Trauma, torture, and dissociation : a psychoanalytic view

This study aims to explore resiliency and its relation to dissociations (healthy & unhealthy) and, examine psychoanalytic work within an inter cultural framework. Four factors are identified, elaborated and contextualised as necessary for good therapeutic intervention in working with people who endured trauma: 1) the sense of self 2) the psychic space 3) the listening other 4) healthy dissociations. The literature review is organised to explore psychoanalytic concepts relevant to the research question, and provide a foundation upon which theory and practice can be coherently linked following the clinical vignettes and discussion throughout the thesis. Two case studies! are used to illustrate and discuss the central hypothesis that healthy dissociation is an indicator of resiliency, made possible through the access to and development of the four key factors. The clinical data is presented from a relational perspective, with the view that childhood trauma and patient experiences during the developmental processes is a dual narration playing a significant role in the capacity for resiliency. Three issues specifically will be addressed: 1) the characteristics commonly associated with trauma and with resilience 2) the creation of an intra-psychic and secure state of mind with reference to Freud and contemporary psychoanalytic thinking, specifically Object Relation Theory 3) the relevance between resiliency and psychological health or lack of it The effect of trauma in adult life and its relation to earlier experiences is discussed, indicating that people with good enough environment during developmental process can dissociate healthily, therefore better managing the effects of trauma, whereas those who experienced interruptions during this developmental phase may collapse psychologically. Through the course of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, however, people can be helped to develop stronger psychic space and a better sense of self through the containing provided by the listening other: the therapist.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo