Hedda Bolgar Series
Friday, November 1, 2024
Claude Barbre, Ph.D., L.P.
(Chicago, Il)
Come Planting Time the Ploughs Turn Bones: The Psychology of Vigilantism
7-9pm (CST): ZOOM
NO RECORDING
About the Presentation: A vigilante is often defined as a “civilian or organization acting in a law enforcement capacity (or in pursuit of self-perceived justice) without legal authority”. Thus, “vigilante justice” is “often rationalized by the concept that proper legal forms of criminal punishment are either nonexistent, insufficient, or inefficient. Vigilantes normally see the government as ineffective in enforcing the law; such individuals often claim to justify their actions as a fulfillment of the wishes of the community” (Harris, 2001) As Sagall (2013) notes, in societies where there is a loss of external, central control twinned with the rise of multiple conflicts between various communities, there is a declining ability of customs to regulate conflict: “In sum, in a society where the threats of danger appears on all sides, and the legal system retreats before these dangers, violent trauma is likely to promote a never-ending spiral of aggression…The result is a great rise in post-traumatic stress disorder, and the consequent increase of institutionalization of vigilante behavior.” In this presentation we will explore the causes of vigilantism, in particular the psychosocial roots and intrapsychic forces that forge these destructive frames of social character. As Stephen Frosh writes, “The potential value of psychoanalysis for people concerned with politics lies in its ability to provide an account of subjectivity which links the ‘external’ structures of the social world with the ‘internal’ world of each individual (Frosh, 1987). Drawing from the writing of Vamik Volkan, Sabby Sagall, Judith Kestenberg, D.W. Winnicott and Heinz Kohut, we will explore not only the political and economic influences that divide communities and activate vigilante justice, but also the links between psychology and culture, the objective and subjective reasons for vigilantism, exploring the causes of despair and humiliation that seeks its own justice through murderousness and self-hate, as well as the forces of irrational dehumanization of the other that often emerges from intergenerational conflict and unresolved, unspeakable suffering and injustice.
Claude Barbre, Ph.D., L.P., is Distinguished Full Professor, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He is Course-Lead Coordinator of the Psychodynamics Orientation, and lead faculty in Child and Adolescent Studies. He is also a Vice-President of the Board and Faculty Supervisor at the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis, Chicago IL. Dr. Barbre served for 12 years as Executive Director of The Harlem Family Institute, a New York City school-based, psychoanalytic training program. Author of prize-winning articles, books, and poetry, Dr. Barbre is a five-time recipient of the international Gradiva Award for “outstanding writing in psychoanalysis and the arts.” He is also the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Psychoanalytic Educator Award from IFPE for “outstanding contributions to psychoanalytic education,” and the 2022 Joanna K. Tabin practice in Chicago Award for Exceptional Public Service, presented by CCP. He is in private practice in Chicago, IL.
Learning Objectives
This is a beginning and Intermediate, level presentation with areas of interest for Advanced.
Fees
CCP members: free with annual $195 membership, payable at registration.
Students:free with annual $175 membership, payable at registration.
New / Ongoing Fellows: free with annual $250/$300 membership, payable at registration.
Non-CCP members, single admission: $50
Continuing Education
This program is sponsored for Continuing Education Credits by the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis. There is no commercial support for this program, nor are there any relationships between the continuing education sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants or other funding that could be construed as conflicts of interest. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If the program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. The Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis maintains responsibility for this program and its content. CCP is licensed by the state of Illinois to sponsor continuing education credits for Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Counselors and Licensed Clinical Psychologists (license no. 159.000941 and 268.000020 and 168.000238 Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation).
Professionals holding the aforementioned credentials will receive 2.0 continuing education credits for attending the entire program. To receive these credits a completed evaluation form must be turned in at the end of the presentation and licensed psychologists must first complete a brief exam on the subject matter. No continuing education credit will be given for attending part of the presentation. Refunds for CE credit after the program begins will not be honored. If a participant has special needs or concerns about the program, s/he/they should contact Toula Kourliouros Kalven by October 31, 2024 at: tkalven@ccpsa.org
References/Suggested Readings
- Sagall, S. (2013). Final solutions: human nature, capitalism, and genocide. London: Pluto Press.
- Varvin, S. and Volkan, S. D. (2003). Violence or dialogue: Psychoanalytic insights on terror and terrorism. London: International Psychoanalytical Association.
Presented by
The Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis/CCP Program Committee: Toula Kourliouros Kalven, Alan Levy, PhD, Zak Mucha, LCSW
The Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis is an IRS 501(C)(3) charitable organization, and expenses may be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law and your personal tax situation.