FALL 2011 ISSUE #19 Newsletter of Section IX, Psychoanalysts for Social Responsibility, Division of Psychoanalysis, American Psychological Association Invited Column: WHAT IS PSYCHOANALYTIC ACTIVISM? The Psychoanalytic Work Group FROM THE EDITORS for Peace in Palestine/Israel Ghislaine Boulanger, Ph.D. Ruth Fallenbaum, Ph.D. American psychoanalytic colleagues to better by Nancy Hollander, Ph.D. At a time when the conflict between and Stephen Portuges, Ph.D. understand the Palestinian as well as the Israeli Israel and Palestine is becoming even For the past seven years we have been perspective on this conflict that is at the heart of more fraught in Israel, in Palestine, and in engaged in a group called “Psychoanalytic Work intensifying global tensions. America, in this issue several members of Section IX report on their contributions as Group for Peace in Palestine/Israel.” The group We gather twice a year from our far-flung American psychoanalytic activists working was formed by Nadia Ramzy, Faculty Member parts of the world for weekend-long meetings with Palestinians who live under the harsh and participate in discussion groups on the conditions of statelessness and occupation. of the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute and As Judy Roth puts it, as psychoanalysts each co-editor of the International Journal of Applied application of psychoanalysis to social issues of them had to struggle against the “binary Psychoanalytic Studies. In 2004, Ramzy, long and prejudice at American Psychoanalytic thinking and rhetoric that activism can Association meetings. Periodic conference calls trigger,” monitoring their own responses interested in the psychosocial dynamics of the and attempting to remain reflective. They “intractable conflict” between Palestinians and continue the work in between our meetings. share that struggle and those reflections Israeli Jews, gathered together Toronto-based Our goal is to engage other psychoanalysts with us. Judy Roth, who spent two years supporting Palestinian mothers in East Palestinian psychoanalyst George Awad, Israeli through public events at which we speak and Jerusalem, moves her focus and empathic psychologist Carlo Strenger, and several Jewish listen to one another as we express diverse imagination between all the players, American, Arab-American and Arab Canadian perspectives and concerns, modeling empathic Palestinians and Israelis alike. Nina Thomas describes the workshops she ran under the psychoanalysts, including the two of us, to speaking and listening, and hopefully motivating aegis of Palestinian Red Crescent Society, form a work group in hopes of helping North others to become actively engaged in social working with Palestinian psychotherapists action projects designed to facilitate peace who share a culture of shame and despair with their clients. In a somewhat more The Psychoanalytic Activist and justice in the Middle East. We have also hopeful vein, Warren Spielberg notes a invited speakers to share their perspectives on shift over 12 years in “a new generation of Editors: Ghislaine Boulanger, Ph.D. the conflict, including psychiatrist Joel Kovel, young people displaying cautious confidence Ruth Fallenbaum, Ph.D. and optimism” in the West Bank. Readers Israeli filmmaker Udi Aloni, Carlo Strenger, and will notice a theme weaving through these President of Section IX: psychoanalyst and holocaust survivor Henri essays: the confusion experienced by our Alice Lowe Shaw, Ph.D. contributors, Jewish American psychologists, Parens. who are providing humanitarian aid to Past President: Frank Summers, Ph.D. Over time we have witnessed changes in Palestinians in the context of their differing Treasurer: Barbara Eisold, Ph.D. attitudes of participants in the discussion groups, ethnic histories and current political polarities. Addressing this very issue, Nancy Secretary: Donna Bassin, Ph.D. including some lessening of automatic pro-Israel Hollander and Stephen Portuges answer the Representative to Division 39 Board: and anti-Palestinian attitudes. Perhaps the most question ‘what is psychoanalytic activism’ Liz Goren, Ph.D. compelling part of this experience has been by describing their participation in a seven- year group of international, multi-ethnic Members of the Board of Section IX: the group process itself, which has focused on psychoanalysts who are struggling to Rico Ainslie, Ph.D., Steven Botticelli, Ph.D the application of a psychoanalytic attitude as discover simply how to talk to each other about the seemingly intractable tangle Diane Ehrensaft, Ph.D., Susan Gutwill, Ph.D. a source of understanding of the nature and in the Middle East. Ghislaine Boulanger Adrienne Harris, Ph.D, Rachael Peltz, Ph.D functions of prejudice. Since the group is at [email