Guilt: A Psychoanalytic Exploration
CPD courses & points for psychologists in South Africa
Explore the complexities of guilt for South African psychologists with this psychoanalytic course. Explore into conscious vs.
This talk explores the complex nature of guilt through a contemporary psychoanalytic lens, examining both conscious & unconscious guilt & how these shape human behaviour, relationships & emotional wellbeing. Participants will be introduced to key distinctions including persecutory & reparative guilt, as well as the role of the superego as an internal critic that can drive self-punishment, suffering & self-sabotage.
The talk also considers how guilt can be justified or unjustified, how it may be induced in early relationships, & how individuals can become stuck in cycles of suffering due to unresolved unconscious processes. A focus will be placed on the movement toward reparation, responsibility & conscience, highlighting pathways toward growth, emotional repair & greater psychological freedom.
Sections
- Conscious & unconscious guilt
- Persecutory & reparative guilt
- The super ego & self-punishment
- Justified, unjustified & induced guilt
- Therapeutic approaches to working with guilt
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
- Describe the differences between conscious & unconscious guilt
- Identify persecutory & reparative guilt in clinical or everyday contexts
- Explain the role of the super ego in maintaining self-punishment & suffering
- Distinguish between justified & unjustified guilt
- Apply basic principles for working with guilt in therapeutic settings
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