Psychoanalysis and the third position: social upheavals and atrocity

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Societal breakdown and unorganized forces lead to mass dehumanization, particularly affecting refugees.
• Alienating discourses on trauma and societal neglect exacerbate suffering and impact future generations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore psychoanalysis's mediating role in individual, group, and societal regressive processes.
• To develop a conceptualization of a
• third position
• for psychoanalytic work.
• To propose a model for rethinking traumatization and its societal impact.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual development of a psychoanalytic
• third position
• anchored in common cultural discourse.
• Development of a model for rethinking traumatization, encompassing individual, group, and cultural relations.
• Presentation of clinical examples to illustrate theoretical processes.

Main Results:

• The
• third position
• is essential for psychoanalytic clinical work, enabling symbolization and working through.
• The proposed model provides a framework for understanding and addressing collective traumatization.
• Clinical examples demonstrate the application of the model in processing atrocities and social catastrophes.

Conclusions:

• Psychoanalysis, through the
• third position
• and a comprehensive model of traumatization, can facilitate healing at individual and social levels.
• Addressing societal neglect and alienating discourses surrounding trauma is crucial for preventing intergenerational suffering.
• The framework offers potential for working through large-scale social catastrophes and collective trauma.