In this book, originally published in 1961, Laing critiques the Kleinian view of unconscious phantasy, as developed by Susan Isaacs. He emphasizes the overwhelming presence of social phantasy systems. He then discusses the extent to which an individual is or is not invested in their own actions, using ideas drawn from Martin Buber and Sartre
Originally published in 1961 this book is divided into two parts. In the first Laing critiques the Kleinian view of unconsciou phantasy, as developed by Susan Sutherland Isaacs. He emphasizes the overwhelming presence of social phantasy systems. In Part 2, Laing discusses the extent to which an individual is or is not invested in their own actions, using ideas drawn from Martin Buber and Sartre
Part 1: Modes of Interpersonal Experience 1. Phantasy and Experience 2. Phantasy and Communication 3. Pretence and Illusion 4. Counterpoint and Experience 5. The Coldness of Death Part 2: Forms of Interpersonal Action 6. Complementary Identity 7. Confirmation and Disconfirmation 8. Collusion 9. False and Untenable Positions 10. Attributions and Injunctions