On February 15 we kick off our lecture series organized in collaboration with Amics de la Unesco de Barcelona with a presentation by Josep M. Jansà, an epidemiologist and expert in collective psychological manipulation, who will offer an analysis of behavioural addictions and the principal mechanisms at play in psychological manipulation.
Behavioural addictions, emotional dependence and psychological manipulation are three disorders not associated to substance abuse which have a psychological and emotional impact on individuals, interfering with their volitional capacity. Although these disorders have different origins and the causal mechanisms, they share certain signs and symptoms worth considering if we wish to ensure effective diagnosis and treatment.
Behavioural addictions are dependence or abuse disorders not involving chemical substances which cause the individual to lose control of their actions. Some examples include pathological gambling, compulsive buying, and sex addiction. Emotional dependence is a persistent psychological pattern of emotional neediness that is resolved by the individual in a maladaptive manner. Psychological manipulation is the term given to the intentional action of a person or a group of people which induces another individual to depend on them, making them unable to make life decisions independently.
This talk will offer some of the essential characteristics of groups employing psychological manipulation and their operation.
In recent years our society has witnessed an increase in mental health problems among children and pre-adolescents due to a shortening of their stages of psychosocial development, causing them to mature earlier. This process usually disguises a weak sense of self-hood.
To discuss this issue, we have organized a roundtable discussion on 23 February with the Official College of Psychology of Catalonia. This event offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of building healthy foundations during a child’s early stages of development by presenting a series of concepts from the point of view of a variety of experts from different fields: the experience of psychologists working with children and families in this current social setting, as well as experts working in the fields of education, anthropology, and bioethics.
We will draw upon these disciplines to present a series of concepts that will help us to understand overall childhood and pre-adolescent development and how it contributes to the construction of identity, in an effort to avoid unnecessary risks that may affect their future mental health as they mature.
Round table discussion featuring:
Gemma Cànovas, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, scientific committee coordinator for the ACPP (Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association of Catalonia).
Sílvia Carrasco, anthropologist and professor.
Sabel Gabaldón, psychiatrist and PhD in Philosophy.
23 February at 6:30 p.m.
Col·legi Oficial de Psicòlegs de Catalunya c/ Rofacort, 129 Barcelona