Why is it Always the Women? by Dale Firestone, LCSW (Psychoanalytic Explorations)

This psychoanalytic discussion will explore unconscious fears of women that may form the basis of various forms of control and subjugation of women. It may be understood that cultural and religious practices, as well as myths, may express universal, unconscious anxieties and a particular culture’s attempts at defense and compromise to contain anxiety through accepted norms, prohibitions and taboos. Such norms are arrived at culturally through a dynamic process that is unconscious for the group in a way that is analogous to the way an individual achieves his or her dynamic compromises in order to manage personal conflict and anxiety. This discussion will review the practices of various cultures that may express universal unconscious fears of women to provide additional material with which to understand the anxieties of specific patients.

Learning Objectives:
• Enhanced ability to identify general human anxieties expressed and contained in cultural practices and processes.
• Improved ability to recognize some unconscious determinants of the anxieties and symptoms of some patients, and increased awareness of relevant cultural referents.
• Enhanced ability to discern the ongoing dynamic dialectic between cultural processes and individual psychology.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and NOBPC. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters of this CME program have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Psychologists and Social Workers may also receive continuing education credit for this activity if their accredited associations or boards recognize CME credits.

Admission is Free.
Fee for 2 CME credits: $15 for NOBPC members; $25 non-members