CANCELLED: Aggression, Violence, Hatred, Apologies and Forgiveness Video Conference Panel Discussion with The St. Louis Psychoanalytic Society

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Aggression, Violence, Hatred, Apologies And Forgiveness

SATURDAY APRIL 8, 2017 8:45AM – 12:00PM

NOBPC 3624 Coliseum St.

*This event does not offer CME credits.*

This is a free event.

Presenter: Volney Gay Ph. D. Title: “Atrocities and Atrocity Narratives: Their Intergenerational Effects” The history of warfare is replete with actual atrocities and with atrocity narratives. The first are visited upon actual persons, the second are provocative images and stories about atrocious actions done against innocent victims. State actors use these images to induce outrage, to provoke retaliation against the enemy, and to mobilize for war. Both ancient religious authors and contemporary politicians exploit the power of atrocity narratives for similar purposes. Clinicians deal with the effects of atrocities committed against persons whom we treat as patients. We also deal with the effects of narrations about atrocities on second and third generations. Children who learn of atrocities committed against family members (or co-religionists) often struggle to metabolize fantasies about those actions.

Presenter: Matthew Shatzman, MA. Title: “I Hate, Therefore I am.” Hatred is a part of human development that can serve profoundly destructive ends, as well as constructive ones. We’ll explore the spectrum and nuances of this complex affect state and how its manifestations influence both the individual and the collective.

Presenter: Rev. Linda A. Horrell, M.Div., MSW. Title: “Apologies and Forgiveness: The ones that must not be named.” In the Harry Potter tales, the villain is referred to as He Who Must Not Be Named. Considering the void of psychoanalytic publications which discuss the benefits of apologies and forgiveness, it leaves us to wonder why. Is forgiveness a villain of treatment? Are giving apologies and seeking forgiveness a psychoneurotic response to unsolved problems or solutions to them? The presentation will be a call to psychoanalysts to consider the benefits of co-creating a space of working with suffering, forgiveness and reconciliation. We will look at clinical aspects that facilitate relief and change for the sufferer and the offender. Additionally, there is a greater challenge to consider the expansion of these concepts beyond the individual to achieving psycho-social justice for groups, communities and global human rights to heal from expressions of violence and aggression.