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Book reviews The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, Vol. 51, No. I, 1991 Anti-Semitism: A Disease of the Mind, by Theodore Isaac Rubin, M.D. Theodore Isaac Rubin's psychoanalytic study of the roots and dynamics of anti-Semitism is a welcome addition to a corpus of literature which, Until now, has failed to adequately explain this affliction that not only has wreaked destruction upon its intended victims, Jews, but also has had dev- astating effects upon the lives of those people who suffer from this emo- tional malignancy. Dr. Rubin stresses that anti-Semitism is an emotional illness and is not the province of any particular religion. He states that "it is not possible for a Christian to be an anti-Semite or an anti-Semite to be a Christian." Symbol sickness is the name that Dr. Rubin gives to the core dynamics of the pathological process known as anti-Semitism. He makes it clear that symbol sickness is not unique to anti-Semitism. It is characteristic of all emotional illness. Dr. Rubin points out that the non-pathological use of symbols distin- guishes human beings from the other species. The constructive and cre- ative use of symbols is widespread throughout the entire range of human functions and activities: thinking, http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The American Journal of Psychoanalysis Springer Journals

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Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
1991 Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis
ISSN
0002-9548
eISSN
1573-6741
DOI
10.1007/BF01250273
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, Vol. 51, No. I, 1991 Anti-Semitism: A Disease of the Mind, by Theodore Isaac Rubin, M.D. Theodore Isaac Rubin's psychoanalytic study of the roots and dynamics of anti-Semitism is a welcome addition to a corpus of literature which, Until now, has failed to adequately explain this affliction that not only has wreaked destruction upon its intended victims, Jews, but also has had dev- astating effects upon the lives of those people who suffer from this emo- tional malignancy. Dr. Rubin stresses that anti-Semitism is an emotional illness and is not the province of any particular religion. He states that "it is not possible for a Christian to be an anti-Semite or an anti-Semite to be a Christian." Symbol sickness is the name that Dr. Rubin gives to the core dynamics of the pathological process known as anti-Semitism. He makes it clear that symbol sickness is not unique to anti-Semitism. It is characteristic of all emotional illness. Dr. Rubin points out that the non-pathological use of symbols distin- guishes human beings from the other species. The constructive and cre- ative use of symbols is widespread throughout the entire range of human functions and activities: thinking,

Journal

The American Journal of PsychoanalysisSpringer Journals

Published: Mar 1, 1991

Keywords: Clinical Psychology; Psychotherapy; Psychoanalysis

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