SELF AND OTHER

In this investigation into the patterns of interaction between people, Dr. Laing attempts to unravel some of the knots in which people unfailingly tie themselves. Taking his examples both from literature and case material, he shows that 'every relationship implies definition of self by other and other by self' and that if the self does not receive confirmation by its contacts with others, or if the attributions that others ascribe to it are contradictory, its position becomes untenable and it may break down.