The Space Between: Educating the Whole Child

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Education
• Psychoanalysis

Background:

• The emotional life of children in educational settings has historically fluctuated in focus.
• Psychoanalytic principles are implicitly present in schools, influencing individual and group dynamics.
• Modern social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives share goals with psychoanalytic concepts of ego functioning but use direct methods.

Observation:

• Schools often face obstacles in instilling values and skills due to individual and community challenges.
• Psychoanalytic concepts like unconscious motivations, attachments, and defense mechanisms are relevant to school environments.
• SEL programs aim to foster skills such as perseverance and self-control, aligning with healthy ego development.

Findings:

• Psychoanalytic school consultants can integrate with existing educational frameworks.
• Case studies demonstrate interventions with students exhibiting behavioral issues (aggression) and ethical dilemmas (sexting).
• Consultants can work with students, parents, faculty, and administration to address obstacles.

Implications:

• Psychoanalytic consultation offers a framework to address complex student and school community issues.
• This approach can facilitate desired student growth and educational outcomes.
• Integrating psychoanalytic insights can enhance the effectiveness of social-emotional skill promotion in schools.