Deprivation: philosophy, attachment theory, violence therapy

What is it about?

From the beginning, attachment theory was established as an interdisciplinary field (drawing on psychoanalysis, evolutionary biology and ethology) but to date, more than half a century later, it has received little if any input from the humanities , and in particular, from philosophy, although it deals with issues such as self- and other-representations and relational patterns of acting and interacting , and hence agency and moral action. I propose that ancient metaphysics can offer a distinct view on deprivation which may usefully complement the concept of deprivation that lies at the core of attachment theory and may thus inspire new therapeutic approaches to dealing with violent individuals.

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Why is it important?

In several of my articles I argue for the importance of integrating philosophical knowledge, and especially knowledge from ontology, which deals with people’s self-identity as human beings, in clinical psychotherapeutic and medical work. Some of the problems that persons in therapy face cannot be solved or ameliorated strictly with psychological and medical tools. What I call “metaphysical care” is also needed and it can usefully complement treatment. It is important to address patients/clients (especially those affected by violence) at this deeper level of what it is that makes them a human being, if healing of a more durable and complete kind is to be achieved, simply because whatever it may be the condition they suffer from, it fundamentally disrupts that very level.