Skip to content

304 Bion – 5 seminars

Seminar Leaders: S. Chernin and C. Saruk

Course Description

These five seminars expand on the theoretical and clinical concepts of Wilfred Bion introduced in year Two. These seminars provide an outline of some of Bion’s main theoretical and clinical concepts both as extensions and modifications of Freud’s and Klein’s ideas. This course will address the group psychology developed by Bion (1959) and survey the development of Bion’s thought especially its relevance for clinical work and understanding of serious psychopathology. We will also discuss his unique terminology for internal psychological experiences and the integration of his ideas in some current analytic approaches.

Course Objectives

  1. To survey the development of Bion’s thought especially its relevance for clinical work and the understanding of serious psychopathology: i.e., (1.2) Integrate Bion’s theory of group psychology(1.2) Integrate knowledge of how human problems develop, from the viewpoint of the therapist’s theoretical orientation; (1.2) Integrate an understanding of Bion’s position on analytic listening and interpretation (1.2) Integrate a theory of change consistent with the therapists’ theoretical orientation; (1.2) Integrate knowledge of the impact of trauma on psychological functioning; and (1.3) Integrate knowledge of psychopathology.

Seminar 1

Required Readings

Lopez-Corvo, R. (2003). Introduction. In The Dictionary of The Work of W. R. Bion (pp. 1-17). London: Karnac (2014).

Bion, W.R. (1961). Review section. In Experiences in Groups and Other Papers – The Complete Works of W.R. Bion Volume 4 (pp. 205-245). London: Karnac (2014).

Seminar 2

Required Readings

Aguayo, J. (2016). Filling in Freud and Klein’s map of psychotic states of mind: Wilfred Bion’s reading of On Freud’s “Formulations regarding two principles in mental functioning” (pp. 19-35). G. Legorreta and L. J. Brown (Eds.) London: Karnac.

Lopez-Corvo, R. (2013). Introduction to Bion’s Psychoanalysis (provided).

Supplementary Reading

Bion, W.R. (1957). Differentiation of the psychotic from the non-psychotic personalities. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 38, 266-275.

Seminar 3

Required Readings

Symington, J. & Symington, N. (1996). Chapters 1-10: The Clinical Thinking of Wilfred Bion. London: Routledge.

Supplementary Readings

Bion, W.R. (1958). On Arrogance. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 39, 144-146. (PEPWEB)

Bion, W. R. (1959). Attacks on linking. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 40, 308-315. (PEPWEB)

Seminar 4

Required Readings

Lopez-Corvo, R. (2006). Chapter 10: Interpreting or translating the unconscious. In Wild Thoughts Searching for a Thinker: A Clinical Application of W.R. Bion’s Theories (pp. 137-151). London: Karnac

Lopez-Corvo, R. (2014). Chapter 11: Pre-conceptual traumas: inflicted by chance and repeated by compulsion. In Traumatized and Non-Traumatized States of the Personality. (pp. 157-173). London: Karnac.

Seminar 5

Required Readings

Bion, W.R. (1967). Notes on memory and desire. In The Complete Works of W.R. Bion Vol. 6 (pp. 205-207). London: Karnac (2014).

Aguayo, J. (2014). Bion’s notes on memory and desire – its initial clinical reception in the United States: a note on archival material. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 95, 889-910.

Symington, J. & Symington, N. (1996). Chapters 11-15. In The Clinical Thinking of Wilfred Bion. London: Routledge

Supplementary Reading

Bion, W.R. (1962). The psycho-analytic study of thinking. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 43, 306-310

Back To Top