Psychoanalysis deflects institutional-racism critiques by pathologizing those who raise them

Evidence

Two moves make this possible. First by instituting intensive forms of professional self-scrutiny directed at the mastery and evaluation of its own internal clinical practice, psychoanalysis seeks to place itself “above suspicion” of cultural bias, and to lay claim to objectivity as a natural science of the Unconscious. Yet this scrutiny has proved to be highly selective; it has not, for example, extended to the fact that very few analysts or patients are recruited from black, Asian, or other nonwhite ethnic minorities, nor does it consider the structured neglect of questions of race and ethnicity in the conduct of training and the talking cure. Instead suspicion is directed outwards; the motivations of all those who raise the issue of “institutional racism,” whether from their position on the couch, or the academic podium, are interpreted “psychodynamically” in such a way as to invalidate the arguments being made (Dalai, 1998). — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1258

Categorization

• DEFINE: Illustrates how a field can claim scientific objectivity while directing suspicion outward onto accusers — a concrete mechanism of ‘institutional racism’ denial worth grounding.
• XREF: Connects to vault-wide claims about how institutions normalize bias under the guise of objectivity and how dominant frames constrain which claims get heard. — connects to: Psychoanalysis claims objectivity while psychodynamically dismissing those who raise institutional racism — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1258; Psychoanalytic racism theory should target institutional practice, not treat racist individuals — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1407; Universal-psychology accounts of racism substitute an alibi for explanation — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 634 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Psychoanalysis claims objectivity while psychodynamically dismissing those who raise institutional racism #corroborates (0.90) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1258
• Psychoanalytic racism theory should target institutional practice, not treat racist individuals #expands (0.80) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1407
• Universal-psychology accounts of racism substitute an alibi for explanation #corroborates (0.72) — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 634