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L. Poenaru
The term "multi-level psychoanalysis" serves as a valuable reframing of psychoanalysis to better align with contemporary critical and scientific perspectives.
What does "multi-level" signify within the context of IN ANALYSIS journal-oriented work, and how does it integrate with critical theory and scientific rigor?
1. Conceptual framework
Historical psychoanalysis: Traditional psychoanalysis, as developed by Freud and his followers, primarily focused on the exploration of the unconscious mind, the influence of early childhood experiences, and the resolution of internal conflicts through therapeutic dialogue. The original framework, while revolutionary, often leaned on interpretations that were deeply metaphorical and sometimes speculative, which has led to criticism from more empirical and scientifically oriented fields.
Multi-Level analysis: The term "multi-level" implies a more complex, layered approach to understanding the psyche. This includes:
Biological level: Considering neurological and genetic factors that influence mental processes and behavior.
Psychological level: Integrating traditional psychoanalytic concepts like unconscious processes, defense mechanisms, and transference, but grounding them in empirical psychological research.
Social and cultural level: Recognizing the influence of social structures, cultural narratives, and power dynamics on the individual's psyche, thereby aligning with critical theory's emphasis on social context and ideology.
Phenomenological level: Emphasizing the lived experience of individuals, capturing the subjective and existential dimensions of the psyche.
2. Critical Integration
Critical theory: Critical theory, especially from the Frankfurt School, has historically engaged with psychoanalysis but critiqued it for not sufficiently addressing the social and political dimensions of human experience. A "multi-level" approach incorporates these critiques, emphasizing how societal factors like capitalism, patriarchy, and colonialism shape psychological phenomena.
Intersectionality: A multi-level framework would also benefit from an intersectional perspective, analyzing how various identities (race, gender, class, etc.) intersect to influence psychological development and pathology.
3. Scientific rigor
Empirical validation: To truly adapt psychoanalysis to a scientific perspective, the multi-level approach requires empirical validation at each level. This involves integrating triangulation and findings from neuroscience, developmental psychology, and social psychology, among other fields. In the context of qualitative scientific methods, validation is achieved through several key strategies that ensure the credibility, reliability, and rigor of the research.
Interdisciplinary research: Emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach, where insights from different scientific disciplines inform psychoanalytic theory, could strengthen its empirical foundation. This would also encourage the development of testable hypotheses and falsifiable theories, which are essential for scientific credibility.
4. Practical Implications
Therapeutic practice: In practice, multi-level psychoanalysis can lead to more holistic therapeutic interventions. Therapists can tailor their approaches based on the level or combination of levels most relevant to a client's issues, whether they be neurobiological, psychological, or sociocultural.
Ethical considerations: A multi-level approach also necessitates a strong ethical framework, especially when dealing with sociocultural factors, to avoid pathologizing cultural differences or reinforcing oppressive systems.
5. Philosophical considerations
Epistemological pluralism: Adopting a multi-level framework would require embracing epistemological pluralism, recognizing that different levels of analysis may require different methodologies and forms of evidence. This would move psychoanalysis away from a one-size-fits-all model and towards a more nuanced, context-sensitive approach.
Ontology of the Psyche: A multi-level approach might also challenge the traditional ontological assumptions of psychoanalysis, potentially leading to a more dynamic and fluid understanding of the psyche as something that is not only shaped by internal drives but also by external, material conditions.
INCLUSION OF THE ECONOMIC LEVEL
Including the economic level in a multi-level psychoanalysis framework (incorporating biological, social, cultural, phenomenological levels) would be a valuable and necessary expansion, particularly in light of contemporary critical theory and interdisciplinary approaches that recognize the profound influence of economic factors on individual and collective psychological dynamics. How could the economic level be integrated into multi-level psychoanalysis? We will place particular emphasis on sexuality due to the primordial role that psychoanalysis has accorded it in the development of the psyche.
1. Understanding the economic level
Economic determinants: The economic level would involve analyzing how economic structures, class relations, and material conditions influence psychological development, behavior, and mental health. This includes the impact of poverty, wealth inequality, job insecurity, and economic crises on the psyche.
Capitalism and neoliberalism: The economic level would also critically examine the psychological implications of living under cybercapitalism and neoliberal ideologies, which often prioritize profit over well-being, leading to experiences of alienation, stress, and anxiety.
