Absent Fathers, Yearning Sons

“Dr Schwartz’s carefully crafted, scholarly and sensitive enquiry into Missing Fathers, Yearning Sons focuses on the complex father-son dynamics that are vulnerable in two ways: first, as a form of authoritarian, patriarchal power over others that invites dissent and betrayal, especially around sex, gender, race and class; and second, in its emotional vulnerability in terms of love, attachment, disappointment and yearning. Dr Schwartz researches deeply into that vulnerability, noting specifically the impact of the father’s emotional and physical absence, which means that sons often cannot feel authentic. Inauthenticity creates ongoing discomfort, psychologically and physically. Dr Schwartz expertly addresses such issues as father’s silence and father’s shadow and their emotional impact on sons, well-illustrated through myth, fairy tale, alchemy and clinical vignette. She also explores new ways of revitalising the father-son bond by giving its absence a much-needed voice. Essential reading for clinicians and cultural theorists alike.”

Elizabeth Brodersen, PhD, accredited Jungian training analyst and supervisor, CGJIZ, IAAP, co-editor of Jungian and Interdisciplinary Analyses of Emotions, Method and Imagery.

“I learned so much! Susan E. Schwartz provides us with the most far-reaching, thoughtful and challenging post-Jungian work on the psychology of the family. Here, she focuses on the father-son relationship. Her acclaimed book The Absent Father Effect on Daughters: Father Desire, Father Wounds, just screamed for the companion volume. Here, Schwartz offers highly original and clinically useful perspectives on father absence or lack of presence in the psychological development of modern people.”

Professor Andrew Samuels, Editor of The Father: Contemporary Jungian Perspectives and author of The Plural Psyche: Personality, Morality and the Father.

"Once more, Susan E. Schwartz has authored an engaging look at father absence, this time turning her attention to its profound effects on men. With ample clinical material, she discusses navigating an analytic relationship with men whose father absence has psychologically shut them down in a cauldron of emotional deprivation, persecution and conflicts with their aggressive impulses. For anyone working with men, this will prove to be a compelling read."

Robert Tyminski, DMH, Jungian psychoanalyst, author of Male Alienation at the Crosswords of Identity, Culture & Cyberspace and The Psychological Effects of Immigrating.