Psychoanalysis Isn't the Most Efficient Solution

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Psychoanalysis is very inefficient in the sense that it takes years. The point is to gradually a, make sure that you maintain a degree of equilibrium into the patient's psychic and bodily existence. And that then you kind of, i think, what was supposed to happen is that the patient, the client, learns how to regulate. So the end of analysis is basically, when you're able to do it yourself, you don't need the analyst's help to.

Neuroscience has given us great insights into how our brains work. But there is still room for purely humanistic disciplines to help us think through our thoughts and emotions, not to mention the meaning of our lives. Mari Ruti is a professor of English literature, with expertise in critical theory, gender studies, and psychoanalysis, especially the work of French theorist Jacques Lacan. We talk about the psychological drive that is motivated by what Lacan calls “lack,” which is related to “desire.” We use this as a way to think about such essential human experiences as mourning, creativity, and love. (We don’t talk about love enough here on the podcast.)

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Mari Ruti received her Ph.D. in comparative literature from Harvard University. She is currently a Distinguished Professor of critical theory and gender and sexuality studies at the University of Toronto. She is the co-editor of the Psychoanalytic Horizons book series for Bloomsbury.

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