2. Integration with psychoanalytic concepts
Unconscious and economic factors: Traditional psychoanalytic concepts like the unconscious, repression, and defense mechanisms could be re-examined through the lens of economic pressures. For example, financial insecurity might be understood as a source of anxiety that fuels certain unconscious conflicts or defense strategies.
Subjectivity and economic class: The economic level would allow for an exploration of how class identity and economic status shape one’s subjectivity, influencing self-esteem, aspirations, and interpersonal relationships.
3. Economic trauma and mental health
Economic trauma: The concept of economic trauma—stemming from experiences like unemployment, eviction, or financial instability—could be a significant focus. Psychoanalysis could explore how such trauma manifests in psychological symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, or even psychosomatic disorders.
Intergenerational economic strain: Economic factors can also be explored in the context of intergenerational transmission of trauma, where the economic hardships of one generation affect the psychological well-being of subsequent generations.
3. Sexualities
Economic power and sexual expression: Economic power often correlates with sexual power, influencing how individuals express and experience their sexualities. Economic inequalities can lead to disparities in sexual agency, where those with greater financial resources may have more freedom to explore and express their sexual desires. Capitalist economies often commodify sexuality, turning it into a product to be bought and sold, which can shape individuals' sexual identities and practices. The proliferation of sex work, pornography, and consumer-oriented sexual products reflects how economic factors shape and sometimes exploit sexualities.
Economic stress and sexual relationships: Financial stress can strain sexual relationships, leading to issues like reduced sexual desire, intimacy problems, or even sexual dysfunction. Economic pressures can also influence decisions about marriage, reproduction, and family life, often pushing individuals towards or away from certain sexual behaviors and identities. In some cases, economic hardship may lead individuals to use sexuality as a coping mechanism, either through increased sexual activity as a form of escapism or through diminished sexual interest due to stress and anxiety.
Class, sexual identity, and access: Economic status often determines access to resources that support sexual health and identity, such as healthcare, contraception, and safe spaces for sexual expression. Individuals from lower economic classes may have limited access to sexual health services, which can influence their sexual behaviors and identities. The economic level intersects with gender and sexual identities, shaping how these identities are formed and expressed. LGBTQ+ individuals may face economic marginalization, which in turn affects their sexual identities and relationships.
Economic ideologies and sexual norms: Economic ideologies, particularly those linked to capitalism, often promote specific sexual norms and ideals, such as the hyper-sexualization of bodies or the linking of sexual success with material success. These cultural narratives can shape individuals' sexual identities and behaviors, sometimes reinforcing harmful stereotypes or unrealistic expectations. Conversely, economic oppression may also lead to the emergence of alternative sexual identities and practices as forms of resistance. Individuals and communities might challenge dominant economic and sexual norms by embracing non-normative sexualities that reject capitalist ideals.
4. Critical theory and the economic level
Critique of ideology: Incorporating the economic level would align psychoanalysis with critical theory’s critique of capitalist ideologies. It would explore how dominant economic ideologies infiltrate the psyche, shaping desires, fears, and behaviors in ways that sustain existing power structures.
Resistance and empowerment: The economic level could also consider how individuals and groups resist economic oppression and seek psychological empowerment through collective action, solidarity, and alternative economic practices.
5. Therapeutic implications
Contextualizing therapy: In clinical practice, considering the economic level would help therapists contextualize clients' psychological issues within their material conditions. For instance, instead of pathologizing a client’s anxiety, a therapist might explore how economic stressors contribute to their mental state.
Economic justice in therapy: Therapists could advocate for economic justice as part of the healing process, encouraging clients to recognize and challenge the economic forces impacting their lives.
6. Empirical research and economic level
Interdisciplinary research: Empirical validation of the economic level in psychoanalysis would require collaboration with economists, sociologists, and political scientists. Research could investigate the psychological effects of economic policies, labor conditions, and economic inequalities.
Case studies and qualitative research: Detailed case studies and qualitative research could provide rich insights into how economic factors intersect with other psychological levels, offering a holistic understanding of the individual psyche within its broader economic context.
Reference
Poenaru, L. (2023). Inconscient économique. Paris: L'Harmattan.
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