Militância enquanto convite ao diálogo: o caso da militância monodissidente / Activism as an invitation for the dialogue: the case of monodissident activism / La militancia como invitación al diálogo: el caso de la militancia monodisidente

Este artigo é uma produção teórica de caráter reflexivo que focaliza a relação entre pesquisa e militância a partir do construtivismo semiótico-cultural em psicologia, tendo como base o caso da militância monodissidente. A noção de monodissidência foi cunhada no percurso da militância bissexual para se referir a uma ferramenta analítica de ordem político-comunitária que contempla todas as pessoas que se atraem sexual e/ou romanticamente por mais de um gênero. São contrapostas concepções distintas de militância político-social em psicologia: de um lado, militância é entendida a partir de um autocentramento do militante, vinculado a uma rede de exclusões, negações, vedação e defesas psicológicas em relação à experiência; de outro, há uma compreensão dialógica de militância. Metodologicamente, a proposta de pesquisa se fundamenta no campo da participação observante, entendendo que o pesquisador está, primeiro, na condição de participante de certo campo sociocultural, a partir do qual passa a observar e refletir sobre fenômenos que ocorrem nele. Tomamos como ilustração a trajetória de construção da militância monodissidente do primeiro autor, trazendo tensionamentos dialógicos para a análise, postos em discussão com outras reflexões situadas sobre o tema. O conjunto de tensionamentos dialógicos emergidos nesse percurso foi mapeado e compreendido como um processo de multiplicação dialógica no encontro de self pesquisador com o self militante.(AU)

This paper is a theoretical production of reflective character that focuses on the relationship between research and activism from the semiotic-cultural constructivism in psychology, based on the case of monodissident activism. The notion of monodissent was coined during bisexual activism to refer to an analytical tool of a political-community order that includes all people who are sexually and/or romantically attracted to more than one gender. Different conceptions of political-social activism in psychology are opposed: on the one hand, activism is understood from the militant's self-centeredness, linked to a network of exclusions, denials, gatekeeping, and psychological defenses regarding experience; on the other hand, there is a dialogical understanding of activism. Methodologically, the research proposal is based on the field of observant participation, understanding that the researcher is, first, in the condition of a participant in a certain sociocultural field, from which he starts to observe and reflect on phenomena that occur there. We take as an illustration the trajectory of the construction of the monodissident activism of the first author, bringing dialogical tensions to the analysis, discussed with other reflections on the subject. The set of dialogic tensions that emerged in this path was mapped and understood as a process of dialogic multiplication in the encounter of the researcher self with the activist self.(AU)

Este artículo realiza una producción teórica y reflexiva sobre la relación entre investigación y activismo desde el constructivismo semiótico-cultural en Psicología, a partir del caso del activismo monodisidente. La noción de monodisidencia fue acuñada en el transcurso de la militancia bisexual para referirse a una herramienta analítica de orden político-comunitario que incluye a todas las personas que se sienten atraídas sexual y / o románticamente por más de un género. Se contraponen distintas concepciones de la militancia político-social en Psicología: por un lado, la militancia se entiende desde el egocentrismo del militante, vinculado a un entramado de exclusiones, negaciones, sellamientos y defensas psicológicas con relación a la experiencia; por otro, existe una comprensión dialógica de la militancia. La investigación utiliza como metodología la participación del observador, entendiendo que el investigador se encuentra, en primer lugar, en la condición de participante de determinado campo sociocultural, desde donde comienza a observar y reflexionar sobre los fenómenos que allí ocurren. Tomamos como ilustración la trayectoria de la construcción de la militancia monodisidente del primer autor, trayendo tensiones dialógicas al análisis, discutidas con otras reflexiones sobre el tema. El conjunto de tensiones dialógicas que surgieron en este camino se caracteriza y se comprende como un proceso de multiplicación dialógica en el encuentro del self investigador con el self militante.(AU)

An Analysis of Self: The Development and Assessment of a Measure of Selfobject Needs.

