Lably
Skip to content

Léon Wurmser

American psychoanalyst (1931–2020)

  • 3 min read
  • 3 chapters

Related on Lably

Through Psychoanalysis, Psychodynamics and Medicine

Lab · Class 8–12MicroorganismsLab · Class 8Wastewater StoryLab · Class 11NodeMCU & IoT

Career

Wurmser was born in Zürich. He was the author of more than 350 scientific papers, 15 books, and several book chapters and essays. His works deal with issues of masochism and depression, focusing on problems of shame, guilt, resentment, and the "archaic superego," both in the individual and in culture, religion, and history. Wurmser has written papers and one book on Judaism: The World of Ideas and Values of Judaism: A Psychoanalytic View (published in German). He also dealt with the understanding and treatment of drug addicts, drawing on his experience running drug rehabilitation programs for addicts. In recent years, he has published several papers and one book on jealousy and envy, in partnership with German psychoananalyst Dr. Heidrun Jarass.

His approach to psychoanalysis was Freudian. His major works, published in English and German, include The Mask Of Shame (ISBN 978-0801825279), published in 1981 and frequently reprinted; "The Hidden Dimension: Psychodynamics of Compulsive Drug Use " (1978, ISBN 978-0876683088) on the psychodynamics of drug addiction; The Power of the Inner Judge (2000, ISBN 978-0765701770); and Torment Me, But Don't Abandon Me: Psychoanalysis of the Severe Neuroses in a New Key (2007, ISBN 978-0765704702).

In 2004, Wurmser was awarded the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association's Journal Prize for a paper titled Psychoanalytic Reflections on 9/11, Terrorism and Genocidal Prejudice: Roots and Sequels.

He resided in Towson, Maryland, where he maintained a private practice. He supervised colleagues in the United States and in Europe in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. He lectured in Europe and was an honorary member of a number of psychoanalytic societies in Germany and in Austria.

He died on 15 February 2020, at the age of 89.

Sign in to keep reading

2 more chapters are free with a Lably account.

More in Psychology

PsychologyStudy of mental functions and behaviorsAnxietyUnpleasant emotionCognitionMental process dealing with knowledgePsychoanalysisSet of therapeutic techniques established by Sigmund FreudAmerican Psychological AssociationScientific and professional organizationPsychotherapyClinically applied psychology for desired behavior change