Perverse Mechanisms Research Articles

Le passage à l’acte suicidaire dans sa dimension perverse, analyse d’un cas clinique

ObjectiveThe notions of psychosis, neurosis, and perversion structured clinical thought during the golden age of psychoanalysis. But, even if psychosis and neurosis are still an integral part of our medical vocabulary, perversion, on the other hand, has become a forgotten or even obsolete concept. However, some mechanisms of interaction between patients and more precisely some suicide attempts seem to be significantly related to it. In this article, we offer the reader a second look at this clinical perversion. MethodologyThis article aims to study some perverse mechanisms that are present in clinical work with suicidal patients and to establish a current, historical, and non-exhaustive definition that will answer the following question: “can a suicide attempt be thought of as a perverse act in its address to the therapist?” The theoretical input will be supported by a preliminary clinical illustration about the hospital and ambulatory monitoring of a young patient. ResultsWhen suicidal acting out takes on a special meaning addressed to the therapist and allows the patient to seize power in the therapeutic relationship, we can clearly see the characteristics of perversion. DiscussionA cautious approach should be adopted about this proposition: not all suicidal acts are to be associated without nuance with perversion. Similarly, it is up to the therapist to understand the mechanisms developed by the patient in the therapeutic relationship and to make them the object of shared therapeutic work. ConclusionThis article offers the reader a theoretical and clinical approach to the suicidal act in patients whose psychic structure can be considered perverse. It allows us to: differentiate between addressed and un-addressed suicidal acts, acknowledge the resulting clinical difficulties, and explore avenues about the monitoring of patients after a suicide attempt.

“Time Meant Nothing”: A New Reading of Pietro di Donato's Three Circles of Light beyond Autobiography and Stereotypes

“Time Meant Nothing”: A New Reading of Pietro di Donato's <i>Three Circles of Light</i> beyond Autobiography and Stereotypes

How norms are formed in a democracy

The freedoms offered by individualistic-democratic societies are marked by an intrinsic ambiguity: they are both real and (partly) illusory. They are rooted in the universe of representation, which, by proclaiming them, manages to force reality, but without this reality ever attaining the purity of the proclaimed principles. By subtle perverse mechanisms, new limits to freedom are actually introduced on a massive scale, eventually leading to the apparent paradox of a normative production that is much more abundant than in the ancient societies. There is nothing surprising about that. The individual autonomy proper to democratic societies necessarily induces a social activity of producing various norms and regulations, infinitely more intense than in a society where institutions run their established program and construct individuals in accordance with them. Freedom, in individualist-democratic societies, is an illusion, but one which creates reality. The individual, less free than s/he imagines her/himself to be, is nevertheless in the

El derecho humano al agua en España en el contexto europeo (2010-2020). Implicaciones para las políticas y los modelos de gestión del ciclo urbano

El derecho humano al abastecimiento y al saneamiento (DHAS) constituye hoy en España y en Europa la bandera de un movimiento que se articula en torno al concepto del agua como bien común y que se orienta al objetivo de construir un modelo de gestión pública participativa y transparente. La materialización efectiva del DHAS se relaciona discursivamente con la titularidad pública o privada de los operadores de los servicios urbanos de agua, lo que ha contribuido a la reactivación de los debates sobre la necesidad de conservar o recuperar el carácter público de estos servicios, y sobre la necesidad de generar marcos jurídicos que garanticen políticas de democracia local efectiva. A esta dimensión sociopolítica, se añade otra característica: el movimiento del DHAS en España sintoniza en discurso y articulación organizativa con las perspectivas socio-eco-integradoras de la gestión del agua como recurso natural, de los ecosistemas acuáticos. Ésta es una cualidad importante y en cierta manera distintiva de la experiencia española, que contrasta con los desencuentros y conflictos que frecuentemente caracterizan a las perspectivas social y ambiental en los movimientos de defensa del agua, y en general de los recursos naturales. Complementariamente a lo anterior, este artículo presenta un nuevo enfoque de la tipología de pobrezas hídricas. La reciente recepción del DHAS en los países europeos se ha focalizado especialmente en la asequibilidad (prohibición de cortes, garantía del mínimo vital, tarifas sociales) y en las implicaciones para la gobernanza (transparencia, rendición de cuentas) y el modelo de gestión (publico versus privado). No obstante, a lo largo de la investigación que se presenta, se ha constatado que la accesibilidad sigue siendo un problema significativo en ciertas regiones europeas, relacionado especialmente con la existencia de asentamientos marginales, chabolismo, personas sin hogar o trabajadores temporeros inmigrantes en áreas rurales. Finalmente, este artículo aborda la cuestión de la regulación legal del derecho humano al agua en España, analizando las claves de este proceso y presentando las últimas propuestas del movimiento del DHAS en el que sus autores conceptualmente se sitúan. Desde un punto de vista teórico (ecología política urbana) y metodológico (investigación-acción participativa transdisciplinar), el artículo se ha desarrollado en el doble marco en el que los autores se desenvuelven. Por una parte, el grupo de trabajo de ciclo urbano del agua de la Fundación Nueva Cultura de Agua (https://fnca.eu/oppa/ciclo-urbano-del-agua); y, por otra, la Red de Excelencia de la Agencia Estatal de Investigación sobre pobreza hídrica (WAPONET, CSO2017-90702-REDT, https://waponet.org/approach/).