Based on the psychoanalysis of adults with borderline and narcissistic personality disorder symptoms, Kohut ( 1971 , 1977, 1980, 1984) formulated a theory of self psychology that emphasized the importance of early developmental experiences; most centrally, the empathic attunement of caregivers as key ingredients for fostering the capacity for healthy self-regulation and interpersonal relations. Kohut elaborated 3 critical selfobject needs (i.e., idealizing, mirroring, and twinship) that were ideally satiated by these early experiences, deeming the fulfillment of these needs as essential for developing a healthy sense of self. The research presented here sought to develop a self-report measure, titled the Arble Estimate of Selfobject Pursuits (AESOP), capable of assessing the selfobject needs identified by Kohut. Across 2 studies involving 686 and 672 respondents, participants completed the AESOP. In the first study, an exploratory factor analysis supported the theorized 3-factor structure. In the second study, a confirmatory factor analysis indicated adequate-to-strong model fit and cluster analysis with theoretically related measures supported the AESOP's discriminant and convergent validity. Further research is encouraged to elaborate the implications of these preliminary findings.

Relationship of Inglehart's and Schwartz's value dimensions revisited.

This study examines the relationship between Inglehart's and Schwartz's value dimensions-both at the individual and the country levels. By rotating one set of items towards the other, we show that these value dimensions have more in common than previously reported. The ranking of countries (N = 47) based on Schwartz's Embeddedness--Autonomy and the Survival--Self-Expression dimensions reached a maximum of similarity, r = .82, after rotating Inglehart's factor scores 27 degrees clockwise. The correlation between the other pair of dimensions (Schwartz's Hierarchy-Mastery--Egalitarianism-Harmony and Inglehart's Traditional--Secular-Rational values) was near zero before and after rotation. At the individual level (N = 46,444), positive correlations were found for Schwartz's Conservation--Openness dimension with both of Inglehart's dimensions (Survival--Self-Expression and Traditional--Secular-Rational values). The highest correlation with this Schwartz dimension was obtained at the Secular-Rational/Self-Expression diagonal, r = .24, after rotating the factor scores 45 degrees clockwise. We conclude that Schwartz's and Inglehart's originally proposed two-dimensional value structures share one dimension at the country level and some commonality at the individual level, whereas the respective other pair of dimensions seem to be more or less unrelated.

Interpreting advance directives: ethical considerations of the interplay between personal and cultural identity.

In many industrialized countries ethicists and lawyers favour advance directives as a tool to guarantee patient autonomy in end-of-life-decisions. However, most citizens seem reluctant to adopt the practice; the number of patients who have an advance directive is low across most countries. The article discusses the key argument for seeing such documents as an instrument of self-interpretation and life-planning, which ultimately have to be interpreted by third parties as well. Interpretation by third parties and the process of self-reflection are conceptually linked by a qualitative concept of identity. Identity is conceived here as constructed in a processual dialogue between a personal and a cultural perspective. How the cultural dimension comes into play in understanding the motivation, rejection or content of wished for end-of-life-decisions, is shown by a brief review of empirical and cultural studies. Understanding advance directives as a culturally embedded tool of self-interpretation should help to overcome urgent moral problems in clinical settings: how to interpret such documents, how to deliberate on the content and on the best form.

Viagra selfhood: pharmaceutical advertising and the visual formation of Swedish masculinity.

Using material from the Pfizer sponsored website providing health information on erectile dysfunction to potential Swedish Viagra customers (www.potenslinjen.se), this article explores the public image of masculinity in relation to sexual health and the cultural techniques for creating pharmaceutical appeal. We zoom in on the targeted ideal users of Viagra, and the nationalized, racialized and sexualized identities they are assigned. As part of Pfizer's marketing strategy of adjustments to fit the local consumer base, the ways in which Viagra is promoted for the Swedish setting is telling of what concepts of masculinity are so stable and unassailable that they can withstand the association with a drug that is, in essence, an acknowledgement of 'failed' masculinity and 'dysfunctional' sexuality. With comparative national examples, this study presents an interdisciplinary take on the 'glocalized' cultural imaginary of Viagra, and the masculine subject positions it engenders.

"Am I going crazy, doc?": a self psychology approach to therapeutic assessment.

In this case study, we explore the effectiveness of Therapeutic Assessment with a severely disturbed 25-year-old man, referred by his therapist, following Finn's (2007; Finn & Tonsager, 1992, 1997) model. This patient-therapist pair had been working together for approximately 2 months, but the therapy had ceased to progress. The therapist requested a clearer picture of his patient's affective functioning, interpersonal functioning, and self-functioning that might facilitate more effective treatment. Through a collaborative assessment process informed by the principles of Kohutian self psychology, the evaluator and patient slowly formed a working alliance that proved useful for the eventual communication to the patient of his psychologically tenuous reality. This case illustrates the utility of a collaborative, multimethod Therapeutic Assessment with a severely ill patient and the use of Therapeutic Assessment by a less experienced clinician.

