In this episode of 1Dime Radio, Tony (aka 1Dime) is joined by the autodidact psychoanalysis wizard Andrew Flores to discuss how certain assumptions of modern therapy, pop psychology, and mainstream psychology differ from Psychoanalysis, particularly Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalytic theory and practice.
My guest, Andrew Flores (also known as “The Big Sig”, and part of the Young Žižekians collective called “The Vanishing Mediators”), has an essay titled “Therapism, Psychoanalysis, and Ideology” featured in the new book Underground Theory Vol 1 (featuring Slavoj Zizek, Alenka Zupancic, and a bunch of nobodies, like myself! In his article, Andrew argues that much modern therapy functions as “ideology” for contemporary capitalism, and he critiques popular psychology figures such as Jordan Peterson, Gabor Mate, and Phil Stutz, Jonah Hill’s therapist, popularized in Jonah Hill’s latest Netflix documentary titled “Stutz” , which is about the life and psycho-therapeutic techniques of Jonah Hill’s therapist, Phil Stutz. In his talk with Theory Underground, Andrew has an illuminating critique of Phil Stutz as the embodiment of popular therapy today from a Lacanian psychoanalytic perspective.
In this episode, Andrew and I discuss the limitations and misconceptions associated with contemporary therapy practices, also known as “therapism”, while contrasting it against the intricate theories of psychoanalytic therapy developed by Sigmund Freud and further elaborated upon by Jacques Lacan. He delves into the societal manifestation of therapism, critiquing figures in pop psychology, and key concepts of psychoanalysis such as the death drive, trauma and the role of sexual repression in personal problems. Andrew talks about the pervasive issues of the overly simplistic approach of many psychological therapies currently championed in the mainstream and emphasizes the significance of the unconscious, language and desire in psychoanalysis.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:27 Therapism and Pop Psychology
06:30 Psychoanalysis and its Importance
08:41 The Death Drive
11:42 Understanding the Role of Psychoanalysis in Society
17:30 Modern Therapy Culture
24:20 Critique of Popular Psychology Figures
29:15 The Unconscious
34:43 The Importance of Language in Psychoanalysis
39:06 The Real in Lacanian Psychoanalysis
44:31 The Ego, Ego Ideal, Ideal Ego
48:48 Desire vs Drive in Psychoanalysis
54:41 Trauma in Modern Therapy
01:05:30 The Symbolic Order
01:09:59 Lack and the other
01:15:23 “Repression” in Psychoanalysis
01:19:38 The Death Drive (again)
01:25:37 Identification with the Symptom
01:30:26 “Law” and Prohibition
01:40:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Check out Andrew and the Young Žižekians: https://youtu.be/vO4ztWebQEE?si=Yk_EgU4KWhCIVgbL
The Big Sigorelli: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Big_Sig/videos
Check out Underground Theory Vol 1 (which includes some big names like Slavoj Zizek, Alenka Zupancic, and some smaller names like Andrew and myself): https://www.amazon.com/Underground-Theory-David-McKerracher/dp/B0CH2CXSGN
If you want to help support the show and my work, you can become a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/OneDime (you get extra content)
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My guy is beautiifulll
Silly faith based non material models of reality masquerading as material analysis. Lacanian analysis is imaginary.
I was a bit intimidated with Lacanian psych. Thanks for a great introduction👍
The school of psychology will one bay be looked back on like we do the the concept of humors
A uncut version would have been better, the cuts make it a bit jarring and makes it hard to believe this is an accurate portrayal of your guests thoughts
Also why does anyone think that these people from hundred of years ago have any real relevance today? Most of them have been shown to be wrong and outdated but peeps keep pushing old beliefs as new ideas
Zizek called he wants his back water theory back
Psychology in effect has diagnosed capitalism as a mental illness. Except they have no access to the tools needed to cure it (Affordable housing, stable employment, thriving wages, universal healthcare, safety nets, etc). So instead they convince you that it’s your thoughts that are bad and need to change so you can accept capitalism’s effects on your life. Similar to how religion is used.
>psychoanalysis vs therapy culture
ah, so two pseudosciences being compared against each other.
Wow! "Undermine science!" Amaze! "Cant be proven!"
Ok sure. Vulnerable patients deserve result driven support. There are no reliable studies (blind, adjusted, placebo, etc.) or meta analysis showing psychoanalysis to be an effective treatment.