Group-analytic Identity Challenged by Social Trauma

Abstract

What would be the identity of a group analyst in a social context? An analytic group has a psychotherapeutic goal, among others, to help each member to integrate inner objects throughout mirroring, interactions and integration of attitudes and experiences of other group members. Speaking in terms of sociology, the group tends to achieve that goal in accordance with civil democratic standards (pluralism, freedom, respecting others and different ones). So, an analytic group could be called a “civil-democratic social group.” That is why, within a social context, the group-analytic identity is associated with a civil-democratic identity. Individuals have a variety of identities: national, professional, religious, class, gender, political and ideological; group analysts have their group-analytic identity as well. Complex circumstances are often challenging for the group-analytic identity. Expressing personal attitudes and feelings in the situation of social pluralism of national, political, ideological, religious and class destinations could turn into a fight. Indeed, on the level of national, religious, class or political/ideological identity, there often exists irreconcilable differences of attitudes that threaten to establish intolerance, even hostility. Affiliation to one or the other, for example political/ideological or religious of opposing sides, might be based on personal or collective traumatic experience of deep suffering, injustice, helplessness, guilt.