American psychoanalyst (1931–2020)
Léon Wurmser (; 31 January 1931 – 15 February 2020) was a Swiss psychoanalyst, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at West Virginia University and a training and supervising analyst of the New York Freudian Society. He was formerly Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program at University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Career.
Wurmser was born in Zürich. He was the author of more than 350 scientific papers, 15 books, and several book chapters and essays. His works deal with issues of masochism and depression, focusing on problems of shame, guilt, resentment, and the "archaic superego," both in the individual and in culture, religion, and history. Wurmser has written papers and one book on Judaism: "The World of Ideas and Values of Judaism: A Psychoanalytic View" (published in German). He also dealt with the understanding and treatment of drug addicts, drawing on his experience running drug rehabilitation programs for addicts. In recent years, he has published several papers and one book on jealousy and envy, in partnership with German psychoananalyst Dr. Heidrun Jarass.
His approach to psychoanalysis was Freudian. His major works, published in English and German, include "The Mask Of Shame" (), published in 1981 and frequently reprinted; "The Hidden Dimension: Psychodynamics of Compulsive Drug Use " (1978, ) on the psychodynamics of drug addiction; "The Power of the Inner Judge" (2000, ); and "Torment Me, But Don't Abandon Me: Psychoanalysis of the Severe Neuroses in a New Key " (2007, ).
In 2004, Wurmser was awarded the "Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association"'s Journal Prize for a paper titled "Psychoanalytic Reflections on 9/11, Terrorism and Genocidal Prejudice: Roots and Sequels".
He resided in Towson, Maryland, where he maintained a private practice. He supervised colleagues in the United States and in Europe in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. He lectured in Europe and was an honorary member of a number of psychoanalytic societies in Germany and in Austria.
He died on 15 February 2020, at the age of 89.
Books.
Wurmser, Leon, Jarass, Heidrun, ed., "Nothing Good is Allowed to Stand - An Integrative View of the Negative Therapeutic Reaction" - Routledge, 2013
References.
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