New Books in Psychoanalysis

Join Gohar Homayounpour, an acclaimed psychoanalyst and author, as she delves into the intersections of mourning and identity in her book, weaving personal loss with Persian cultural narratives. She provocatively characterizes psychoanalysis as a subversive art form for dreamers, embracing disturbance and absence. Topics include the complexities of maternal influence, the significance of the color blue, and the playful aspects of therapeutic relationships. Homayounpour also critiques modern practices, advocating for empathy over mimicry, highlighting the emotional intricacies of life's choices.

The discussion highlights the intersection of cancel culture and historical erasure, particularly regarding marginalized military histories. It emphasizes the psychological impacts of public shaming, including anxiety and shame in those 'canceled.' The podcast also explores complex defense mechanisms like erasure and projection, illustrating how societal frustrations surface through scapegoating. Ultimately, the dual nature of cancel culture is examined as it empowers some voices while silencing others, raising questions about collective memory and accountability.

Richard Reichbart, a distinguished psychoanalyst and author, shares his profound journey through psychosis in a deeply personal narrative. He reveals how significant life events, including the loss of his grandfather, precipitated his psychotic experience. The discussion explores the complex interplay of grief and childhood attachment, highlighting how these elements shaped his identity and creativity. Reichbart emphasizes the healing power of therapeutic relationships and recounts transformative moments from his time on a Navajo reservation, blending personal struggle with insights into the nature of psychosis.

Today I began my discussion with Dr. Adrian Perkel about his new book Unlocking The Nature of Human Aggression: A Psychoanalytic and Neuroscientific Approach (Routledge, 2024) “Aggression is to the mind what the immune system is to the body. It doesn’t seek the fight.” With this perfect mind-body analogy Dr. Perkel proposes a clear way to think theoretically and work clinically with aggression. Throughout the book he links Freud’s formulations of the psyche with contemporary physics and biochemistry. Perkel’s assertion that “Where the aggressive drive goes, so therein lies the solution to many of the psychological problems that present to us in life” is broadly summarized in three essential points:1. The aggressive drive in the human psyche has the aim of reducing stimuli and excitations brought on by internal and external impingements - it is not looking for a fight.2. What constitutes a threat or impingement is not necessarily objective - in fact it is always filtered through subjective experience and the UCS associations that are revisited repeatedly giving rise to a lens through which experience is filtered.3. This experience is driven by memory traces of experience that embed themselves in the UCS and are revisited and hence enacted in a repetitive manner.“My argument is that what wraps all those three points together is that you have life drive needs yes but they're often unfulfilled they're often frustrated and then we need a second mechanism which is what Freud called the death drive.” Acknowledging that the death drive is contentious in psychoanalysis “in neuroscience it's not contested.”I knew going into this interview that we would only discuss a few concepts and elaborations from his book. For more of Dr. Perkel’s writing and webinar on this book please go here and here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychoanalysis

Dr. Karyne Messina, host of this series, and Dr. Felecia Powell-Williams, the co-host, talked about what happens when people can’t listen. They discussed events that occurred at the Annual Conference of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA) that took place in San Francisco earlier this month and the half time show at Super Bowl 59.Dr. Powell-Williams, who attend the conference, said she left the APsA meeting holding a multitude of emotions. “On one level it was a satisfying reunification of parts of the organization that were split off due to fear or intolerance of exploring difference.” She added that as a guest on the Holmes Commission’s panel when Sam Cooke's song was played, “It's Been a Long Time Coming,” it resonated with her life experiences. She said she thought the attendees were very moved as well as they listened to the song together. Both hosts talked about the meaning of the words and how important it is to listen and take in the essence of the message.Dr. Messina introduced Kendrick Lamar’s half time show at Superbowl 59. After briefly reviewing the theme of the performance she highlighted once again the importance of “listening,” whether or not one knows the words, adding that Lamar blended artistry, social commentary, and star power to the show. She made a point of saying one doesn’t necessarily have to understand the words to a song or even like them to gather meaning. She said we all have the right to dislike any type of entertainment but when we don’t understand because we refuse to listen, we could be missing something very important. She also said she liked the fact that the performance included women such as SZA who joined Lamar on stage to perform “Luther” and “All the Stars” as well as Serena Williams who made an appearance as one of Lamar’s dancers. Dr. Powell-Williams talked about Jay-Z’s partnership with the NFL, a collaboration that has given him significant influence over the selection of half time show performers.The host and co-host also talked about psychoanalytic mechanisms of defense that may have been part of the controversy about the performance. They both focused on denial, an unconscious defense that comes into play when something is too painful or difficult to process. They suggested that may have occurred with people who dismissed the show entirely.Intellectualization as a defense was discussed by Dr. Powell-Williams. This occurs when responses of viewers focus on certain aspects of a performance, such as the choreography or musical arrangements, rather than engaging with its emotional or political content. By analyzing the show from a detached, analytical perspective, these individuals could have been avoiding the more challenging aspects of Lamar’s message.Both hosts talked about projection as a defense which occurs when people attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses to someone else. This allows them to avoid dealing with these aspects of themselves by seeing them in others instead. Projection may have played a significant role with some viewers based on their reactions to the show. Those who felt threatened by the social commentary might have projected their own biases or interpretations onto the performance, assuming Lamar’s intentions aligned with their own views rather than engaging with the actual performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychoanalysis

