Virginia Ungar

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Virginia Ungar is an Argentine psychoanalyst who served as the President of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) from 2017 to 2021. Her presidency marked a significant moment in the history of the IPA, as she was the first non-European to hold the position, reflecting the increasing globalization and diversification of psychoanalytic thought and practice.[1] Ungar's work focuses on gender issues, intergenerational trauma, and the application of psychoanalytic principles to understanding contemporary social and political challenges.

Biography

Virginia Ungar's career has been dedicated to the advancement of psychoanalysis both within Argentina and on a global scale. Her work reflects a commitment to bridging theoretical perspectives and fostering dialogue across different psychoanalytic traditions.

Early Life and Education

Ungar received her psychoanalytic training at the Asociación Psicoanalítica de Buenos Aires (APdeBA), a component society of the IPA. Her early work was influenced by the rich psychoanalytic tradition in Argentina, which has historically been a vibrant center for psychoanalytic thought and practice.[2] The Argentine psychoanalytic community has been known for its openness to diverse theoretical perspectives and its engagement with social and political issues, shaping Ungar's own approach to psychoanalysis.

Institutional Affiliations

Ungar has held various leadership positions within the IPA, including serving on its Board and Executive Committee. Her involvement in the IPA reflects her commitment to the organization's mission of promoting psychoanalytic research, education, and practice worldwide. Her election as president in 2017 was a landmark event, signaling the IPA's recognition of the growing importance of psychoanalysis in Latin America and other regions outside of Europe and North America.[3]

Key Turning Points

Ungar's presidency of the IPA was marked by several key initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity and addressing contemporary challenges. She emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue between different psychoanalytic perspectives and encouraging the participation of psychoanalysts from diverse cultural backgrounds. She also highlighted the relevance of psychoanalysis for understanding and addressing social issues such as violence, inequality, and environmental degradation.[4]

Engagement with Psychoanalysis

Ungar's engagement with psychoanalysis is characterized by a commitment to both theoretical rigor and clinical relevance. She draws on a range of psychoanalytic concepts and perspectives to inform her understanding of individual and social phenomena.

Clinical Practice and Technique

While specific details of Ungar's clinical practice are not widely available, her writings and presentations suggest a focus on the relational aspects of psychoanalysis and the importance of the therapeutic relationship in facilitating change. She emphasizes the role of empathy, understanding, and interpretation in helping patients to explore their unconscious conflicts and develop greater self-awareness.

Theoretical Reinterpretation and Critique

Ungar's work reflects an openness to different theoretical perspectives within psychoanalysis, including Freudian, Kleinian, and relational approaches. She seeks to integrate these perspectives in a way that is clinically relevant and theoretically coherent. She also engages critically with psychoanalytic concepts, questioning their applicability in different cultural contexts and adapting them to address contemporary social issues.

Relation to Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan

Ungar's work is grounded in the foundational principles of Freudian psychoanalysis, while also incorporating insights from later psychoanalytic thinkers such as Melanie Klein and Donald Winnicott. While not explicitly a Lacanian, her work shares with Lacanian psychoanalysis an emphasis on the role of language and the symbolic order in shaping subjectivity. Her approach is characterized by a pragmatic and integrative approach, drawing on different theoretical perspectives to inform her clinical practice and understanding of social phenomena.

Integration with Feminism

Ungar's work demonstrates a strong engagement with feminist perspectives on psychoanalysis. She explores the ways in which gender roles and social expectations can shape individual identity and contribute to psychological distress. She also examines the impact of gender inequality and discrimination on women's mental health. Her work seeks to challenge traditional psychoanalytic assumptions about gender and sexuality and to develop a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of women's experiences.[5]

Theoretical Contributions

Ungar's theoretical contributions lie primarily in her application of psychoanalytic principles to understanding contemporary social issues and her efforts to promote inclusivity and diversity within the psychoanalytic community.

Intergenerational Trauma

Ungar has written and spoken about the impact of intergenerational trauma on individuals and communities. She explores the ways in which traumatic experiences can be transmitted across generations, shaping family dynamics and individual identity. Her work highlights the importance of addressing intergenerational trauma in clinical practice and in efforts to promote social justice and reconciliation.[6]

Gender and Psychoanalysis

Ungar's work on gender and psychoanalysis challenges traditional psychoanalytic assumptions about female psychology and sexuality. She explores the ways in which gender roles and social expectations can contribute to psychological distress and limit women's opportunities. Her work seeks to develop a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of women's experiences and to promote gender equality within the psychoanalytic community and beyond.

Globalization of Psychoanalysis

Ungar's presidency of the IPA marked a significant step in the globalization of psychoanalysis. She has been a strong advocate for promoting the participation of psychoanalysts from diverse cultural backgrounds and for adapting psychoanalytic principles to different cultural contexts. Her work seeks to challenge the Eurocentric bias of traditional psychoanalysis and to develop a more global and inclusive psychoanalytic perspective.

Clinical and Institutional Work

Ungar's career has been dedicated to both clinical practice and institutional leadership. She has served as a training analyst and supervisor at APdeBA, and she has held various leadership positions within the IPA.

Training Activities

As a training analyst and supervisor, Ungar has played a key role in shaping the next generation of psychoanalysts in Argentina. She emphasizes the importance of both theoretical knowledge and clinical skills in psychoanalytic training. She also encourages trainees to develop their own unique perspectives and to engage critically with psychoanalytic concepts.

Leadership of Organizations

Ungar's leadership of the IPA has been marked by a commitment to promoting inclusivity, diversity, and global collaboration. She has worked to strengthen the IPA's relationships with component societies around the world and to foster dialogue between different psychoanalytic traditions. Her presidency has helped to raise the profile of psychoanalysis on a global scale and to promote its relevance for understanding and addressing contemporary social issues.

Influence and Legacy

Ungar's influence extends beyond her role as president of the IPA. She is a respected clinician, teacher, and scholar who has made significant contributions to the field of psychoanalysis. Her work has helped to promote a more global, inclusive, and socially relevant psychoanalytic perspective.

Key Works

  • Psychoanalytic Perspectives on a Changing World (Co-edited): This edited volume brings together contributions from psychoanalysts around the world, exploring the relevance of psychoanalysis for understanding and addressing contemporary social issues.

See also

References

  1. ↑ International Psychoanalytical Association. "IPA Presidents." Accessed October 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ Plotkin, Mariano. Freud in the Pampas: Psychoanalysis and Cultural Change in Argentina, 1910-1965. Stanford University Press, 2001.
  3. ↑ International Psychoanalytical Association. "IPA History." Accessed October 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ Ungar, Virginia. "President's Message." *IPA Newsletter*, 2017-2021.
  5. ↑ See, for example, contributions to Ungar, V., & Auchterlonie, A. (Eds.). (2022). *Psychoanalytic perspectives on a changing world* (The New International Library of Group Analysis). Routledge.
  6. ↑ Ungar, Virginia. "Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma." Presentation at the IPA Congress, 2019.
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