Extension Course: Modern Conflict Theory in Practice

Course Description

Instructor

Ian Buckingham, M.D.

April 3 – 24, 2025
Thursdays, 8:30 – 10:00 pm

Pay fee – $210

Please note registration will close on April 2 at 5 pm.

6 Contact Hours. 6 CME/CE credits offered. See details below.

Course Description

It has been understood since the earliest psychoanalytic work that practice needs to be guided by theory. This course will enable an understanding of the application of Modern Conflict Theory to current psychoanalytic practice.  Conflict between elements of mental life is a bedrock feature of the functioning of the mind. Revision of Freud’s theories has led to a modernized Structural Theory which has in turn given way to Modern Conflict Theory. The course will trace the development of these theories which has also allowed recognition of the convergence of psychoanalytic thinking about human motivation with current ideas of evolutionary biology.

Dr. Ian Buckingham was formerly President of NYPSI and Director of NYPSI’s Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program. He is also on the faculty of NYPSI and NYU Medical Center.

Educational Objectives: Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

1. Describe Freud’s traditional structural theory.
2. Describe Charles Brenner’s revisions of traditional structural theory.
3. Explain how evolutionary biology helps us understand the functioning of the mind.

Continuing Education Information

Psychologists
New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY – 0073.
New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education programs for psychologists. New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
DISCLOSURE: None of the planners or presenters of this CE program has any relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Social Workers

New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0317.

Physicians
ACCME Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
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AMA Credit Designation Statement
The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this live activity for a maximum of [6] AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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Disclosure Statement
The APsA CE Committee has reviewed the materials for accredited continuing education and has determined that this activity is not related to the product line of ineligible companies and therefore, the activity meets the exception outlined in Standard 3: ACCME’s identification, mitigation and disclosure of relevant financial relationship. This activity does not have any known commercial support.

Cancellation Policy: Full refund will be granted only if registrant cancels prior to course. Please contact the Administrative Director at

Schedule of Classes & Course Readings

These articles are protected under relevant copyright regulations. They are available in the New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute Electronic Reserve for your convenience, and for your personal use.

READINGS ARE CONFIRMED.

I. Contemporary Structural Theory

CLASS 1: April 3, 2025

Freud first formulated his Structural Theory of the mind in 1926. The Theory was subject to substantial revision over the course of the next 60 years and Contemporary Structural Theory has been most comprehensively described by Brenner in “The Mind in Conflict”. In this session we shall review the status of the contemporary structural model with particular emphasis on the concepts of the drives, affects and defense.

REQUIRED READINGS

Brenner, C. (1982). The Mind in Conflict. New York: International Universities Press. [Read Chapters 2-4]

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Brenner, C. (1982). The Mind in Conflict. New York: International Universities Press. [Read Chapters 5-8]

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SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS

Brenner, C. (1982). The Mind in Conflict. New York: International Universities Press. [Read Chapters 9-11]

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Brenner, C. (1982). The Mind in Conflict. New York: International Universities Press. [Read Chapters 12-13]

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LaFarge, L. (2017). From “Either/Or” to “And”: The Analyst’s Use of Multiple Models in Clinical Work. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 65:829-844.

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Litowitz, B. E. (2014). Introduction: The Theorist and the Theory. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 62:983-985.

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II. Modern Conflict Theory I

CLASS 2: April 10, 2025

Contemporary Structural Theory has been substantially amended over the quarter-century following its formulation in 1982. This process of amendment has been described most fully by Brenner in several papers during this time. In this class we shall review some of these.

REQUIRED READINGS

Brenner, C. (1994). The Mind as Conflict and Compromise Formation. Journal of Clinical Psychoanalysis, 3:473-488.

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Brenner, C. (1998). Beyond the Ego and the Id Revisited. J. Clin. Psychoanal., 7(1):165-180.

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Brenner, C. (2002). Conflict, Compromise Formation, and Structural Theory. Psychoanal Q., 71:397-417.

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SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS

Dawkins, Richard (1989). The Selfish Gene (second ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press

III. Modern Conflict Theory II

CLASS 3: April 17, 2025

In this class we shall continue reviewing the revision of Contemporary Structural Theory and examine the psychoanalytic understanding of human motivation and its convergence with some of the ideas of Evolutionary Biology to attain a description of Modern Conflict Theory.

REQUIRED READINGS

Brenner, C. (2008). Aspects of Psychoanalytic Theory: Drives, Defense, and the Pleasure-Unpleasure Principle. Psychoanal Q., 77:707-717.

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Peskin, M.M. (1997). Drive Theory Revisited. Psychoanal Q., 66:377-402.

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Peskin, M. M. (2001). Back to Basics: The Psychoanalytic Conceptualization of Motivation. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 21:658-674.

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SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS

Christian, C. (2015). Intersubjectivity and Modern Conflict Theory. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 32:608-625.

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IV. Modern Conflict Theory in Practice

CLASS 4: April 24, 2025

The application of Modern Conflict Theory to clinical practice has been well described by Brenner in his monograph “Psychoanalysis or Mind and Meaning”. In this class we will be guided by this monograph in considering how Modern Conflict Theory influences clinical work.

REQUIRED READINGS

Brenner, C. (1991). Chapter 7: Conflict and Compromise: Therapeutic Strategies for Clinicians. Conflict and Compromise: Therapeutic Implications, 74:97-106.

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Brenner, C. (2006). Psychoanalysis or mind and meaning. New York: The Psychoanalytic Quarterly. [Read Chapters 2-5]

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