For one can always start something new : an Arendtian-psychoanalytic reflection on patient agency
- Author
- Emma Acke (UGent) and Reitske Meganck (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- In this study, we explore the etymology and history of "agency," link it with relational psychoanalytic literature, and examine how it can be understood within Lacanian psychoanalytic theory and practice. Building on its history, we find that "agency" embodies a binary distinction between the person as an actor, on the one hand, and as a being who is subject to determining structures, on the other. This binary approach, however, limits the debate concerning agency. Arendt's concept of "action," which builds on the same etymological stem as "agency" (i.e., "agere"), allows for nuance in the concept and moves it beyond its otherwise binary understanding. Through this conceptual work, we draw three conclusions regarding patient agency: (a) agency can only come about in relation to others; (b) initiating a new beginning in speech acts and actions already implies agency; and (c) one must be willing to take responsibility for the consequences of one's actions to be able to feel agentic. Lastly, we relate these three conclusions to Lacanian psychoanalysis, in particular to the notions of alienation and separation, full speech, and guilt.
- Keywords
- Clinical Psychology, agency, action, Arendt, psychoanalytic theory, psychotherapy, PSYCHOTHERAPY, SELF, SURRENDER, THERAPY, CLIENT
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8763289
- MLA
- Acke, Emma, and Reitske Meganck. “For One Can Always Start Something New : An Arendtian-Psychoanalytic Reflection on Patient Agency.” PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 39, no. 4, 2022, pp. 295–301, doi:10.1037/pap0000412.
- APA
- Acke, E., & Meganck, R. (2022). For one can always start something new : an Arendtian-psychoanalytic reflection on patient agency. PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY, 39(4), 295–301. https://doi.org/10.1037/pap0000412
- Chicago author-date
- Acke, Emma, and Reitske Meganck. 2022. “For One Can Always Start Something New : An Arendtian-Psychoanalytic Reflection on Patient Agency.” PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY 39 (4): 295–301. https://doi.org/10.1037/pap0000412.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Acke, Emma, and Reitske Meganck. 2022. “For One Can Always Start Something New : An Arendtian-Psychoanalytic Reflection on Patient Agency.” PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY 39 (4): 295–301. doi:10.1037/pap0000412.
- Vancouver
- 1.Acke E, Meganck R. For one can always start something new : an Arendtian-psychoanalytic reflection on patient agency. PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY. 2022;39(4):295–301.
- IEEE
- [1]E. Acke and R. Meganck, “For one can always start something new : an Arendtian-psychoanalytic reflection on patient agency,” PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 295–301, 2022.
@article{8763289,
abstract = {{In this study, we explore the etymology and history of "agency," link it with relational psychoanalytic literature, and examine how it can be understood within Lacanian psychoanalytic theory and practice. Building on its history, we find that "agency" embodies a binary distinction between the person as an actor, on the one hand, and as a being who is subject to determining structures, on the other. This binary approach, however, limits the debate concerning agency. Arendt's concept of "action," which builds on the same etymological stem as "agency" (i.e., "agere"), allows for nuance in the concept and moves it beyond its otherwise binary understanding. Through this conceptual work, we draw three conclusions regarding patient agency: (a) agency can only come about in relation to others; (b) initiating a new beginning in speech acts and actions already implies agency; and (c) one must be willing to take responsibility for the consequences of one's actions to be able to feel agentic. Lastly, we relate these three conclusions to Lacanian psychoanalysis, in particular to the notions of alienation and separation, full speech, and guilt.}},
author = {{Acke, Emma and Meganck, Reitske}},
issn = {{0736-9735}},
journal = {{PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY}},
keywords = {{Clinical Psychology,agency,action,Arendt,psychoanalytic theory,psychotherapy,PSYCHOTHERAPY,SELF,SURRENDER,THERAPY,CLIENT}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{295--301}},
title = {{For one can always start something new : an Arendtian-psychoanalytic reflection on patient agency}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1037/pap0000412}},
volume = {{39}},
year = {{2022}},
}
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