protected], and Ruth Stephen Portuges, Ph.D. Fallenbaum at [email protected]. continued on page 6 My two year term as President of Section IX is the period I’ve served as president of the of middle income American workers has not drawing to a close. Our section is fortunate section observable participation in Section IX increased in 40 years. Women’s rights and the that Nancy Hollander will bring her passion, projects has wavered. Although our board has security of immigrants are declining, poverty intelligence and scholarship to the leadership been active, in planning events and panels, increases; a social net for those in need is of Psychoanalysis for Social Responsibility as in continuing the small group discussion of frayed and threatened. Wars continue. Debt she assumes the role of President on January the Israel-Palestine conflict, in initiating the increases. Congress resists raising taxes on 1, 2012. Women’s Committee of Section IX; although the wealthiest in this country as one means Several of our section members are our publication, The Psychoanalytic-Activist to increase revenues. Higher education costs stepping into new roles. Past-President, continues to be a rich contribution; although exclude more citizens … and so on and so on. Frank Summers will become the President- individuals have been active in their own ways, Our Section IX panel for the 2012 Division Elect of Division 39 this coming January 1st, something is missing in terms of the potential 39 Spring Meeting will contribute to the and will assume the role of President of the analysis of public reaction and response division the following January. Another Past during our times. We’re excited to present President, Arlene Lu Steinberg, will become our panelists: Bryant Welch JD, PhD; Ruth Division 39 Treasurer this coming January 1. PRESIDENT’S Fallenbaum, PhD, and Leahn Nguyen, PhD, Section member Steven Reisner is running for whose perspectives will provide us with President of the APA. You can visit his website MESSAGE an original and inspiring experience. Our at: www.reisnerforpresident.com reception will feature an art installation and Our section will welcome 6 new board by Alice Lowe Shaw, Ph.D. will be co-hosted by some of our early career members: Susan Bodnar, Sue Grand, Jane members. Hassinger, Elizabeth Hegeman, David we have to generate discourse and action. I’ve been struggling with a poem that Lichtenstein, and Leahn Nguyen. I’m During the Division 39 Spring Meeting last has been pushing into my awareness: W.B. personally quite excited to work more closely April in New York, The Women’s Committee Yeat’s desolate poem, “The Second Coming.” with these individuals given all they have to sponsored a rally addressing the threat to Many of you know the line: “The best lack contribute. women’s reproductive rights and health care. all conviction while the worst are full of In order to strengthen our sense of The rally was very poorly attended. There has passionate intensity.” This line is clearly community, become more aware of the been a lot of speculation about why this was problematic in the polarization and judgment activities of our members and to inspire so; a Field Note in the next issue of the APCS expressed. Yet, I’m moved by the line and it initiative in the application of psychoanalytic (Association for the Psychoanalysis of Culture strikes me now. We’re all stretched very thin. thought to social, cultural and political and Society) The Journal: Psychoanalysis, The work we do in our offices and classrooms issues, we have started a four month open Culture and Society, will discuss the possible is certainly sufficient to satisfy a high standard blog through our listserv. Susan Bodnar, meanings of this disappointing turnout. of moral calculus. Nevertheless, we can Co-Chair of our Education Committee, is Worries about the state of our society have also gain sustenance while we contribute moderating this project. As we know, there only deepened in the last two years. significantly by taking advantage of the is always a gap between the writing of an Our hopes for a truly progressive opportunities that our community of socially article and its release. At the time I’m writing U.S. president have been tarnished. responsible psychoanalytically oriented this column the blog has been open for a Unemployment hovers above 9% nationally, professionals offers. I hope our membership week. The only person who has written to a rate projected to continue through 2012. A grows and thrives. us is Susan, who initiated the project. Over recent report stated that the adjusted salary [email protected] To join Section IX, and to renew your membership for 2011, please fill out this form send it with a check for $40 ($20 for students and candidates)