Customer Reviews

The Real Self: A Developmental, Self And Object Relations Approach: Structure / Function / Development / Psychopathology / Treatment / Creativity

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
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My lengthy review for Masterson's mainstream doppleganger version of this book, The Search for the Real Self, applies equally well to this version; you really only need to read one, and which you read is entirely up to what you want to get out of it. People who complained of the academic tone of the other book should steer very much clear of this one (which shouldn't be hard, considering the price)

Parts of The Search for the Real Self are actually re-edited and reconfigured versions of long passages from this one, and much of the content in that book is in fact phrased more concisely and accessibly, so unless you're seeking this out for more academically motivated reasons, I definitely have to recommend you go for the other book.

On the other hand, this book does a much better job of conveying Masterson's actual theory and the nuance of his therapeutic approach, which is why I've given it a higher score. If his concept of a "real self" as gleaned from The Search for the Real Self leaves your postmodern noggin skeptical, give this one a harder look -- there's nuance described here lacking in the other that is really rather interesting. All the problems mentioned in my other review still hold for this one, but there's considerably less culturally-loaded hand-holding to wade through before one can deal with the actual mechanisms in question.

On more thing worth mentioning -- there's a chapter on Japan in this one that I don't believe Masterson has published anywhere else, and though it's embarrassingly ethnocentric and naive from any sort of serious anthropological perspective, you might find the scope and peculiarity of its interpretation to be quite interesting.

Masterson has published a master work for anyone helping those with weak or damaged selves, or poor ego functions, or however one might describe the underdeveloped soul. He presents a detailed review of the history and the confusion surrounding the concept of self and proceeds to define it - reaching beyond Erikson, beyond Winnicott and even the "Self Psychologists." He focuses on the effects of rupture and disruption during a particular phase of separation-individuation and uses a form of "mirroring" as a technique to move patients beyond symptom improvement towards a path of self-directed self-actualization, not that Masterson would necessarily put it that way, but these point towards the way he defines, describes, derives interventions, presents cases and outcomes, as well as how-to's and cautionary counterindications for the professional helping to develop the selves of adults. For psychotherapists and patients treading this jagged path, Masterson's master stroke - The Real Self - doesn't change the path, but provides a reliable walking stick to help with the steep climbs, the treacherous descents, and those times of unanticipated loss of balance. Even for the non-professional, if you ever had a self, want to have one, or knew someone who did, or didn't, have a self, this book will prove provocative, even if you skip those few parts that may seem too technical. Give it a try. What have you got to gain?

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