This is an updated reprint of a previously published, limited edition, interview with Dr. Spotnitz in Let's Talk: The Relationship NewsLetter.

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Table of Contents

Introduction To The 2004 Edition of
Schizophrenia, Alcoholism and Addiction
“Let’s Talk Interviews Dr. Spotnitz”
Let’s Talk: The Relationship Newsletter, 1987-1998 2
Photography 3

A Letter To Dr. Spotnitz
The addiction model 5
Drive Theory 6
Object Relations Theory 6

Schizophrenia, Alcoholism and Addiction
Let’s Talk Interviews Dr. Spotnitz

Addiction As Defense 7
Sex Addiction 8
Disease Model 8
Ego-Strength 9
Support Groups Increase Ego Strength 9
Verbalization On The Couch Increases Ego Strength 9
Alcoholism Is A Progressive Disease 11
Success In Life Requires A Lot Of Ego Strength 12
You Can Be Born With A Pre-Addictive Personality 12
Disease or Defense? 13
Impulses Are The Bottom Line In All Conditions 13
Destructive Impulsivity 13
A Neglected Baby Destroys Itself 14
Suicidal Behavior Is A Natural Phenomenon 14
Death Trip 14
Schizophrenia- Therapeutic Method 15
Constipated Rage 15
Group Has To Help The Individual Release His Feelings 16
Faith In A Higher Power 16
Super-Ego 17

Introduction To The 2004 Edition of

“Let’s Talk Interviews Dr. Spotnitz”
Let’s Talk: The Relationship Newsletter,
1987-1998

“Let’s Talk: The Relationship Newsletter”, was developed at the same time as InnerResources 8 ideas, and Aura’s Galleria “a place in the mind”. These three modes, -the rational, the intuitive, and 8 points of focus and navigation- together formed a miniature ecosystem, a mindset, a way of being in the world.

The InnerResources 8 ideas was and continues to be a work in progress. The 8 Ideas are my attempt to “map,” summarize and further develop how the theories and the work of others influenced my life, work and experience.

Let’s Talk: The Relationship Newsletter became a vehicle for me to meet people and conduct interviews (rational), while Aura’s Galleria (intuitive) allowed me to take photographs, create computer art and design and layout the newsletter, all centered around the psychological content of the InnerResources 8 ideas, and in contexts that were often far removed from the private practice office.

The theme of the Fall, 1990 edition of Let’s Talk: The Relationship Newsletter, was Idea # 6: Alcoholism and the Addictions. It was in that context, as well as the fact that I was at this phase of my journey a modern psychoanalyst in training, that the interview with Dr.. Spotnitz took place. This reprint of the 1990 edition contains only the Interview with Dr. Spotnitz and the photographs that appeared at that time.

This was one of my first inquires into the area of alcoholism and addiction. In a later edition of the Newsletter, The Story of Ann and Bob was published, along with “The Odysseus Complex’. The latter postulated a mythological model of addiction which viewed stimulation seeking and the “warrior mode” as a root cause to addiction (separate from the notion of addiction as defense or disease).

Photography
The photographs you see in this article were taken in Central Park, at the Delacorte Theater, (Romeo and Juliet, front cover) http://www.centralparknyc.org/virtualpark/thegreatlawn/tempest-romeo-juliet and from artwork on the walls of the buildings in the east-east village, (the art of Chico). The photographs of Chico’s art shown here are taken from the Newsletter and therefore, unlike the originals, are overlayed with information about the InnerRESOURCES 8 Ideas.

The front cover contrasts the mythology and tradition of romantic love with the views of relationship addiction theory and psychoanalysis (see also the video poem, Romantic Love As Resistance, http://www.innerresources.org/RomanticLove/RomanticLoveAsResistance.html, and, We Are Lovers, http://www.innerresources.org/WeAreLovers/WeAreLovers.html. Text only versions can be found at http://www.authorsden.com/. For some recent photography see Visual Poems, Flowers, http://www.innerresources.org/PhotoGalleries/Flowers/flowers.html

©Copyright 1989, InnerRESOURCES Color Desktop Press (ICDP), 2004, Jeff Landau, Ph.D. InnerRESOURCES Publications, www.innerresources.org. All Rights Reserved. This article may be freely printed for the purpose of reading. However, no part of this material may be altered or selectively extracted for any other purpose without the written consent of Jeff Landau, InnerRESOURCES Publications. Contact:jefflandau.innerresources.org