AIDS/representation and psychological practice : (inter)subjectivity in HIV counselling

This study undertakes a discourse analysis of a counselling session with an HIV positive man. Literature, informed by post-structuralism, on the representations and practices that surround the HIV/AIDS epidemic is examined as a background to the study. Self psychological theory concerning mourning, the psychodynamic consequences of having AIDS and selfobject phantasies is examined. This theory is criticised for ignoring the content of phantasies as well as the imbrication of the subject within the social. In an attempt to address these gaps theorisation of stigma and gendered development is introduced, as well as Hollway's (1984) broadly Foucauldian notions of investment in subject positionings. A multiple theoretical position conceptualising counselling as (inter)subjective process re-producing particular subject positionings is developed. The relations between various subject positions are described, drawing on self psychological theory to consider the investments the participants in the session may have had in each position. The analytic reading suggests that in the elaboration of particular selfobject phantasies the HIV positive client is able to cohese his sense of self and to disavow a knowing of himself as a stigmatised person with AIDS. The counsellor, through subject positionings which are in conjuncture with those of the client, disavows a knowing of the client as a person with AIDS. Through these positionings a necessary allusion of attunement is produced, allowing the counsellor to mirror the client. From this analysis various implications for consultation, supervision and training are drawn. The study .suggests that multiple ways in which HIV I AIDS is represented requires psychologists to explore their own positionings with regards to salient HIV/AIDS related issues, as these positionings have effects in work in this field.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

1996

Author dc:creator

• Sandenbergh, Rob

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kottler, Amanda

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13501

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13501