presented by the Psychoanalytic Society of the William Alanson White Institute
Self as Story: Narrative Knowing, Narrative Unknowing, and the Mystery of Selfhood
MARK FREEMAN, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Ethics, Society and Psychology, College of the Holy Cross
with Hosts & Moderators, Roger Frie, PhD, PsyD, and Nancy Freeman-Carroll, PsyD, Co-Presidents of the Psychoanalytic Society
FRIDAY, MARCH 13th from 7:30-9:00pm/Eastern
Held in person at the Institute, 20 West 74th Street, New York City and via live stream online
1.5 CEs are available for attending. In order to receive your credit for attending, follow the instructions that are sent prior to the event.
ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION
A core premise of this presentation is that narrative is central to the process of both self-understanding and self-formation: through looking backward over the past, one may discern patterns, connections, and themes and craft a story — and a self, accordingly.
But how does one tell such a story, and what sort of story might it be? The challenge is large. Although there is much about the self that can be known, there is also much that remains unknown, and perhaps, unknowable. Not the least is that our existence is permeated by what is other — first and foremost, by other people, but also by the larger social, cultural, and political world, within which our lives take shape, often in ways unbeknownst to us. This doesn’t mean that seeking self-understanding is futile. Rather, it means that narrative knowing must be supplemented by narrative unknowing, and in turn that science must be supplemented by art when engaging in the process. By proceeding in this way, we may be better poised to both fathom and narrate the deepest sources of selfhood in all of their radiant obscurity.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
Mark Freeman, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Society Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the College of the Holy Cross as well as Senior Fellow at the Center for Psychological Humanities and Ethics at Boston College. Award-winning author of numerous works, including Rewriting the Self:History, Memory, Narrative (1993), Hindsight: The Promise and Peril of Looking Backward (2010), The Priority of the Other: Thinking and Living Beyond the Self (2014), Do I Look at You with Love? Reimagining the Story of Dementia (2021), and, most recently, Toward the Psychological Humanities: A Modest Manifesto for the Future of Psychology (2024), he also serves as Editor for the Oxford University Press series, Explorations in Narrative Psychology.
ABOUT THIS SERIES
From its very beginnings, psychoanalysis has existed at the intersection of science and the humanities. In the face of increasing pressures from evidence-based practice and medicalization, what can psychoanalysis learn from the humanities? Collectively, our speakers represent the leading edge in humanities and the arts and bring a diverse array of perspectives to bear. These talks promise to illustrate the manifest and often overlooked links between psychoanalysis and the humanities and provide a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary learning and dialogue.
All speakers will present their talks in person. We encourage everyone who can, to attend in person and continue the tradition of meeting together at the Institute. For those who are unable to join in person, we offer a real-time stream, to reach beyond New York to a broader audience.
This series is presented at no charge to its audience. Please consider making a donation to The Psychoanalytic Society when registering.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Overall objectives of this colloquium series:
Describe the many interactions between the humanities and psychoanalysis.
Explain how psychoanalytic practice can benefit from the insights of the humanities.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES THIS PRESENTATION:
Describe the implications of narrative for psychoanalytic practice.
Describe the role of narrative in developing self-awareness.