Adoção hoje: a busca por um novo paradigma / Adoption nowadays: the search for a new paradigm

Este trabalho tem como foco discutir a atual cultura da adoção. O eixo escolhido gira em torno dos conceitos de identidade, família e cultura. O estudo das várias modalidades de adoção ressaltou a importância de se reconhecer a a existência de profundas diferenças culturais e econômicas entre as duas famílias, biológica e adotiva, participantes do processo. Este reconhecimento passa pela inclusão da família doadora, desde o início do processo de adoção, caminhando no sentido de uma adoção aberta, onde o contato e as trocas entre as duas famílias estejam, cada vez mais e verdadeiramente, a serviço dos interesses da criança. Este estudo evidenciou também a intrincada relação entre abandono e adoção no Brasil, apontando para as inúmeras frentes de pesquisa que podem surgir a partir daí, no sentido de se entender melhor o problema, em busca de possíveis soluções.

The objective of this work is to discuss the current adoption culture. The axle selected turns around the concepts of identity, family and culture. The study of the several adoption modalities emphasized the importance of knowing the existence of deep cultural and economical differences between both families – the biological and the adoptive families, participants of the process. This acknowledgment passes by the inclusion of the donating family from the very beginning of the adoption process, heading for an open adoption, where the contact and the exchanges between both families are progressively and truly for child’s interest. This study also evidenced the complex relation between abandonment and adoption in Brazil, pointing out to several research fronts that may appear therefrom, so as to better understand the problem looking for possible solutions.

Owning it.

What is the distinction, if any, between who we are as people and what we believe and how we practice as psychoanalysts? For me, art played a vital affirmation that there was a world full of larger ideas and feelings in contrast to the desiccated environment my parents had created. From grade school, through my training as an analyst to the present, art has not only elucidated who I am but expanded my sense of being a creative individual. From the procession of viewing art and engaging with it, to making and acquiring art pieces, the discovery was not only that I owned these pieces but that their impact challenged the 'who' I thought I was if I was willing to own up to it. The information that informs our personal beliefs and practice in psychoanalysis comes from such an openness to new experiences from many directions in our daily lives, and challenges who we believe we are. Art adds to analytic knowledge, not by giving us an interpretation for our lives, but by stimulating the genuinely creative process of self-reflection.

Age differences in types of interpersonal tensions.

This study examined age differences in topics that generate interpersonal tensions as well as relationship level characteristics that may account for variability in the content of interpersonal tensions. Participants aged 13 to 99 years (N = 184) diagramed their close and problematic social networks, and then provided open-ended descriptions of recent tensions with up to 6 social partners. Multilevel models were conducted to examine variability in 5 types of tensions (i.e., financial issues, daily activities, scheduling, job/school, and self). Older adults were less likely than younger ages to describe tensions over job/school and daily activities. Job/school tensions were more likely to occur with acquaintances and negative network members. Tensions over scheduling were more likely to occur with positive and ambivalent network members, and tensions over daily activities were associated with less emotional distress. Results suggest relationship characteristics contribute to the content of tensions.

The Affectometer 2: a measure of positive mental health in UK populations.

OBJECTIVE: To validate Affectometer 2 for use in the UK, derive population norms and assess its potential for monitoring positive mental health. METHODS: 722 adults aged 16-74 living in Scotland completed Affectometer 2 and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and provided data on socio-economic factors known to be associated with mental health status. Principal component analysis was used to explore the underlying structure of Affectometer 2. Internal reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was tested by comparing associations between Affectometer 2 scores and socio-economic factors with expected performance from other surveys and with the GHQ. RESULTS: 89% of participants completed Affectometer 2 suggesting a high level of public acceptability. Both total scale and subscales showed a high level of internal consistency (0.944). Correlations between Affectometer 2 score and key socio-economic variables were consistent with the findings of other population mental health surveys. Correlation with the GHQ was moderate (0.60). Affectometer 2 did not show a ceiling effect in this general population sample. Principal component analysis provided some evidence consistent with a single underlying construct, although this needs further testing. CONCLUSIONS: Affectometer 2 met accepted criteria for validity and reliability in this representative UK population and demonstrated potential for use in monitoring positive mental health. The results provide support for the development of a shortened version of the scale which would be advantageous for population surveys.

