Divided in three parts - "Hysteria," "The ego and superego," and "Narcissism" - this new edition of Ronald Britton's personal reappraisal of psychoanalytic theories adds content on brain, mind and self, the death instinct and a discussion on the biological, psychological and sociological basis of gender.

Ronald Britton trained in neurology, child and adult psychiatry, and psychoanalysis before becoming Chair of the Children's Department at the Tavistock Clinic and President of the British Psychoanalytical Society. He received the "IPA Outstanding Scientific Award 2013" and the 2013 Sigourney Award for "Outstanding Achievements in Psychoanalysis". His particular interests outside psychoanalysis have been literature, philosophy and physics.

Introduction PS(n+1); Part 1: Hysteria; 1. Hysteria I: Anna O: getting in on the act; 2. Hysteria II: Sabina Spielrein, sex, death and psychoanalysis; Afterthoughts: on the concept of the death instinct; 3. The erotic counter-transference; 4. Phallic idealisation in women; Afterthoughts: on sex and gender; Part 2: The ego and the superego; 5. The concept of the ego; 6. Emancipation of the superego; 7. An "internal saboteur" masquerading as a superego; 8. Humour and the superego; Part 3: Narcissism; 9. Libidinal and destructive narcissism; 10. Narcissistic problems in sharing space; 11. PS(n+1): Brain, mind and self