Abstract
‘If it were true – as conceited shrewdness, proud of not being deceived, thinks – that one should believe nothing which he cannot see by means of his physical eyes, then first and foremost one ought to give up believing in love’ (Kierkegaard).
Today, disciplines of all kinds fall over themselves to declare themselves ‘evidence-based’ in order to establish their (positivist) scientific credentials so that they might be taken seriously. Psychotherapies of all kinds are keen to pursue this course. The Institute of Group Analysis (London) has just launched a project called ‘Evidence Based Group Analysis’.
In this talk, I will critique attempts made by the ‘psy’ disciplines’ (psychiatry, psychology and psychotherapy) to use positivism to enter the citadel of science. Amongst other things, I will argue that their efforts have resulted in the corruption and distortion of the principles of (positivist) science. I will argue that positivist methodologies are unable, even in principle, to capture the intricacies of human exchange. I suggest that in lieu of positivism, notions of emergence and complex responsive processes are more appropriate.
Additionally, the argument will also raise questions about the idea of science itself and claim that much of what passes for science in this territory is a distortion of reality rather than a description of it.
Please follow this link to sign up for the event: http://www.dalal.org.uk/GAI_events
About Farhad Dalal
Farhad Dalal is a Training Group Analyst and supervisor for the Institute of Group Analysis, London. He is the convenor of the group psychotherapy training in India (which is supported by donations) www.groupanalysisindia.com.
He has published extensively on psychotherapy, ethics, equality and diversity, and four books to date: Taking the Group Seriously, Race; Colour and the Processes of Racialization; Thought Paralysis: The Virtues of Discrimination.
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