Psychohistory News Newsletter of the International Psychohistorical Association Volume 38, Number 1 – Winter 2019 Psychohistorian Interviews by Ken Fuchsman

Trevor C. Pederson

Psychohistory News interviews the author on his second book, Pychoanalysis and Hidden Narrative in Film: Reading the Symptom, published by Routledge in October.

continued on page six

Joseph G. Ponterotto A Psychobiography of John F. Kennedy, Jr.: Understanding His Inner Life, Achievements, Struggles, and Courage was published last November. An interview with the author follows. continued on page three

PSYCHOHISTORY BULLETIN BOARD, PAGE 8

HUMAN DIGNITY AND HUMILIATION STUDIES, 2018 CONFERENCE REPORT, PAGE 2 Page 2 Conference Report Dignity, Leadership, and the Ecological Crisis by Brian D’Agostino, Ph.D.

The 32nd biannual conference of empower those around them. He Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s pro- the Human Dignity and Humilia- illustrated the transformative power posed Green New Deal, America’s tion Studies (HumanDHS) net- of relationships with a moving story most ambitious ecological pro- work occurred at Columbia about his own lifelong struggle with posal, would allocate two trillion University Teachers College on ADHD. Rick described the cumula- dollars over ten years to building December 6th and 7th, 2018. Like tive negative and positive impacts green infrastructure, while the previous HumanDHS events, this of encounters with teachers during scale of investment actually was less a traditional academic his adolescence and felt his life was required to avert ecological threat conference and more a workshop on a trajectory of failure when he is more on the scale of 2.4 trillion in multi-cultural relationship and graduated from high school. At this dollars per year, more than ten community building. This report critical time, a single teacher’s times as much. Britton did not only scratches the surface of the expression of love and recognition pretend to have easy answers to conference and focuses on two of of him as an individual had a this looming crisis. He suggested powerful impact on Slaven and the presentations. that the solution, if there is going turned the tide in his inner struggle. to be one, will come from a grass HumanDHS was cofounded in This story and his presentation as a roots response of billions of 2001 by transdisciplinary scholars whole illustrates the primacy that people, not from political and Evelin Lindner and Linda Hartling. HDHS places on emotional Lindner, who holds doctorates in intelligence and relationships in corporate leaders invested in the medicine and psychology, is the diagnosing what is wrong with the existing system. He suggested that author of five books, most recently world and charting a way forward. each individual in attendance Honor, Humiliation, and Terror: could begin by tapping experi- An Explosive Mix—And How We Psychologist Michael Britton, Ed.D., ences of our love of nature and Can Defuse It with Dignity gave the Don Klein Memorial come to terms with the profound (Dignity Press, 2017). Hartling, a Lecture. His topic this year was the feelings of loss that accompany an psychologist and former Associate ecological crisis in the 21st Century. awareness of the ecological Director of Wellesley College’s He discussed the 2018 report Global devastation that is occurring. He Warming of 1.5 C by the Inter- Jean Baker Miller Training suggested that the principle of love governmental Panel on Climate Institute, created the Humiliation is going to be paramount as we Change and the inadequacy of Inventory, a self-report scale for navigate the mass suffering that mainstream responses to this assessing the internal experience the 21st Century will bring. of humiliation. scientific consensus. Global warm- ing of 1.5 C above pre-industrial The first presentation reviewed average temperature is expected to here was “The Language of greatly exacerbate the unusually Brian D’Agostino, Ph.D. is an Leading with Dignity,” by Richard severe wildfires, droughts, preci- educator, researcher, and the Slaven, Ph.D. A nuclear engineer pitation and storms the world has Editor of Psychohistory News. by training, Slaven made his career encountered in recent years. Such He is the author of numerous in public school teaching and temperature rise threatens to flood publications on political psycho- administration, then as Admin- 80% of the world’s major cities. logy and public affairs including istrator for the Brandeis University And yet the 2016 Paris Agreement The Middle Class Fights Back: School of Physics. His theme was (from which the Trump Administra- How Progressive Movements Can that effective leaders in all fields tion is withdrawing), even with Restore Democracy in America. are not people who elevate them- supplements, will not suffice to Visit his website at selves, but who educate and maintain the 1.5 C cap. bdagostino.com Page 3