According to the sustainability theory, the natural rebalance of resources and wealth may continue in global scenario

According to the profile of the sustainability economy, the scenario of the nineteenth century, characterized by a colonial structure governed by the major powers, and the imbalance in the wealth distribution that is recorded in today's world are both phenomena dependent on the deviation of the economy from the path of sustainability with nature. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that this deviation will eventually be corrected, and the global economy should then return to the path of a constant and balanced growth. So, leaving the instability world, which today starts from the performance decline and from the general convergence towards price deflation. The fall in the instability world, however, is far from irreversible because we should admit that deflation is a message telling us that things are going wrong, and the economic situation is a tool that is starting the recession to correct the economy in order to bring it back to the balance with the nature. In the sub-world, unfortunately, there are the excesses of an incoherent distribution of resources at a global level, together with the trend towards the concentration of wealth and income within the 10% of families at a local level. A double interlocking that slows down the development potential locally and globally and alters the democracy mechanisms due to the influence that owners of wealth and large incomes undoubtedly can have on the process of selecting the leadership for the economy management. A perverse mechanism that essentially exacerbates the differences in income and resources among peoples and families. In the perspective of the sustainability economy, the movement favoring the concentration cannot continue because the natural correction mechanism comes into play, thus operating according to the times of nature which are quite different from those of our daily lives. Therefore, we can now interpret and understand the amazing work that is globally reshaping the distribution of resources and culture, where Asia is becoming protagonist together with the West of a greater equity and participation. At the moment Africa remains out of this process, though trying to reinforce its pace. The reactions to the so-called globalization are obstacles to the development of process, on which is depending not only the emergence of post-colonial Africa. Because even the development of the global economy is now linked to the continuation of the natural process of rebalancing resources and wealth, not only at a global level but also at the level of states and continents.

Água como um bem social público: os processos de privatização face ao abastecimento público em Pau dos Ferros- RN

A água é um recurso natural considerada um bem social público e de uso comum. Entretanto, atualmente esse bem vem sendo comprometido pelo viés econômico, principalmente pelos de hodiernos processos de privatizações de concessionárias de abastecimento de água no Brasil e no mundo. Desta forma, o presente estudo tem por objetivo debater a importância do caráter público das concessionárias de água como mecanismo de garantir minimamente acessos mais justos à água. Para tanto, buscou-se mostrar exemplo desses acessos, como o papel das tarifas sociais da abastecimento de água especificamente de uma cidade do Semiárido brasileiro denominado Pau dos Ferros, estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Como método de pesquisa, aporta-se na dialética como forma de ver as disparidades sociais historicamente construídas por mecanismos perversos de controle da sociedade e de mecanismos de/para reprodução do capital. Como procedimentos metodológicos fez-se levantamento teórico e documental a respeito da água enquanto um bem público, realizou-se pesquisas sobre a variação tarifária de concessionárias privadas em contraponto às públicas e como isso influencia principalmente o acesso à água a famílias pobres. Empiricamente, estudou-se as tarifas sociais da referida cidade no período de 2017, com base nos dados da Companhia de Abastecimento de Água e Esgoto do Rio Grande do Norte (CAERN). Através dessa tarifa social constatou-se que a companhia diminui os laços das desigualdades e garante para muitas famílias um baixo custo ao acesso a água. Mostra ainda a discrepância do tarifário de concessionárias públicas e privadas. Espera-se com esse artigo ampliar-se a consciência da responsabilização do Estado enquanto provedor dos serviços de abastecimento de água e chamar a sociedade ao debate do direito à água.

