Appalachian Psychoanalytic Society
(a local chapter of the Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology (Division 39)
of the American Psychological Association)
presents the annual
Paul Lerner Scholar's Symposium
with
John S. Auerbach, PhD
on
God Said to Abraham,
“Kill Me a Son”:
A Psychoanalytic Reflection
on the Binding of Isaac
Saturday, May 21, 2022
8:30am–12:15pm
Courtyard by Marriott in Bearden
250 Brookview Centre Way
Knoxville, Tennessee
Description of Program: Lerner Symposium
The Binding of Isaac is as foundational to Western culture as is the Oedipus myth, yet the Oedipus myth figures prominently in psychoanalytic history while the Binding of Isaac is comparatively neglected, with important negative consequences for psychoanalysis as a discipline. Specifically, the Oedipus myth, as interpreted by Freud, renders parricide a central cultural and psychological dynamic, whereas the Binding of Isaac, and other potential readings of the Oedipus myth, render filicide a more important problem. Freud’s particular reading of the Oedipus myth and his neglect of the Binding of Isaac likely reflect his ambivalence about his family background and his own Jewish origins. A reconsideration of the Binding of Isaac prompts a reorientation of psychoanalytic thinking about parent-child relationships that in turn guides clinical work.
Schedule
8:30am Registration
8:55am Introduction of John Auerbach, PhD
9:00am Lerner Symposium Presentation: Part One
10:30am Break
10:45am Lerner Symposium: Discussion
12:15pm Complete Program Evaluations and Adjourn.
Educational Objectives
After attending this intermediate-level program in full, participants will be able to:
1. Describe at least two implications of the Oedipus myth, as interpreted by Freud, and the Binding of Isaac for understanding parent-child dynamics in psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
2. Describe how Freud’s ambivalence regarding his familial and cultural background are implicated in his reliance on the Oedipus myth, rather than the Binding of Isaac, as the central explanatory narrative of psychoanalysis.
3. Describe the clinical implications of the Oedipus myth and the Binding of Isaac for the practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
Presenter
John S. Auerbach, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Assistant Coordinator of Residential Substance Use Disorder Programs in the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Florida. He is an Honorary Member of the American Psychoanalytic Association and a Fellow of the Society for Personality Assessment. He sits on the editorial boards of four journals: Controversial Discussions, Journal of Personality Assessment, Psychoanalytic Psychology, and Psychotherapy. He has also served on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. In addition, he is in private practice in Gainesville, Florida.
Participants
This program is open to all APS members. It is not limited to individuals practicing in a predominately psychoanalytic mode. The material will be appropriate for clinicians with intermediate levels of experience and knowledge.
Registration
Professional and Scholar Members:
Free. Please register online by May 18, 2022.
Early-Career Professional Members:
Free. Please register online by May 18, 2022.
Graduate Student Members:
Free. Please register online by May 18, 2022
Non-members:
Please join APS in order to participate in 2021-2022 programming.
APS Membership
Eligible professionals can join APS or renew their membership for the 2021-2022 program year for $80. Scholars and Early-Career Professionals can also join/renew for
$45. Graduate students may join or renew for $25.
American Psychological Association Approval Statement
Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Continuing Education
This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 3.0 continuing education credits. Participants who attend in full and complete a program Evaluation and Learning Assessment will receive a certificate of attendance. Partial credit for partial attendance is not available. Psychologists will have their participation registered through Division 39.
APS and Division 39 are committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. APS and Division 39 are also committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in continuing education activities. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Selected References and Recommended Reading
Bregman, M. (2019). Parables in changing contexts: Essays on the study of parables in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism (M. Poorthuis & E. Ottenheijm, Eds.). Brill.
Diamond, M. J. (2018). When fathering fails: Violence, narcissism, and the father function in ancient tales and clinical analysis. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 66(1), 7–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003065118761106
Goodman, M. (2018). A history of Judaism. Princeton University Press.
Hassett, B., & Sağlamtimur, H. (2018). Radical ‘royals’? Burial practices at Başur Höyük and the emergence of early states in Mesopotamia. Antiquity, 92(363), 640–654. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2018.63
Heylin, C. (2021). The double life of Bob Dylan: A restless, hungry feeling, 1941-1966 (1st ed.). Little, Brown and Company.
Koller, A. J. (2020). Unbinding Isaac: The significance of the Akedah for modern Jewish thought. University of Nebraska Press; Jewish Publication Society.
Contact
Please address requests, questions, concerns and any complaints to APS Past-President Bill MacGillivray, PhD, ABPP.
There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between Division 39, APS, presenter, program content, research, grants or other funding sources that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest. During the program, the validity/utility of the content and risks/limitations of the approaches discussed will be addressed.