A+Brief+History+of+Ghosts+Commentary+on+Paper+by+Laurel+Moldawsky+Silber

Schlesinger, Gary. “A Brief History of Ghosts: Commentary on Paper by Laurel Moldawsky Silber.” //Psychoanalytic Dialogues // 22.1 (2012) : 129-138. Web. Gary Schlesinger reviews the history of ghosts and offers an analysis of Laurel Moldawsky Silber’s psychopathology of the undigested past. Schlesinger views ghosts as a representation of unresolved family issues, or unwanted thoughts and feelings. Depending on an individual’s ability to tolerate feelings, ghosts may transition between **internal ** and **external effects **. Silber also examines a case study of a father and son, and the process of ‘ghostbusting’ in order to stop the ‘ **transgenerational transmission of traumatic experience **’. Schlesinger’s article includes an analysis and review of previous material from Laurel Moldawsky Silber regarding the psychopathology of ghosts. The author of this article draws connections between family trauma and reported ghost activity, and further distinguishes the relationship between the internal and external psychological effects of spirits. Silber further develops his argument through a case study of a family haunted by personal trauma and a ghostly presence. Silber also attempts to resolve this argument by using ghostbusting to indirectly facilitate recovery and prevention of family trauma.