International Psychoanalytic University Berlin
The International Psychoanalytic University Berlin (IPU Berlin or IPU) is a private non-profit university in Berlin, Germany, dedicated to the academic study, research, and application of psychoanalysis within psychology and the social sciences.[1] Founded in 2009 by Christa Rohde-Dachser and Jürgen Körner, it represents a contemporary effort to integrate psychoanalytic theory into university-level education, contrasting with the dominance of empirical and cognitive-behavioral approaches in traditional German psychology programs.[1][2]
| International Psychoanalytic University Berlin | |
|---|---|
| Organization details | |
| Type | Private non-profit university |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder(s) | Christa Rohde-Dachser, Jürgen Körner |
| Key figures | Christa Rohde-Dachser, Jürgen Körner |
| Orientation | Psychoanalytic |
| Institutional context | |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Operations | |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
| Geographic scope | National (Germany) |
| Training function | Master's, Bachelor's, and Doctoral programs in psychology |
IPU Berlin holds significance in the institutional history of psychoanalysis as Germany's first university explicitly centered on psychoanalytic principles, fostering interdisciplinary links with cultural studies and social sciences while emphasizing the unconscious in individual, familial, and societal processes.[2]
History
Precursors and Origins
The establishment of IPU Berlin responded to the marginalization of psychoanalysis in German universities during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, where empirical methods overshadowed psychodynamic approaches.[2] This echoes earlier Berlin traditions, such as the Berlin Psychoanalytic Institute, founded in 1920 by Karl Abraham and Max Eitingon, which pioneered the "Eitingon model" of training (theoretical courses, personal analysis, and supervised cases) later adopted by the International Psychoanalytical Association.[3]
Founding (2009)
IPU Berlin was founded in October 2009 by the "Gesellschaft zur Förderung der universitären Psychoanalyse mbH" (later renamed International Psychoanalytic University Berlin gGmbH), with sole shareholder status held by the Foundation to Promote University Psychoanalysis, established by Christa Rohde-Dachser.[1] Jürgen Körner served as the founding president. Teaching began in autumn 2009 with a master's program in clinical psychology enrolling 75 students and 10 professors.[2]
The university expanded to include bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, gaining state recognition and institutional accreditation.[1]
No major schisms or controversies akin to those in classical psychoanalytic societies (e.g., the Nazi-era annexation of the Berlin Psychoanalytic Institute into the Göring Institute) are documented in IPU Berlin's brief history.[3]
Organizational Structure
IPU Berlin operates as a private non-profit entity administered by International Psychoanalytic University Berlin gGmbH.[1] Governance follows standard university models with a president and board, rather than psychoanalytic-specific devices like Lacanian cartels or the pass.[2]
Governance
A rotating presidency shapes strategic development; former presidents, including Körner (2009–2012) and successors through 2018, oversaw expansion and consolidation.[2] The structure emphasizes academic rigor over clinical hierarchies typical of IPA institutes.
Training and Formation
IPU Berlin offers state-accredited degree programs in psychology, including a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy with a psychoanalytic focus.[1][4] Training integrates psychoanalytic theory, clinical practice, and interdisciplinary research, differing from the Eitingon model by prioritizing academic degrees over personal analysis for certification.
Seminars cover unconscious processes in individual, relational, and societal contexts, without Lacanian mechanisms like the pass or cartels.[2]
Key Concepts / Theoretical Orientation
IPU Berlin advances a broad psychoanalytic orientation, emphasizing the unconscious in psychology, culture, and society as a "social and cultural science."[2] It prioritizes:
- Psychodynamic understanding of unconscious conflicts.
- Interdisciplinary applications to social sciences.
- Clinical psychology rooted in Freudian principles, adapted to contemporary contexts.
This orientation informs institutional practice by embedding psychoanalysis in accredited university curricula, countering its academic decline in Germany.
Notable Members
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "International Psychoanalytic University Berlin - Wikipedia". Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Former Presidents - IPU Berlin". Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Berlin Psychoanalytic Institute - Wikipedia". Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Study at International Psychoanalytic University Berlin". Retrieved 2026-01-31.