Psychoanalysis and power: Introduction to the discussion

Journal title PSICOTERAPIA E SCIENZE UMANE
Author/s Pier Francesco Galli, Alberto Merini, Paul Parin, Goldy Parin-Matthèy
Publishing Year 2022 Issue 2022/1 Language Italian
Pages 12 P. 107-118 File size 295 KB
DOI 10.3280/PU2022-001013
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Some psychoanalytic considerations on power relationships are made. In particular, the following aspects are discussed: the frequent lack of awareness on power dynamics, the theoretical and practical obstacles to a psychoanalytic understanding of power relations, the differences between patients coming from high or low social classes within the psychoanalytic treatment, and the power dynamics that may occur between analyst and patient, with the influence also of psychoanalytic institutions. This paper was read as introduction to the Third Meeting of the "International Psychoanalytic Network" (Internationale Psychoanalytische Vernetzung) entitled "Are idiots still useful?", held at the Palazzo delle Stelline, Milan, Italy, June 3-4, 1988.

Keywords: Power; Psy-choanalysis and power dynamics; Submission; Master/slave dialectic; Applied psychoanalysis

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Pier Francesco Galli, Alberto Merini, Paul Parin, Goldy Parin-Matthèy, Sono ancora utili gli idioti? / Psicoanalisi e potere: Introduzione alla discussione in "PSICOTERAPIA E SCIENZE UMANE" 1/2022, pp 107-118, DOI: 10.3280/PU2022-001013