International Psychohistorical Association Contacts Ken Fuchsman, President [email protected] Gilda Graff, Vice President [email protected] Marc-André Cotton, International Vice President [email protected] Theresa Aiello, Secretary [email protected] Denis J. O’Keefe, Treasurer [email protected] Inna Rozentsvit, Communications Director [email protected] Brian D'Agostino, Editor, Psychohistory News [email protected] Susan Hein, Publisher, The Journal of Psychohistory [email protected] Paul Elovitz, Editor, Clio’s Psyche and listserv [email protected] Howard Stein, Member, IPA Leadership Council [email protected]

PONTEROTTO ON working as an Assistant District in which the subjects lived, and JOHN F. KENNEDY, JR. Attorney (DA) for four years with both strive to provide objective the Manhattan DA’s office, he left and balanced profiles of their continued from page one law to co-found and edit George, subjects. Psychobiography, how- a cutting-edge magazine at the ever, is anchored in psychological In the following, Kenneth A. intersection of politics, media, and theory and a focus on the entertainment. underlying drives, motivations, Fuchsman (KAF) interviews and inner thoughts and feelings Joseph G. Ponterotto (JGP). As an internationally visible and that led to the subject’s lived life. recognizable figure, how would he KAF: What makes John F. forge a life? Psychobiographers KAF: Your particular psychobio- Kennedy Jr. a subject of often focus on unanswered ques- graphical approach includes significant historical, biographi- tions in the life of historic figures, specific psychological theories cal, and psychological interest? and these are some of the mysteries ranging from Erikson to positive I worked to unravel in this book. psychology. What are the JGP: As the only surviving son advantages to your approach? of President John F. Kennedy and KAF: You are a psychobiogra- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, pher. What is psychobiography? JGP: In the first three decades of JFK Jr. was a person of high How is it similar to and different the 20th century, psychoanalytic public interest. His father was from biography, and psycho- theory anchored a majority of taken down by an assassin’s history? psychobiographies. At mid-cen- bullet in 1963 and his father- tury, the theoretical horizons of figure uncle, Bobby Kennedy was JGP: I have defined psychobiogra- the field began to expand in large assassinated less than five years phy as “the intensive life-span part due to studies of individual later. How does a young child study of an individual of historic life at Harvard University by Erik cope with such loses? How does significance in socio-cultural con- Erikson, Henry Murray, and one develop his own personal and text using psychological and Gordon Allport, who employed career identity in the shadow of a historiographic research methods new concepts and methodologies. beloved, martyred father and and interpreted from established Psychobiographers also began to uncle? These are questions of theories of psychology.” Biogra- recognize that human life is too interest to both biographers and phy and psychobiography have complicated and complex to psychologists. many characteristics in common: understand from one theoretical both rely on rigorous biographical lens. JFK Jr. also earned biographers’ and historiographic research; both and historians’ attention by the interpret the lives of their subjects In my study of JFK Jr., I strength of his personality. After in the context of the historic period integrated theories in the Page 4 psychodynamic tradition (Winni- Over time, I was able to home in, JGP: John F. Kennedy, Jr. may cott) and lifespan development with a high degree of confidence, have been the first person born (Erikson, Levinson, and Arnett). and answer many of the questions instantaneously famous. Given Many historic figures have been posited. his famous family and the grow- examined from a deficit or ing popularity of television in the pathological model; I wanted to KAF: After his biological father early 1960s, John grew up in the also study JFK Jr.’s life from a was assassinated, his chief parent public eye. This fame posed strengths-based model, which is was Jackie. How did she challenges to his private life. As the recent emphasis in positive encourage, shape, and limit John’s a child, with the wisdom and psychology. personal and career development? mentoring of his mother, his uncles Bobby and Teddy Ken- KAF: In embarking on a research JGP: After President Kennedy’s nedy, his older sister and cousins, project, an investigator needs to assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy John learned how to navigate the ascertain what evidence is soon relocated to New York City. obstacle course of fame early in pertinent. How did you do that? Bobby Kennedy took on a father- life. This was not the case for his like role. When Bobby was adult romantic partners. His wife assassinated, Jackie and her Carolyn Bessette Kennedy strug- JGP: What material is most children were retraumatized. In gled with the constant paparazzi relevant in the study of a many ways, Jackie was both a attention, and this was a source of historical figure is a critical mother and father-figure to John stress also for John and their question. With JFK Jr., I had a after Bobby’s death. Mothering marriage, as John could do only series of questions about his inner John was a challenge; where so much to protect her. In time, life and life history. My initial set Caroline was well-behaved, John if the couple had not perished in of questions about the life of JFK was distractible, rambunctious, and that fatal last flight, Carolyn may Jr. led me to read various mischievous. Jackie kept close have learned how to cope and biographies of JFK Jr., as well as tabs on John; she was also navigate the fame; however, she memoirs written by his close concerned for John given some of never got that chance. friends, and his two long-term the challenges his male cousins had nannies. First person documents, faced with substance use