Sylvia Brinton Perera: Difference between revisions

'''Sylvia Brinton Perera''' (December 30, 1932 - ) is an author and a Jungian analyst.

Perera counselsQualified as a [[psychotherapistJungian analyst]], Perera is in private practice. She is, qualifiedcounseling as a [[Jungian analystpsychotherapist]]. SheHer became aearlier training analystincluded andan a member[[Master of theArts|MA]] facultyin psychology; her undergraduate focus at [[Radcliffe College|Radcliffe]] was in art history. At the [http://junginstitute.org C. G. Jung Institute of New York]., Sheshe alsobecame servedrecognized onas itsa boardtraining ofanalyst directors.and Heris earliera training included an [[Mastermember of Arts|MA]]the infaculty. psychology;She heralso undergraduateserved studieson atits [[Radcliffeboard College|Radcliffe]]of were in art historydirectors. In addition to her articles she has written, shePerera has authored four books on Jungian psychology, and is co-author of another.<ref> name="Crowley (2017).<" /ref> HerShe practicealso has expandedlocated toher practice in Vermont.<ref> name="Perera (2014)\.<" /ref>

The eldest of five children of a [[Society of Friends|Quaker]] family, Perera came of age in [[Scarsdale]], New York. She has two children by her former husband, political scientist Gregory James Massell. Jungian analyst and author Edward Christopher Whitmont became her partner until his death in 1998.<ref> name="Goode (1998).<" /ref><ref> name="Crowley (2017).<" /ref>

[[Andrew Samuels]] discusses Perera in terms of the developing feminist perspective on Jung's psychology. He proposes three such groups: first, those working with Eros and "psychic relatedness" (including [[Esther Harding]] and [[Toni Wolff]]); second, those who view a woman not as one who relates, but "as she is, in her own right" (Perera, [[Marion Woodman]] and [[Ann Belford Ulanov]]); and third, those most compatible with contemporary feminism (e.g., [[June Singer]] re [[androgyny]]). Samuels later adds that Perera wrote of finding a nascent therapy, a "wisdom in change" embedded in an ancient [[goddess]] myth. Such [[mythology|myths]] were often overlooked by the prevailing [[patriarchy|patriarchal]] view.<ref> name="Samuels (1985), pp. 217-219," 229.</ref>

Perera's 1981 book ''Descent to the Goddess'' concerns the commanding [[Inanna]] of [[Sumer]] who presides over the avenues of "destiny". More terrifying is her underworld sister [[Ereshkigal]] with the "eye of death". Edward C. Whitmont compares Perera's description here of the [[yin and yang|yin]] of 'feminine consciousness' to that of [[Erich Neumann (psychologist)|Erich Neumann's]]. As portrayed by Perera, under the sway of Ereshkigal a woman may become familiar with impersonal energies that can inflict a pitiless pain on other people, yet be part of a healing process and a stage of psychological growth. Inanna's "descent into the [[underworld]] presages a renewal of life."<ref> name="Whitmont (1992)," pp. 133-135, quotes at 134, 135, 198.</ref><ref> name="Neumann (1954).<" /ref>

Susan Rowland also discusses Perera's 1981 book, which she calls "popular and influential". The [[Shadow (psychology)|shadow]]-sister Ereshkigal holds [[archetype]]s of great pain, but also of healing. "[T]his goddess myth of an underworld journey and return enables Perera to shape depressive mental states as potentially [[empowerment|empowering]] women."<ref>Rowlands (name="Rowland 2001), pp. 62-63, 71, quotes at 62," 71.</ref>

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