The Leader’s Hypnotic Influence and the Creation of Alternate Reality
Book ticketsOrganised by:
Psychoanalysis and Politics
Description
By Endre Koritar
Part of the Psychoanalysis and Politics series Crises and Transmission
Psychoanalysis has traditionally been an insular practice by analysts in their offices sequestered from any outside intrusion. However, in recent years a demand for psychoanalytic perspectives on the underlying dynamics of political figures and social phenomena has arisen. Media representatives have increasingly approached psychoanalysts for insight into such conditions as narcissistic personality disorder, compulsive lying, delusional thinking, when attempting to understand the irrational machinations of authoritarian leaders. Here, we will not be investigating the individual psyche, but rather the relationship between psyche and the culture of the populace (i.e., the polis). This session will consider the complex underlying dynamics of leaders’ hypnotic influence and the creation of an alternate reality.
Footnote: [For the purposes of discussion, I will refer to one leader, Donald Trump, but other leaders (Bolsonaro, Berlusconi, Duterte) may be argued to have similar personality traits and persuasive abilities].
Endre Koritar is a Training and Supervising analyst in the Western branch of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society. He is an Associate Editor of The American Journal of Psychoanalysis and has been guest editor of several special editions with important papers from the International Ferenczi conferences in Toronto and Florence.
Terms and conditions: Please register early. If you haven’t registered at least half an hour before the seminar starts, your participation cannot be guaranteed. Your ticket will only be refunded if the seminar is cancelled or postponed. If you have registered for a seminar and miss out for whatever reason, you can e-mail psychoanalysis.politics[at]gmail.com and ask for a private copy of the talk minus the discussion, which will be ready a few days after the event. For those who haven’t registered for a seminar, the video will be available for rental after a few days, see Films.