Confusion of Tongues ─ A Return to Sandor Ferenczi

Sandor Ferenczi, Sigmund Freud’s brilliant pupil as well as an innovative psychoanalyst, was silenced by various generations of his contemporaries until, in the past decades, his work began to be rediscovered. Certain aspects of his trauma theory, in fact, had never been thoroughly addressed, particularly the connection he made between trauma and language.

Miguel Gutiérrez-Peláez offers a new reading of Ferenczi by proposing a dialogue between the Hungarian psychoanalyst’s work, philosophy, and contemporary psychoanalysis. Among the subjects covered, the book delves into the vulnerability of children and Ferenczi’s never-ending search for a cure, the complex issue of war trauma and, more specifically, his anticipatory work in understanding the effects on the human psyche of the horrific experiences in concentration camps during World War II. These issues are raised against the backdrop of captivating figures like Jacques Lacan, Emmanuel Lévinas, Giorgio Agamben, Derrida, Nietzsche, and Primo Levi, among others. The result is a unique insight into Ferenczi’s “confusion of tongues,” a novel concept that can help us to understand contemporary trauma.

Professor Miguel Gutierrez-Pelaez, PhD, is Director of the Psychology Program of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences of the Universidad del Rosario, where he is also editor of the journal Avances en Psicologi-a Latinoamericana and is member of the Center for Psychosocial Studies (CEPSO). He is member of the Interdisciplinary study group of Peace and Conflict (JANUS) at the Universidad del Rosario. Dr Gutierrez-Pelaez is a psychologist from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (PUJ) and obtained his MA in Psyschoanalysis and PhD in Psychology from the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA). He is a member of the World Association of Psychoanalysis (AMP) and the New Lacanian School (NEL). In addition, he is Secretary for Colombia of the World Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR). He has taught in different universities in Colombia and Argentina and worked as a clinician in different mental health institutions in both countries. He has worked with Colombian soldiers and police officers who fought in war zones, as well as with other persons with psychological difficulties derived from the armed conflict. He is the author of various publications in indexed journals on issues related to trauma, art and mental illness, and psychosocial interventions in armed conflict scenarios.