and the KAF: His mother died when he such as John’s letters, poems, and law. John’s lifelong friend Billy was 33. In a family with genera- recorded interviews were of Noonan said it well: “Jackie’s tions of early deaths, what primary importance. Conducting mothering of John was complex. psychological effects did Jackie’s face-to-face or phone/email She had an innate sense, I death have on her only son? interviews with individuals who understood much later, of how to knew John well was invaluable. walk the line between protecting JGP: While likely heartbreaking More distanced, third-person him and giving him the freedom to for John (and Caroline), he shared documents such as the complete figure out his own way.” She later with friends that he was NTSB report on his tragic flight became “both a nurturing mother ready for his mother’s death; he accident, and the FBI files on and a strict father to him.” had time to prepare for it, and she kidnap threats against him were had lived a full life. Certainly, secured through the Freedom of KAF: The Kennedy clan and John Jackie’s death also had a Information Act, and provided Jr. were subject to over-the-top liberating impact on his psyche. additional valuable information. media attention. While still a Now he truly was independent, a As I reviewed the material, I young man, John Jr. was selected full adult. John delayed piloting attempted to triangulate the data as the sexiest man alive. How did while Jackie was still living given across sources. Different hypo- the constant attention impact on his her expressed fear of his flying in theses about the subject are tested ability to have an actual private light of the history of plane and examined for both confirm- life? deaths/accidents in the Kennedy ing and disconfirming evidence. extended family. Also, he was Page 5 free to pursue his own career simply buying fewer traditional man and quite different from his goals and date and marry anyone books, magazines, and newspapers. grandfather Joseph P. Kennedy he wished, whereas when his and father in terms of his mother was still alive, she did KAF: You discuss that John responsibility and loyalty in influence his intimate relation- regularly took on risky challenges. marriage. There may also be ships and career choices. It was risking piloting an airplane generational effects of John’s that he was not sufficiently trained fidelity in marriage. I do not see KAF: John Jr. practiced the legal to fly that resulted in his 1999 John as reckless or self-destruc- profession, then left and started death and that of his wife and tive. He was a responsible son, and edited George magazine. sister-in-law. How do you account brother, cousin, friend, husband, What made this publication for his being drawn to such and chief executive of a major distinctive? How did it show that dangerous challenges? magazine. Yet, at times he exer- John was establishing his own cised poor judgment, particularly identity? Over time how did the JGP: Throughout his life, John in in areas of speed and physical magazine fare? a way was caged in: by his secret adventure. Certainly, there were service detail; by his need to be many losses in the extended JGP: Many of John’s closest cautious given threats to his life Kennedy family. Psychodynam- friends noted that he never liked (the FBI investigated threats of ically, intense loss and grief can the work of an attorney, the ins kidnapping in the mid-1980s and lead a survivor to engage risk as and outs of legal briefs. A year 1990s); by the constant swarm of an affirmation of one’s aliveness. after his mother’s death in 1994, media and paparazzi. Where could Another interpretation, however, John ventured out on his own, he really be free and safe from should also be considered: John starting George magazine with swarming photographers? The knew life was precious and not friend and partner Michael draw of scuba diving in deep guaranteed, and perhaps he tried Berman. The magazine was a waters, or being dropped by to swallow too much of life too creative idea, focusing on the helicopter atop a snow-fresh quickly. intersection of politics and mountain to ski down, or kayaking entertainment. John hoped the where others are hesitant to Joseph Ponterotto is Professor magazine with its “Hollywood” wander, and of course, by flying of Counseling Psychology at high in the air far away from connection would attract a mass Fordham University’s Graduate cameras or reporters’ questions. audience to the political world. School of Education. He is a recognized expert in psycho- He was correct, and with his KAF: You cite Monica McGold- biography. Dr. Ponterotto has preeminence as co-founder and rick. In 1995, she discussed also written A Psychobiography Executive Editor, the magazine generations of Kennedy loss and of Bobby Fischer and is on the did well its first few years. male risky behavior in relation to loss, and asks what “leads a family Editorial Board of American Over time, George began to “go into such reckless and self- Psychologist. He can be reached under” around the time of John’s destructive behavior?” Do you at [email protected] death. Some in the industry think John Jr. followed in the believe that ultimately, the public reckless tradition of so many Ken Fuchsman, Ed.D. is Presi- was not that interested in mixing Kennedy men? If so, was it his dent of the International politics and entertainment; others response to loss or for other Psychohistorical Association, believe John’s falling out with reasons? If not, how so? the author of numerous articles Michael Berman, and the latter’s on education and psychohistory, departure from the magazine, had JGP: Perhaps there is some genetic and a member of the editorial a detrimental effect. Around this predisposition for the need for boards of Clio’s Psyche and The period, digital media and online constant motion, newness, and Journal of Psychohistory. He magazines were growing in other seeds of physical adventure can be reached at popularity and people were and risk. John was clearly his own [email protected] Page 6

