Beyond Therapeutic Culture in Latin America: Hybrid Networks in Argentina and Brazil

This book explores the concept of therapeutic culture in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, showing that it encompasses a diversity of practices, both secular and religious, modern and traditional, that are deemed therapeutic by the actors involved. It extends the concept of the therapeutic to include Pentecostal and Afro-Brazilian religions, New Age practices, and conventional therapeutic techniques, forming complex and hybrid therapeutic networks associated to different forms of subjectivity. The book is aimed at university students and the general public interested in the therapeutic and Latin American culture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate realm of therapeutic culture, expanding its scope beyond its traditional association with the Global North. By conducting comprehensive quantitative and qualitative research in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, the author sheds light on the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon. Traditionally perceived as a global phenomenon rooted in modern forms of psychologized subjectivity, therapeutic culture emerges as a vital concept for understanding contemporary culture. However, this groundbreaking research, grounded in a bottom-up perspective that follows specific therapeutic narratives, challenges the narrow understanding of the therapeutic by revealing that it encompasses a wide range of practices, both secular and religious, modern and traditional, that are deemed therapeutic by the individuals involved. These practices, often overlooked by mainstream literature, include Pentecostal and Afro-Brazilian religions, as well as New Age practices, which coexist and interact with conventional therapeutic techniques such as Psychoanalysis, forming complex and hybrid therapeutic networks associated with diverse forms of subjectivity. While the book focuses on two cases from the Global South, its theoretical conclusions hold universal relevance for analyzing the broader realm of the therapeutic. With a clear and accessible writing style, this book is designed to appeal to university students, both graduate and undergraduate, as well as to the general public with an interest in the therapeutic and, more specifically, in Latin American culture. By exploring the intersections of religion, spirituality, and healing, this book offers valuable insights into the complex tapestry of human experiences and provides a deeper understanding of the therapeutic landscape in the world today.

Weight: 530g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367187026