Not so long ago, comedy and laughter were a shared experience of relief, as Freud famously argued. At their best, ribbing, roasting, piss-taking and insulting were the foundation of a kind of universal culture from which friendship, camaraderie and solidarity could emerge.Now, comedy is characterized by edgy humour and misplaced jokes that provoke personal and social anxiety, causing divisive cultural warfare in the media and among people. Our comedy is fraught with tension like never before, and so too is our social life. We often hear the claim that no one can take a joke anymore. But what if we really can’t take jokes anymore?Post-Comedy (Polity, 2025) argues that the spirit of comedy is the first step in the building of society, but that it has been lost in the era of divisive identity politics. Comedy flares up debates about censorship and cancellation, keeping us divided from one other. This goes against the true universalist spirit of comedy, which is becoming a thing of the past and must be recovered.Alfie Bown is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Media at Kings College London. His research focuses on psychoanalysis, digital media and popular culture.He has also worked as a journalist, writing for The Guardian, Paris Review, New Statesman, Tribune, and others. His books include The Playstation Dreamworld, Post-Memes, and Dream Lovers: The Gamification of Relationships.He is the founder of Everyday Analysis which publishes pamphlets and essay collections with contemporary social and political issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychoanalysis

Peter Shabad, Clinical Associate Professor at Northwestern University and author of "Passion, Shame, and the Freedom to Become," dives into the intricate dynamics of shame and passion. He discusses how early relationships shape emotional development, emphasizing self-acceptance as key to overcoming shame. Shabad also explores the transformative power of gratitude, the interplay between nostalgia and identity, and the complex role of transference in therapy. He advocates for reclaiming authentic passion and the importance of viewing personal choices through the lens of true agency.

Eugene W. Holland, Professor Emeritus of Comparative Studies at The Ohio State University, dives into the dark dynamics of capitalism in his latest work. He explores how capitalism cultivates sadistic and masochistic patterns as societal norms, transforming economic interactions. Holland discusses the paradox of pleasure and pain in consumerism and probes the psychological impacts of these relationships. He analyzes literature and film to highlight the damaging effects of capitalism, urging a shift to eliminate destructive social behaviors for a better future.

Jamieson Webster, a psychoanalyst in NYC and author of 'On Breathing: Care in a Time of Catastrophe,' dives into the significance of breath amidst societal turmoil. She intertwines personal experiences—from being asthmatic to her role as a palliative psychologist during COVID—with psychoanalytic insights. Webster tackles themes of anxiety, the illusion of freedom, and the importance of communal breathing. The conversation also critiques modern communication's noise and explores mindfulness as a remedy for modern existential crises.

The discussion dives into how the Trump administration's dismantling of DEI programs reveals deeper societal divides. Listeners learn about psychological defense mechanisms like denial and rationalization that people use to evade confronting issues of discrimination. Reaction formation is explored as individuals act contrary to their true feelings, exacerbating national tensions. The impact on college students adapting to new communities is highlighted, along with the importance of acknowledging systemic inequities for fostering genuine inclusivity.