PEDERSON ON PSYCHO- philosophy and an inner need to be relationships. People who have ANALYSIS AND FILM systematic in my thinking. more functioning parts of their However, I hope my readers see personality don’t show the same continued from page one that this doesn’t come from a insistent repetition, but instead In the following, Kenneth A. dogmatic, rigid place, but from a will have several competing Fuchsman (KAF) interviews place of genuine curiosity to repetitions that want to emerge in Trevor C. Pederson (TCP). understand the person or film that their lives. I engage with. KAF: What are the main aims and KAF: How will lovers of movies themes of your recently published KAF: What will psychoanalysts and those interested in film Psychoanalysis and Hidden gain from reading a book of film criticism gain from reading psy- Narrative in Film: Reading the criticism? In other words, can using choanalytic film criticism? How Symptom? a case study of the 1987 movie The do psychoanalytic perspectives Lost Boys assist psychoanalysts in advance the well-developed field TCP: The main theme of the their therapeutic endeavors, and if of film analysis? book is to clarify structures of the so, how? mind. Freud’s foundational TCP: They will gain insight into theories animate my work and, to TCP: Readers will get chapters on troubling or idiosyncratic parts of me, are the most sophisticated and psychoanalytic theory with clinical the film. They will gain a whole nuanced concepts of the mind thus vignettes to showcase the concepts. new plot that they can construct far in psychology. For example, I However, by having a cultural out of their favorite movies to show that the superego is synony- object like a film, they will also reveal the hidden neurotic story. mous with self-observation or have something that will train their They will gain a reading of the taking the self as an object. I show empathy for seeing various inter- film that is thorough, intricate, that this happens across various psychic complexes and group and works with the plot of the film levels of development and that relations in both patients and people instead of breaking the analysis this corresponds with different off of the couch. The Lost Boys up into a character study or levels of authority. I show that it contains a classic oedipal triangle, reading the film symbolically as corresponds to both moral states and to show the versatility of this a comment on colonialism, queer (guilt and shame) but also concept across different levels of theory, or something else. references the motivational drives superego development should be KAF: What is it in The Lost that make up the ego so that it’s helpful for clinicians to similarly Boys that makes it a worthy not just self judgements of assess their patients. subject of analysis? inferiority but also self-criticisms KAF: How do you use the unusual of being ugly, being weird, being clientele you have treated to TCP: First, it was the film from presumptuous, and much more. understand this particular film? which I derived the symptom reading. I was a live-in counselor The main aim of the book is to TCP: Working with criminal and at a house where people with give a new psychoanalytic me- addict populations made me very severe mental illness lived in thodology for film interpretation aware of how different the world Boston. I would do a movie night that doesn’t just label something feels for the regressed person in on Saturdays and was forced to sit on the surface, but constructs an comparison with people function- through many terrible movies. To insight into both the characters ing at higher levels of development. pass the time, I turned my and the plot. Another aim is to It also made me aware of how analytical eye to the films to see introduce new psychoanalytic pervasive repetitions are. It is if there was something going on techniques for working with shocking when you work with a in them that was more interesting. patients. Another aim is to person who has been physically At some point The Lost Boys came continue my project of showing abused by four different romantic up in the que and it was when the centrality of the Oedipus partners, or who has been cheated everything fell together for me. I complex in psychoanalytic on in all of his significant should say that I actually like The thought. I have a background in Page 7 Lost Boys. It’s one of those 80s my engagement with structural getting into the different movies that has heart, even though theory, and I have been criticized motivational systems of the it includes many of the excesses for writing about psychoanalysis economics of libido, I will of that decade. I also thought it like it’s the 1980s. However, a lot introduce the economics of moros was important to begin with a of what is called psychoanalysis (doom). Essentially, this is the popular film in which there’d be today bears little resemblance to it. idea that individuals can libidinize no question of the film makers They stripped the corpse of any anxiety situations which amounts having read psychoanalytic theory identifying materials and seek to to self sabotage, and I compare and consciously putting it into the reanimate it with appeals to aca- and contrast it with Lacan’s film. demic ideas or borrowing from concept of jouissance. The other other disciplines. They criticize film in the original manuscript KAF: Psychoanalysis is a field Freud’s model of mind and often was 2010’s Killers. It is a truly that has moved in a variety of just rename the original psycho- awful film, but there is a lot going different directions. You have analytic concepts in their own on in its symptom reading. In this distinct views on what is most jargon. book, I will revise the four level central in psychoanalysis that you object relations theory in Freud explicated in The Economics of KAF: What are the advantages for and expand it into a couple of Libido: Psychic Bisexuality, the psychoanalysis of your ideas? What more stages and place the Superego, and the Centrality of do your theories offer psychoanaly- emphasis more upon the passive the Oedipus Complex. How do sis that is not sufficiently empha- pole of the personality. The first you place your work in the sized these days? two books are about the active spectrum of psychoanalytic pole and their complexes viewpoints? TCP: My theories offer a system for evaluating differences in people (Oedipus and Electra). The TCP: If I think about how others and the corresponding clinical Bellerophon complex will likely might see my work, I could see techniques show the precision in be the subject of the third, with the them calling me a revisionist isolating these patterns and resolv- Antigone complex to follow in the Freudian. However, if someone ing them. I also think I show how fourth book. reads the book, he will see that I powerful intrapsychic issues are in KAF: Thanks, Trevor. extensively quote Freud in patients and how contemporary contrast to popular readings of approaches that have lost touch him that cherry pick in order to with the intrapsychic are unable to make him into a straw man or to work with many types of psycho- Trevor Pederson, MA, LPC, is a make his concepts overly sim- pathology. psychoanalytic psychotherapist plistic. In regards to other and author of the 2016 Gradiva theoretical allegiances, I see Klein KAF: It is my understanding that Award winning book The as Freud’s real daughter and agree your publisher, Routledge, is Economics of Libido: Psychic with how she showed the considering publishing two other Bisexuality, the Superego, and extensions of his ideas into early books of film criticism by you. the Centrality of the Oedipus development. I first got my sense What will be the subject matter of Complex. He can be reached at for the importance of the Oedipus these other volumes? [email protected] complex from Chasseguet- TCP: The next book will provide Smirgel and that was the link I Ken Fuchsman, Ed.D. is a reading of The Piano (1993) and President of the International needed to begin to approach the I will focus on the Electra complex understanding of characterology Psychohistorical Association, the in the film. To be more accurate, author of numerous articles on in a new way. I also quote Kohut, there is an Electra complex, but the some ego psychologists, and some education and psychohistory, inter-relations that the symptom and a member of the editorial contemporary theorists like Mike reading isolates revolve around Eigen and Susan Kaveler-Adler. boards of Clio’s Psyche and The causing desire and causing love that Journal of Psychohistory. He I know that some people are are part of a narcissistic feminine can be reached at instantly dismissive when they see motivational system. Along with [email protected] Page 8

