Psychoanalysis as Social Theory

In: Telos, Band 32, S. 27-41

Abstract

S. Freud's psychological theory implies a theory of society, which Freud later explicitly developed. The psychoanalytic therapy developed by Freud is actually equivalent to the critical theory of socialization, which focuses on the dialectic of assimilation & alienation. Freud's culture & society theory may be considered critical, since it refers to institutions on the basis of the problems that they cause for individuals. Class systems are able to function due to an acculturation process that block an individual's drives by cultural ideals. Thus, large groups may be dominated by smaller, elite groups. This crisis can only be removed by replacing a religious social morality with a rationalistic social morality. Psychoanalysis actually works against false awareness & illusion & attacks the status quo -- which then merges the therapy into a critique of socially necessary illusions. M. Migalski.