Psychoanalysis posits that a child’s unconscious desire towards the opposite-sex parent and rivalry towards the same-sex parent give rise to neurosis and mental illness in adulthood, if not sufficiently overcome. Yet, a closer examination reveals a logical and empirical flaw in how these dynamics are understood. To see it clearly, let’s delve into Jamie’s story. […]
psychoanalysis
The dark side of birthdays
Birthdays have not always been the light-hearted affairs we know today. Tracing back to ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks and Egyptians, significant days like these were often marked by rituals of appeasement towards gods or evil spirits. These practices, viewed through a psychoanalytic lens, reveal a societal struggle with themes of power, innocence, and […]
Freud upside down
In ‘Civilization and Its Discontents,’ Sigmund Freud presents a common view of human nature: ‘Homo homini lupus’ (man is a wolf to man). Civilization, according to Freud, works tirelessly to curb our aggressive instincts through love, sexual repression, and moral ideals, albeit with limited success. The issue arises when considering the agents of civilisation – […]