Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Aisenson Kogan.
This paper aims at discriminating between methods for the analysis of social conflicts: Games and simulations being the most frequently used, and--to a lesser extent--psychotherapy-originated techniques. The advantage of having the latter added to the former procedure is emphasized whenever logical behavioral structures in conflictive situations as well as emotional motives detection are looked for.
The aim here searched is to explore the reasons why some systems of psychotherapy choose images as a means for attaining the cure. In one case at least (Roger Desoille's "awake dream"--the production and interpretation of images constitutes the basic procedure. The question arises: which sort of images? It is not dealt here with the oniric ones, but with the consciously created and must be called symbolic images. Almost every image that appears during a therapy session reveals a symbolic nature, but the very concept of symbol is not free from ambiguity some positions originated in different areas of investigation are mentioned, ending with a description of the traits that, according to the writer, bestow a symbolic character to images. These can be sensible ones or linguistic, as they appear in literary productions. Their importance as a factor of the psychotherapeutic change resides in the fact that symbolic images thus created are felt as not real events and at the same time containing subjective meaning. These two traits combine to lessen the anxiety before the confrontation with one's own impulses or feelings and at same time to stimulate towards new ways of behavior, until then desired -perhaps unconsciously- but too frightening to materialize in the real world.
Psychodrama is considered as a parabola in the sense of an open curve formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane, for the scenes enacted by the participants can be viewed as a cutting in the actual life aimed to revive the personal past as well as to begin the building of the personal future. It is considered also as a parable, a fictitious narrative that yields a moral truth and a learning, for while there is no reality in it, the purpose that supports it is to improve one's psychic equilibrium, which means to live according to true feelings. One special way of materializing this is explained. It consists, in offering certain themes to dramatize to the members or the group. These themes are chosen by their power to activate significant zones of the personality, and always taking into account the emotional climate that prevails. Sometimes they emerge from the initiative of the participants and they can also be changed during the performances. Some examples are given, which have revealed themselves as adequate to the parameters pursued, which resume themselves in the promotion of autonomy and authenticity.
Imagery is considered an important psychotherapeutic means in many contemporary systems, in an explicit way, or implicitely. Its function is at least double. On the one hand it detains the development of personal possibilities, for it raises an unreal barrier of transference when confronting new experiences, but on the other it amplifies life by extending it towards what Gaston Bachelard calls "a reality of superabundance". It represents the discovery of new facets in the external world but, much more important in psychotherapy, the revelation of unknown aspects of oneself. Thus, for explorative aims imagery is used in tests, interviews and even anamnesis, and for furthering the cure (insight and growth) in systems such as psychodrama, Desoille's waking dreams, sensitivity training and others. The question arises: what is the source of its effectivity? In my opinion it depends on two influences: 1) images, as symbols, constitute "intermediary objects" which permit a confrontation comparatively free of anxiety with oneself and above all to envisage new forms of behaviour. These can even be rehearsed in some psychodramatic techniques or in laboratories; 2) symbols give access to psychical areas which are forbidden to a conceptual approach. Therefore, I suggest that the conquest of one's reality results, paradoxically, from incursions in unreality.
War is a complex social situation due to the interplay of multiple factors. Economical and political ones are of utmost importance, but human attitudes and motivations must be also taken into account. Being desirable to modify human transactions in such a way that they do not interfere with the basic right of everyone to a condition of physical and mental well-being, war must be abolished. The author contends that an understanding of behaviour through Psychology can be helpful in that aim. Aggression is considered the principal psychological cause of war. It is worth while to differentiate between aggression as an instrument for attaining a special end, and as pure hostility. Only in the first form, it is held here, does it play an important role in war. Psychogists must deal also with a wide range of states of mind that can be "served" by aggression: feelings of inferiority or insecurity, fear, greed, projections, compensations, rationalizations, etc. Scientific approach is not the only one Physiology brings to war prevention. It is equally important the wide dissemination of its conclusions among the general public. Information on the dynamics that prompt people to decide war would make it easier to control. This applies not only to political or military leaders, but also to civil populations. Concerning those two possible contributions of psychologists, scientific and educative, it is suggested the extensive use of psychodramatic techniques. Their richness lie in the lifelike experiences they convey to the participants, and particular aptitude to promote changes of attitudes. Investigation and information on the psychological processes related to war should be undertaken by international organizations of social scientists, acting simultaneously in several countries. Some of the initial steps they could further: 1) that prevention of war be a current subject matter in psychological courses; 2) that the World Health Organization take interest in this subject; 3) that psychologists participate in international political and economical bodies in order to clarify the psychological factors leading to war.