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The modern furies: projection and superego subversion in the moral justification of violence
Author(s) -
Poulton James
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of applied psychoanalytic studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.314
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1556-9187
pISSN - 1742-3341
DOI - 10.1002/aps.122
Subject(s) - subversion , hatred , psychoanalytic theory , id, ego and super ego , psychoanalysis , rationalization (economics) , psychology , social psychology , epistemology , philosophy , law , political science , politics
The moral rationalization of violence and prejudice has long been viewed by psychoanalysis as resulting from a subversion of superego functioning. Yet, the specific mechanisms by which such subversions occur have remained obscure. In this paper, the intrapsychic and intersubjective dynamics of rationalizations of violence are explored as they arise in the dyadic interactions of a married couple in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Those dynamics are then extrapolated to larger group processes (e.g. sects, races, nations, etc.), with the aim of developing a more complete understanding of the cycles of hatred and violence that can occur between them. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.