PSYCHOHISTORY BULLETIN BOARD On March 23, 2019, The Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis will hold its annual conference. The subject is "The Therapeutic Action of Working with Erotic Transference." Dr. Susan Kavaler-Adler, PhD., ABPP, D.Litt., NCPsyA is the keynote speaker. The discussants are Stephanie Teitelbaum, LCSW and Dr. Margaret Yard. The moderator is Dr. Eva Papiasvilli. The location is the St. John’s University Manhattan campus at 101 Astor Place. For more information, email: [email protected] or go to http://www.orinyc.org/Calendar%20of%20ORI%20Events.html An additional sub-theme of the International Psychohistorical Association’s 42nd Annual conference will be “The Resurgence of Anti-Semitism in the United States and Europe.” Presenters include Jonathan Brent, Executive Director of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research; Robert Chazan, the S. H. and Helen R. Scheuer Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University; Shuki Cohen, Associate Professor of Psychology at John Jay College; and psychiatrists Arnold Richards and Jamshid Marvasti, psychoanalysts David Lotto and Emily Kuriloff, psychologist Michael Britton, physician Inna Rozentsvit, anthropologist Howard Stein, historian Ken Fuchsman, and religion scholar Constance L. Benson. The dates of the conference are May 22-24, 2019 at New York University. For more information go to psychohistory.us or email [email protected].

