University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Revised November 2002)

Code: UPSNPK-30-3 Title: Psychoanalysis and Society Version: 2

Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15

Module type: Standard

Owning Faculty: Social Sciences and Humanities Field: Sociology

Valid from: September 2008 Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: Awards up to BA/BSC (Hons)

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of key psychoanalytic concepts (components A and B).

2. Demonstrate an understanding of major developments within the British psychoanalytic tradition (component A and component B, element 2).

3. Critically apply psychoanalytic concepts to an understanding of selected social issues, processes and practices (components A and B).

4. Analyse and understand the relationships between conscious and unconscious dynamics in group life (component A and component B, element 2).

5. Critically assess the way in which the therapeutic has influenced modern life (component A and component B, element 2)..

Syllabus outline:

Key Thinkers and Key Ideas

Contemporary psychoanalytic practice

Transference and counter-transference

Key Freudian ideas

Freud’s case studies

Dreams and dreaming

The contributions of Klein and the Post-Kleinians

Winnicott and Object relations

Applications to the social (these will vary and may be selected from the following)

Race and projective identification

Feminism and object relations

Tyrannies and perverse states of mind

Emotions, teaching and learning

The culture of narcissism

Social dreaming

Psychoanalysis and Group Processes

Freud on groups

Bion on groups

Institutions as a defence against anxiety

Creativity and group processes

Assessments of psychoanalysis

Do we live in a psychotherapeutic regime?

The “Against Therapy” backlash

The scientificicity of psychoanalysis.

Psychoanalysis in crisis

Teaching and learning methods:

A mixture of lectures and workshops using case studies, other stimulus material, and presentations from visiting psychoanalytic psychotherapists currently in private or NHS practice.

Indicative sources:

Bateman, A and Holmes A (1995) Introduction to Psychoanalysis: Contemporary |Theory and Practice: London, Routledge.

Craib, I (1994) The Importance of Disappointment: London, Routledge.

Frosh, S (1991) Identity Crisis: Modernity, Psychoanalysis and the Self: London, McMillan

Obholtzer, A and Zagier Roberts, V (1994) The Unconscious at Work: London, Routledge.

Parker, I (1997) Psychoanalytic Culture: Psychoanalytic Discourse in Modern Society: London, Sage.

Rose, N (1986) Governing the Soul: The Shaping of the Private Self: London, Routlegde.

Symington, N (1986) The Analytic Experience: Lectures from the Tavistock: London, Free Association Books.

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 50% B: 50%

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Examination 50%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Short Essay (2000 words) 25%

2. Short Essay (2000 words) 25%

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Examination 50%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Short Essay (2000 words) 25%

2. Short Essay (2000 words) 25%

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is not required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)