Towards justice and care : deconstructing stories of personhood and patienthood

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This assignment uses the theory of deconstruction to reflect on some discoursesthat underlie the practices of psychology and psychiatry. The language of thepsychological professions is analysed in terms of its political implications. Anumber of linguistic power hierarchies that are central to the practice ofpsychology are deconstructed: the individual and the social, reason andunreason, normality and pathology, form and content, theoretical categories andreal life, professional and lay views, and non-psychotic and psychotic language.The concepts of justice (as understood within the Derridian paradigm) and careare analysed, with specific emphasis on their practical implications in theinteractions between therapists and patients in real life psychotherapeuticsituations. This deconstructive process takes place in the intersection of my ownstory as an intern clinical psychologist with the stories of some of the patients I 'have worked with during this year. The outcome of this process is a deepeningand broadening of the meaning of providing just and respectful mental health .'care to every patient.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University