El juez constitucional y la reelección presidencial en América Latina

Las disposiciones constitucionales sobre reelección presidencial se modificaron en varios países latinoamericanos durante los últimos años. En algunos países esos cambios pusieron en riesgo la existencia de la democracia. Este artículo utiliza el enfoque de principal-agente para analizar el papel del juez constitucional en la reelección presidencial como mecanismo de rendición de cuentas. Encuentra que la reelección inmediata en democracias de fuerte presidencialismo, puede ser un mecanismo perverso que agudiza la concentración del poder y deteriora el bienestar de los ciudadanos en vez de someter a los políticos a rendición de cuentas.

Progesterone: a little-known role of the well-known hero

Endometrial polyps and chronic endometritis are two most common causes of unexplained infertility in women of reproductive age.The aim of our study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the hormonal homeostasis and the state of the receptor apparatus of the endometrium in women of reproductive age with endometrial polyps and micropolyps.For a research 4 groups of women were chosen: 34 women with endometrial polyps (IA group), 36 patients with endometrial polyps and micropolyps (IB group), 30 women with micropolyps (IІ group) and 30 healthy women (ІІІ group). In all groups of women the content in blood serum for 3–5 day of a menstrual cycle of gonadotropic hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone) and sex steroid hormones (estradiol, prolactin) was studied, for 21 days of a cycle estimated the content of progesterone. Level of an expression of receptors of progesterone and estrogen estimated in endometrium and at endometrial polyps, also in І a cycle phase.The conducted research revealed reliable decrease in level of progesterone at women with endometrial polyps against the background of lack of significant changes in the receptor device. At patients with micropolyps the tendency to a hypoprogesteronemia was also observed, but changes in an expression of steroid receptors it was not also revealed.The authors conclusion is the low concentration of progesterone initiate non-hormonal pathophysiological mechanisms of development of endometrial polyps which should be considered at purpose of antirecurrent therapy.Thus, in case of progesteron deficit perverse mechanisms literally overlap in an attempt to start the process of tumor. Inflammation is an important component of the physiological menstrual cycle, during prolonged hypoprogesteronemia it becomes pathological. It is directly involved in the formation of such a microenvironment for endometrium in which the mechanisms of fibrosis fully realize their potential, cell proliferation and angiogenesis, creating a strong foundation for the subsequent formation and growth of endometrial polyps. To date, it is proved that an imbalance in estrogen-progesterone system actually increases the risk of developing endometrial polyps, but not always through steroid receptors.

Slow food, slow communication slow capitalism. Pratiche di resistenza e colonizzazione dell'alterità

The slow movements offer an alternative life project in comparison to the mainstream paradigm of homo faber and homo communicans, and criticize capitalism that appears in the form of a perverse mechanism capable of colonizing vital spaces of individuals, through the dissimulation of its own power. The «new spirit of capitalism» suggests that the stigma and criticism to which capitalism is subjected is what bring its ability to reproduce and renew itself. The following paper will analyze the specific ways in which slow movements have become important «narrative representations», revealing their deep connection with the «dominant grammar» of the capitalist matrix.

Sustainable Bonuses: Sign of Corporate Responsibility or Window Dressing?

Despite a strong plea for integrating sustainability goals into traditional corporate bonus schemes, a comprehensive implementation of these systems has been lacking until recently. This article explores four illustrative cases from the Netherlands, where several multinationals started to pioneer with sustainable bonuses in the past few years. The article examines the setups and the different elements of bonus programmes used, in terms of performance criteria (focusing in particular on external vs. internal benchmarking), their link to specific stakeholders, type and size of bonuses, target levels and transparency. While sustainable bonuses signal corporate awareness of responsibility vis-à-vis society and stakeholders, credibility varies considerably depending on these elements. Our case evidence sheds some light on the extent to which sustainable bonuses may be a credible sign of corporate responsibility or rather just another perverse mechanism meant to keep up bonus levels (window dressing). A definite assessment is hampered by the emergent state and lack of full transparency—while ‘justified’ by companies for competitive reasons, this raises questions. Insights are offered to appraise current and future systems and provide directions for further research.

