Donald Kalsched – Can running our minds like a democracy save us?
Oct 5, 2023
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Don Kalsched, an expert on trauma, discusses the parallels between a balanced mind and healthy society, how democratic philosophy is transformative, the relationship between trauma and power-seeking, and the impact of being possessed by the interfascist on relationships.
Treating our minds as democratic spaces can protect us from internal and external authoritarian influences.
Trauma and early violation of a person's integrity can lead to the development of authoritarian and dissociative defense mechanisms.
Tolerating conflicts, holding ambivalence, and engaging in repairs are essential for healthy relationships and democratic conversation.
Deep dives
The Inner and Outer Democracy and the Threat of Authoritarianism
The podcast episode discusses the topic of inner and outer democracy and the threat of authoritarianism, focusing on the psychological factors at play in our polarized world. The guest, Don Kalshad, shares his reflections on how trauma and early violation of a person's integrity can contribute to the development of authoritarian and dissociative defenses. These defenses, represented as the violent and illusionary angels in the psyche, aim to protect the individual from vulnerability and further harm. The episode explores the connection between these inner dynamics and the current state of our society, where extremist ideologies, violence, and the denial of reality have infiltrated public discourse, reminiscent of authoritarian tendencies. The importance of holding conflicts and tolerating ambivalence is emphasized as essential for healthy democracy and individual psychological growth.
The Impact of Trauma on the Inner World
The episode delves into the impact of early trauma on the inner world of individuals. Don Kalshad shares his insights based on his work with trauma survivors, where he discovered high levels of violence within their dreams and the dissociative defenses employed to protect against vulnerability. These defenses, represented by the dark and bright angels, were found to attack and dissociate the vulnerable core of the personality, aiming to prevent further trauma. Kalshad explains how such authoritarian defenses manifest in people's lives, perpetuating extremes in thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. These insights shed light on the complex interplay between trauma, violence, dissociation, and the formation of authoritarian psychological dynamics.
The Need for Conflict Psychology and Repair in Society
The episode highlights the significance of conflict psychology and repair as essential elements within society. It explores the connection between trauma, malignant innocence, violence, and the polarization found in our culture. The discussion emphasizes the need for individuals and communities to tolerate conflicts, hold ambivalence, and engage in repairs to foster healthy relationships and democratic conversation. The episode underscores the importance of addressing the intense fear and defensive patterns that hinder inner growth and healthy engagement with others. By recognizing the presence of authoritarian dynamics and actively engaging in repairing ruptures, it is possible to transform violence into understanding and promote authentic connections within society.
The Importance of Facing Reality and Developing Emotional Literacy
The podcast episode explores the idea that people are having trouble facing reality, leading to the proliferation of disinformation and violence. It emphasizes the need for individuals to develop emotional literacy and the capacity to hold opposites within themselves. This requires acknowledging and embracing the conflict between love for the world and the grief that comes with facing its dark side. By reframing and redefining problems, individuals can develop a clearer understanding of the challenges they face and work towards a deeper form of relatedness and connection with others.
The Role of Mythology and Archetypes in Trauma and Healing
The podcast delves into the significance of mythology and archetypes in trauma and healing. It highlights the importance of accessing and giving voice to vulnerable parts of ourselves that have often remained unspoken and unacknowledged. It emphasizes how trauma can make everything feel literal and concrete, focused on survival, and inhibiting access to the mythopoetic world of symbols and stories. By integrating the vulnerable aspects of ourselves and recognizing that we are all a combination of different archetypal forces, we can resist the temptation to project our own pain onto others and cultivate a deeper understanding of our own humanity and the humanity of others.
Don Kalsched is a Jungian Analyst, an expert on treating trauma, author of two books, The Inner World of Trauma and Trauma and the Soul.
Jung discovered our inner world is populated by various imaginal figures representing powerful psychological forces. If we treat our minds as democratic spaces, it can safeguard us from internal and external authoritarian influences.
Prepare to discover the parallels between a balanced mind and a healthy society, whether viewing internal conflicts through a democratic lens is healing, which insights foster harmony, why democratic philosophy is transformative, how to build resilience against absolutism and extremism, how trauma and power-seeking are related, and even more…
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