Journal article
The National Dilemma: Can We Heal Ourselves?
The Journal of psychohistory, Vol.19(3), pp.281-305
01 Jan 1992
Abstract
An attempt is made to draw parallels between childhood trauma, disturbed adolescent development & the apparent adolescent nature of current US culture. Beginning by describing how childhood trauma becomes a central organizing principal in the psychological structure of the individual, it is argued that trauma has also become an organizing principle in US society, both on the level of cumulative & combined cultural effects of millions of people individually traumatized, & on the level of group traumatic involvement in national events, eg, WWI & WWII, the Depression, & the Vietnam war. It is argued that the national response to these traumas has been cultural dissociation & sociopathy, resulting in the participation of the entire culture in a repetition compulsion. Drawing parallels between individual & national trauma, & following Erik Erikson's developmental theory, it is argued that the national adolescent self must serve as a healing buffer between the nation's childhood & adulthood. This argument is illustrated by references to the 1991 US Senate hearings on Clarence Thomas's nomination to the Supreme Court & Anita Hill's charges against him of sexual harassment. 27 References. J. Taylor
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Details
- Title
- The National Dilemma: Can We Heal Ourselves?
- Creators
- Sandra Bloom
- Publication Details
- The Journal of psychohistory, Vol.19(3), pp.281-305
- Number of pages
- 25
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Identifiers
- 991020547659504721