"Bad" Mothers: The Politics of Blame Re: Radio Doug

[RE]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carrol Cox" <cbcox at ilstu.edu>
To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>

:
: I would think that what needs explanation here is the medical practice.
: Why does this misdiagnosis occur? And I think the most important kind of
: explanation would be social/political, not psychological.

I think your point focuses on a topic from another thread but, anyway, I
agree, at least with respect to appreciating that there's a set of
institutionalized relationships that enforce a bias in favor of this
misdiagnosis.

: We can do
: something politically, but if we explain it in terms of the
: psychology,motivation, etc. of the physicians, psychologists,
: nursing-home managers, we will be faced with the impossible task of
: individually transforming each and every physcician, psychologist, and
: nursing-home manager in the nation, which is impossible.

I accept the necessity of a political approach that doesn't hinge on
engaging the personality dynamics of all concerned.  At the same time, I
find the idea of some kind of background critique of
authoritarianism/sexism/classism et al that draws in some ways on
psychodynamic ideas to be persuasive.  For example, I think that a fully
developed critical understanding of class relationships is obliged to
include some reference to paternalism/maternalism.  It may not prove to be
necessary to ground a movement, but if we want to fully comprehend the
root*s* of the problem, then understanding how people can come, to put it
generally, to put aside hateful feelings towards a boss for "appreciative"
feelings is important, and it can't be boiled down to deliberately chosen
affective investments.  But, it's not clear to me how that knowledge could
be practically applied.  Reich seemed to think, or at least eventually came
to think, that sexual freedom would undercut the basis for libidinal ties to
authority.  That hasn't proven to be the case, although some people have had
fun in the process of trying.

Randy

:
: Carrol
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