The development and organizing function of perversion: The example of transvestism

Perversion had been viewed as oedipally determined and in a reciprocal relationship with neurosis. In our widening scope, however, pre‐oedipal and traumatic contributions have been increasingly emphasized. While both perspectives represent aspects of clinical reality, the tendency has been to overlook sexual and aggressive drive derivatives, with their related conflicts, object representations, and symbolic enactments, even though they may make significant contributions to the analytic situation. These latter, ‘classical’ patients have what I consider ‘organized’ perversions: complex, evolved, neurotic‐level, stable psychopathological formations that may be distinguished from borderline or near psychotic syndromes enlisting perverse mechanisms to ward off disorganization. This paper will review Freud’s work, briefly consider some recent trends in conceptualizing perversion and perverse mechanisms, characterize organized perversion, and present clinical material to illustrate its evolution, clinical manifestations, and analysis. Transsexualism, overtly similar to transvestism but not functioning as an organized perversion, will serve as a point of contrast.

Suicidality as an expression of ‘Psychic retreats’: Some clinical and theoretical aspects1

The paper aims to show that the theory of ‘Psychic Retreats’ can offer a clinically helpful framework for understanding manifest and latent suicidal tendencies. A psychic retreat is often clung to when the contact with reality (internal or external) becomes too frightening or would confront the patient with unbearable psychic pain. In such a situation a retreat may serve as a temporary refuge; but in its chronic form it leads to an impasse which can obstruct any possibility of psychic development and often reflects a pathological organization of the personality. Originally aimed at binding and neutralizing destructive impulses, the retreat may then become itself an expression of chronic and tormenting destructiveness. Using clinical material the paper illustrates how suicidal fantasies can create an impasse which serves to control the analyst by making use of perverse mechanisms and specific forms of projective identification. On the other hand, a psychic retreat may also serve as a masquerade to cover up suicidal tendencies. In the first form the underlying cruelty is displayed more openly while in the second it is disguised by romanticization and idealization. Both forms of a psychic retreat confront the therapist with considerable technical difficulties and make it necessary to carefully register and interpret the subtle enactments of very pathological object relations within the transference relationship.

Sectoralization of an Integrated Coastal Management Programme: A Case Study in Madagascar

This paper focuses on integrated environmental management and shows why emphasis should be put on implementation issues. The authors take the example of integrated coastal management (ICM) and analyse a case study they recently conducted in Madagascar, where an ambitious ICM programme is being implemented. They explain a strong perverse mechanism called sectoralization, which appears to threaten many integration efforts and is a good example of what is at stake with the implementation of the integration concept. They conclude especially that integrated environmental management should not be considered as the only modern form of environmental action, and that a certain type of case study is now needed to analyse existing environmental management systems before designing integration programmes.

On A Type of Heterosexuality, and the Fluidity of Object Relations

This paper delineates a form of heterosexuality whose underlying psychological structure resembles that of perversions. It is characterized by: idealization of instinctual processes, whereby the ego subordinates the object to the actualization of the instinctual event itself; heightened narcissism in an otherwise neurotic ego organization; multiple intrapsychic uses of the object; a special kind of defensive organization; an experienced victory over the superego and associated elevation of certain aspects of the ego ideal; and a resultant alteration in the nature of close interpersonal relationships. I use clinical vignettes from both male and female patients in psychoanalysis to focus on the phenomena in question. The thinking of Chassequet-Smirgel, Freud, Khan, Rangell, Socarides, and others is used in an attempt to gain an encompassing perspective. It is emphasized that patients demonstrating this form of heterosexuality do not possess a perversion per se, but demonstrate a character neurosis which integrates certain perverse mechanisms into its defensive organization. These mechanisms can be isolated and studied in psychoanalytic treatment, with the potential for illuminating their defensive and mood-regulating functions, and eventual working through and resolution of the intrapsychic conflicts underlying them. Some comments on the implications of this form of sexuality for our contemporary culture are included.