Significações construídas no diálogo entre família, espera judicial e sociedade sobre adolescentes em conflito com a lei / construction of significant in dialogues between family, society and public authority among adolescent in conflict with the law

O presente estudo apresenta uma contribuição às investigações sobre construção de significações no encontro entre atores em situação de diálogo e as discussões sobre juventude na sociedade contemporânea. Problematizam-se conceitos do campo das ciências humanas ? integralidade, inserção social, ato infracional, família ? entendendo-os como relevantes para a análise da saúde do adolescente. A perspectiva teórico-metodológica do self dialógico fundamenta-se na concepção da interdependência entre subjetividade e cultura, segundo a qual a pessoa constrói significações no encontro com o outro. Neste processo, a memória narrativa atualiza vozes que, nos seus múltiplos posicionamentos, realizam trocas dialógicas análogas à assimetria das relações sociais. Enquanto gênero discursivo, o modelo de proteção integral incorpora concepções sobre o adolescente, fundadas no reconhecimento da igualdade e defesa da dignidade humana, o que sinaliza ruptura com a doutrina da situação irregular. Para o adolescente autor de ato infracional estão previstas medidas de caráter protecional e pedagógico, aplicadas ?erga omnes?, no curso do devido processo legal, no qual operadores judiciais dialogam com a família em reconhecimento de suas funções sociais e simbólicas. Com o objetivo de investigar o diálogo entre atores da família, sociedade e poder público em um âmbito de construção discursiva acerca da integralidade à saúde, foram selecionadas setenta e oito peças processuais que registram narrativas sobre vínculo familiar de adolescentes da instância judicial de responsabilidade juvenil por ato infracional em Salvador, entre 1996 e 2002...

Interpersonal and role-related schema influence the relationship with the dominant 'voice' in schizophrenia: a comparison of three models.

BACKGROUND: Auditory hallucinations in psychosis often contain critical evaluations of the voice-hearer (for example, attacks on self-worth). A voice-hearer's experience with their dominant voice is a mirror of their social relationships in general, with experiences of feeling low in rank to both voices and others being associated with depression. However, the direction of the relationship between psychosis, depression and feeling subordinate is unclear. METHOD: Covariance structural equation modelling was used with data from 125 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia to compare three 'causal' models: (1) that depression leads to the appraisal of low social rank, voice power and distress; (2) that psychotic illness leads to voice activity (frequency, audibility), which in turn leads to depression and the appraisal of voices' power; (3) our hypothesized model, that perceptions of social rank and social power lead to the appraisal of voice power, distress and depression. RESULTS: Findings supported model 3, suggesting that the appraisal of social power and rank are primary organizing schema underlying the appraisal of voice power, and the distress of voices. CONCLUSIONS: Voices can be seen to operate like external social relationships. Voice content and experience can mirror a person's social sense of being powerless and controlled by others. These findings suggest important new targets for intervention with cognitive and social therapy.

Cognitive-cultural model of identity and violence prevention for African American youth.

The author introduces a cognitive-cultural model of identity development to explain the elevated risk for violence among African American youth. The model is an extension of previous conceptual frameworks that address the dynamic interplay among cognition, culture, and self-systems. Specifically, the self is conceptualized as a cognitive structure known as schemata that contain individual and cultural elements corresponding to those aspects of identity. The model has three major components: the individual self, the cultural self, and social roles. The cognitive-cultural model posits that maladaptative behaviors such as violence are a consequence of underdevelopment or imbalance in some aspect of the self or the adoption of social roles that undermine integration of the individual self-schemata and cultural self-schemata. The implications of this cognitive-cultural model for prevention efforts, particularly Afrocentric socialization interventions targeting African American youth, are discussed.

Sailing beyond: nursing theory and the person.

This article explores nursing's conceptualization of the person in terms of holism and uniqueness. These concepts raise concerns from postmodernist and feminist perspectives in terms of the unitary self, essentialism, culturalism, agency, and subjectivity. The use of holism and uniqueness in nursing theory appeals to the generic person, disregards interactions among the individual's race, class, and sex, and, thus, leaves larger institutional and societal issues unacknowledged, unexplored, and unchallenged. Nursing theories are needed that have social justice as their goal.