Forthcoming Psychohistory Forum Seminars include Brian D’Agostino (IPA) on “Sacred Cows and Scapegoats: Displacement, Ideology, and the Future of Democracy” on March 9 and Lawrence Friedman (Harvard) on “Erik Erikson Reconsidered” on April 13, 2019. These meetings are held at Fordham Lincoln Center at Columbus Avenue and 60th Street in Manhattan. Clio’s Psyche’s 2019 call for papers includes: “The Many Roads of the Builders of Psychohistory” (due March 31) and the “Sex and Power in the Era of #MeToo” symposium (due June 15). The Psychology of Trauma Special Issue and articles will be published in the Spring issue along with the James Anderson and Charles Strozier Lincoln Dialogue. For information contact Paul Elovitz at [email protected].

ROOM: A SKETCHBOOK FOR ANALYTIC ACTION is a revolutionary community action magazine. Through art and psychoanalysis two disciplines devoted to expression of self and unconscious, this new on-line magazine captures the effects that the political has on the psychological and the effects that the psychological has on the political. The next issue, Room 2.19, features essays by Bandy X. Lee, Simon Western, Carolyn Ellman, Eugene Mahon, Coline Covin,ton, Kerry Malawista, Elizabeth Evert, Dana Sinopoli, Brent Matheny, Natasha Kurchanova, Michelle Fine and Yitzi Katz. Subscribe for free at: http://www.analytic-room.com/subscribe-now/