Psychoanalytic Culture: Psychoanalytic Discourse in Western Society Book

In countless ways, the language of psychoanalysis has irrevocably shaped 20th century culture. In this major book, Ian Parker provides a fascinating and accessible exploration of the contours of psychoanalytic discourse in relation to our contemporary society.Parker systematically reviews the key psychoanalytic theories to reveal social processes and their significance to modern life: Freud and object relations theory is directed towards group processes, religion and war; the Frankfurt School is used to examine modern individuality, authoritarianism and changes in culture; and the Lacanian tradition to account for language, representation and self-improvement. The theoretical analysis incorporates throughout the volume the work of key figures ranging from Adorno, Habermas and Fromm to Klein, Kristeva, Winnicott and Zizek.Psychoanalytic Culture is a magnificent overview of themes that lie at the heart of contemporary society. It will be essential reading for students and academics in psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, psychology, sociology and cultural studies.Read More