Trauma and the symbolic function of the mind

Bonomi, Carlo

doi:10.1080/08037060410031052

Cited by 22 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Let me be clear: I am not addressing issues of trauma in general, nor do I plan to review the issues and the extensive psychoanalytic literature on this subject. For that I refer the reader to a brief discussion with regard to veterans in Stein (2007, p. 585) and broader contemporary discussions of trauma theory in Bonomi (2004) and Boulanger (2002). Let me be clear as well that the "moral wounds" I speak of are not to be found in the elaborate, fanciful stories spun by Pi and Odysseus; rather, they are what the storytelling defends their authors against.…”

Section: T H E M O R a L W O U N Dmentioning

confidence: 98%

Life of Pi and the Moral Wound

Allen¹

2014

J Am Psychoanal Assoc

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The "moral wound," rendered symbolically in the form of the tiger in Life of Pi, is a complex trauma in which the victim, in order to survive in life-threatening circumstances, commits an ethical transgression against his or her deeply held values. Pi experiences such a trauma and deals with it by dissociating it in the form of the tiger and then has to simultaneously both preserve the tiger and wish it to disappear. Jonathan Shay's work relating the experiences of returning Vietnam veterans to Homer's Odyssey is used to further an understanding of both Life of Pi and American soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reasons are considered for the possible delayed effect of trauma as a factor in the increased suicide rate of older veterans. Finally, the concept of the "moral wound" is discussed, with an eye to its treatment.

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Section: T H E M O R a L W O U N Dmentioning

confidence: 98%

Life of Pi and the Moral Wound

Allen¹

2014

J Am Psychoanal Assoc

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“…Symbols link together the body and the outer world, emotion and representations, and the past, present and future. When a person experiences early developmental disruption or trauma this unifying function fails to develop or is damaged (Bonomi 2004).…”

Section: Defining Symbolic Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, the internalization of the first object is disrupted. Internalization of the initial object is the foundation upon which all other representational and symbolic processes are based (Bovensiepen 2002; Bonomi 2004; Willemsen 2014; Potamianou 2015; Weiss 2021).…”

Section: Object Relations and Symbolic Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Working with patients with disruptions in symbolic capacity¹

Winborn

2022

J Analytical Psychology

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This article focuses on understanding and working with patients who have poorly developed symbolic capacity, or for whom symbolic capacity has been disrupted due to trauma, particularly as it pertains to the use of reverie and interpretation in the analytic process. Many patients who present for Jungian analysis will initially present with deficits in symbolic functioning. This situation results in necessary limitations or modifications in utilizing traditional Jungian techniques such as dream analysis, active imagination, sand tray and other expressive art techniques. The initial phase of analytic work with these patients requires a focus on developing their symbolic capacity before traditional Jungian techniques can be utilized effectively. During the paper Jung's concept of 'the symbolic attitude' will be examined as well as the conceptual models of Wilfred Bion and other post-Bionians who outline theories and method for cultivating symbolic capacity and reflective functioning in patients for whom these capacities are impaired or poorly developed.

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“…This view, however, has been argued against. For example, Sydney Philips rejected the idea that what made an event traumatic was determined by the meaning or appraisal the individual gave to such event (Bonomi, 2004). Although an individual's interpretation of an event is important, sometimes the situation may just be so overwhelming that meaning-making and appraisal of the situation becomes even very difficult.…”

Section: Psychological Insights To Trauma Experience Of Women Without...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural Practices of Male Child Preference as a Determinant of Psychological Trauma among Women in South Eastern-Nigeria

Eze¹,

Chigbo²

2018

Int J Indian Psychol

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This paper attempted to make a connection between the maladaptive consequences and dangers faced by women in South-Eastern Nigeria who could not give birth to male children of their own. Literature reviewed in the study reveal that male child preference in Igbo tribe in South-Eastern Nigeria is a long held culture and conditioning that has continued to make women look like second class citizens in their own communities. It was evident from the literature that male child preference as a cultural practice leaves women without male children in dangers of losing their self-worth and life meaning. Thus, this paper has examined these literatures and connected the experiences of these women to those of psychological trauma. Informally, some informants were interviewed and their responses in respect to their own conditions of not having male children confirmed the connection made in this study that they experienced conditions that coincide with those of psychological trauma. Conclusions are made that psychological trauma may exist among women in South-Eastern Nigeria who do not have male children. Similarly, recommendations were made some of which included a call for researches to expose that silent-killer cultural practice in Igbo South Eastern Nigeria as a way of reducing the difficulties faced by women in those communities.

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Trauma and the symbolic function of the mind

Cited by 22 publications

References 9 publications

Life of Pi and the Moral Wound

Life of Pi and the Moral Wound

Working with patients with disruptions in symbolic capacity¹

Cultural Practices of Male Child Preference as a Determinant of Psychological Trauma among Women in South Eastern-Nigeria

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Trauma and the symbolic function of the mind

Cited by 22 publications

References 9 publications

Life of Pi and the Moral Wound

Life of Pi and the Moral Wound

Working with patients with disruptions in symbolic capacity1

Cultural Practices of Male Child Preference as a Determinant of Psychological Trauma among Women in South Eastern-Nigeria

Contact Info

Product

Resources

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Working with patients with disruptions in symbolic capacity¹