Race in Psychoanalysis: Aboriginal Populations in the Mind

Race in Psychoanalysis explores the racist discourse of late nineteenth-century anthropology that found its way into Freud's foundational texts, exerting a hidden influence. Recent racial violence in the US has highlighted the need for re-examination of academic and professional disciplines, social and political institutions, and psychoanalysis for racial biases. Celia Brickman examines how the discourse on the presumed primitivity of colonized and enslaved peoples contributed to psychoanalytic understandings of self and raced other, demonstrating how psychoanalytic constructions of race and gender are related and how Freud's attitudes towards primitivity were related to anti-Semitism. The book shows how this can affect both clinician and patient in the contemporary clinical encounter, and is a significant work for scholars, practitioners, and students of psychoanalysis, psychologists, clinical social workers, and those engaged in critical race and postcolonial studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2017
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Race in Psychoanalysis delves into the often-unrecognized racism within psychoanalysis by examining how the colonialist discourse of late nineteenth-century anthropology seeped into Freud's foundational texts, where it has remained and continues to exert a hidden influence. Recent racial violence, particularly in the United States, has brought to light the need for a re-examination of academic and professional disciplines, as well as social and political institutions, to identify and address racial biases they may contain. Psychoanalysis is not exempt from this scrutiny.

When Freud applied his insights to the history of the psyche and of civilization, he made liberal use of the anthropology of his time, which was steeped in colonial, racist thought. Although it has often been assumed that this usage was confined to his non-clinical works, this book argues that through the pivotal concept of primitivity, it fed back into his theories of the psyche and of clinical technique as well.

Celia Brickman examines how the discourse concerning the presumed primitivity of colonized and enslaved peoples contributed to psychoanalytic understandings of self and raced other. She demonstrates how psychoanalytic constructions of race and gender are interconnected, and how Freud's attitudes towards primitivity were intertwined with the anti-Semitism of his time. This book reveals how all of these elements are part of the modernist aim of psychoanalysis, which seeks to create a modern subjectivity through a renegotiation of the past.

Furthermore, the book explores how these dynamics can impact both clinicians and patients within contemporary clinical encounters. By shedding light on the hidden influence of racism in psychoanalysis, Race in Psychoanalysis offers valuable insights into the ongoing struggle for social justice and equity. It prompts us to critically examine our own biases and assumptions, and to work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable clinical practice.

Weight: 458g
Dimension: 157 x 233 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138749399