Absent Father Effect on Daughters: Father Desire, Father Wounds

The book "The Absent Father Effect on Daughters" investigates the impact of absent or inadequate fathers on the lives and psyches of their daughters through the perspective of Jungian analytical psychology. It explores the insecurity, splintering, and disintegration of the personality, as well as the silencing of voice, and offers clinical examples of how daughters can break out of idealizations, betrayals, abandonments, and losses to move towards repair and renewal. The book takes an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating dreams, personal stories, fairy tales, and the poetry of Sylvia Plath, as well as psychoanalytic theory, to expand and elucidate Jungian concepts. It is highly relevant for those seeking to understand the complex dynamics of daughters and fathers and will be essential reading for therapy professionals, academics, and students with Jungian and post-Jungian interests.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Absent Father Effect on Daughters is a groundbreaking work that delves into the profound impact of absent or inadequate fathers on the lives and psyches of their daughters, utilizing Jungian analytical psychology as a lens. This captivating book weaves together the narratives of daughters who grapple with feelings of insecurity, personality fragmentation, and the suppression of their voices. The author, Susan E. Schwartz, adeptly illustrates the maladies and disappointments experienced by daughters who lack a father figure, offering clinical examples that showcase how they can break free from idealizations, betrayals, abandonment, and losses, ultimately embarking on a path of repair and renewal.

The book adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing upon diverse sources such as dreams, personal stories, fairy tales, and the poetry of Sylvia Plath, alongside psychoanalytic theory, including Andre Greens' concept of the "dead father effect" and Julia Kristeva's theories on women and the body as abject. By exploring daughters both individually and collectively affected by the absence of a father, The Absent Father Effect on Daughters emerges as a highly relevant resource for those seeking to comprehend the intricate dynamics between daughters and fathers, empowering them to embrace their authentic selves. This insightful work will appeal to a wide range of professionals, including analytical and depth psychologists, other therapy practitioners, academics, and students with a keen interest in Jungian and post-Jungian studies.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367360856