White Privilege: Psychoanalytic Perspectives

White Privilege: Psychoanalytic Perspectives explores the concept of unearned white privilege and its perpetuation of racially prejudicial notions. It examines the structure of racial categories, privilege, guilt, and power and their impact on political positions and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The book offers a new agenda for understanding and offering analytic practice in contemporary society.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

White Privilege: Psychoanalytic Perspectives delves into the intricate relationship between race and society, shedding light on the profound impact it has on both clinical practice and societal dynamics. The concept of unearned white privilege forms the foundation of much of the efforts aimed at raising racial consciousness. In this thought-provoking book, Neil Altman delves deep into this notion, uncovering hidden assumptions that perpetuate racially prejudicial notions, despite the purported goal of dismantling them.

The book takes a comprehensive approach, examining the very structure of racial categories that are socially constructed and based on false notions of physical or psychological differences among people. Altman critically examines related concepts such as privilege, guilt, and power, challenging the dominant narratives that perpetuate these notions. He also explores the artificial polarization of political positions into categories of liberal, left, and conservative, right, which further contributes to stereotyping and hinders mutual respect, dialogue, and understanding.

White Privilege: Psychoanalytic Perspectives goes beyond theoretical discussions and offers practical insights into the implications of these ideas for the theory and practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Through detailed clinical illustrations, Altman explores these concepts in depth, providing clinicians with valuable tools for understanding and addressing social problems and their manifestations in therapy.

This book appeals to a wide range of readers, including clinicians, psychoanalytic therapists, and individuals interested in social problems and their impact on society and therapy today. It offers a fresh perspective on understanding and addressing racial disparities, promoting empathy, and fostering inclusive and equitable practices. By challenging the status quo and promoting a deeper understanding of the complexities of race and privilege, White Privilege: Psychoanalytic Perspectives contributes to the ongoing dialogue on social justice and equity.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367503499