan
Jacques Marie Émile Lacan was a French psychoanalyst and psychiatrist who made prominent contributions to psychoanalysis and philosophy, and has been called "the most controversial psycho-analyst since Freud". Giving yearly seminars in Paris from 1953 to 1981, Lacan influenced France's...
focused much of his ire on "'ego psychology' à la Hartmann...as a repudiation of psychoanalysis" – taking issue with its "insistence that there is within the ego, a 'conflict-free zone' which, if reinforced, will lead to improved reality-testing, increased control over the drives and, ultinately, better adaptation to social reality." Nevertheless it is clear that "ego psychology does have a claim to having a Freudian ancestry," even if not to be its sole heir.
External links
- Scharnberg, Vienna Woods criticism of Hartmann's scientific integrity by Freud scholar Max Scharnberg.