Naslov pogovora je: “Border psychology, Trauma, Human Aggression, and Healing”.
Vodi Manca Švara v sklopu pogovorov Analysis & Activism TALKS!, organizira Zavod Epiona.

Vamik Volkan je priznani psihoanalitik, čigar večdesetletno delo je bistveno prispevalo k razumevanju medgeneracijske travme, kolektivnega žalovanja ter psiholoških razsežnosti nasilja, vojn in konfliktov. Njegova teorija o velikih skupinah (large-group psychology) ponuja dragocen vpogled v to, kako zgodovinske travme, nerazrešeni konflikti in občutki kolektivne ogroženosti ostajajo prisotni v nezavednem posameznikov in skupnosti skozi generacije.

Volkan je posebej raziskoval, kako se identiteta posameznika prepleta z identiteto njegove skupine – naroda, etnične skupnosti ali verske skupine – ter kako se psihološke rane, nastale ob zgodovinskih dogodkih, kot so genocid, izgoni, vojne ali okupacije, prenašajo iz ene generacije na drugo. Njegovo delo poudarja, da kolektivna žalovanja pogosto ostanejo “zamrznjena”, če ni možnosti za simbolno razrešitev ali priznanje izgube, kar lahko vodi v dolgotrajne napetosti, nacionalistične ideologije in ponavljajoče se konflikte.

Poleg svoje klinične prakse je Volkan deloval tudi kot svetovalec pri mirovnih procesih in diplomaciji, kjer je s svojo psihodinamsko perspektivo pomagal razumeti in premostiti globoko zakoreninjene psihološke ovire pri medskupinskem dialogu. Njegova dela, med njimi Bloodlines, Blind Trust in Enemies on the Couch, so temeljna besedila za vsakogar, ki se ukvarja z vprašanji kolektivne psihe, travme in zdravljenja na ravni posameznika in skupnosti.

Volkanova dediščina ostaja izjemno pomembna v času, ko se svet sooča z novimi oblikami nasilja, migracij, kulturnih premikov in podoživljanjem starih ran. Njegove teorije nam ponujajo orodja za globlje razumevanje sodobnih družbenih pojavov ter za iskanje poti do zdravljenja, sprave in medčloveške povezanosti.

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Title of the talk: “Border Psychology, Trauma, Human Aggression, and Healing”
Hosted by Manca Švara as part of the Analysis & Activism TALKS! series, organized by Zavod Epiona.

Vamik Volkan is a renowned psychoanalyst whose decades-long work has significantly contributed to the understanding of transgenerational trauma, collective mourning, and the psychological dimensions of violence, war, and conflict. His theory of large-group psychology offers valuable insight into how historical traumas, unresolved conflicts, and collective feelings of threat remain embedded in the unconscious of individuals and communities across generations.

Volkan has specifically explored how an individual’s identity intertwines with the identity of their group—be it a nation, ethnic community, or religious group—and how psychological wounds caused by historical events such as genocide, exile, war, or occupation are transmitted from one generation to the next. His work emphasizes that collective mourning often remains “frozen” when there is no space for symbolic resolution or acknowledgment of loss, which can lead to prolonged tensions, nationalist ideologies, and repeated conflicts.

In addition to his clinical practice, Volkan has served as an advisor in peace processes and diplomacy, where his psychodynamic perspective has helped to understand and bridge deeply rooted psychological barriers in intergroup dialogue. His works, including Bloodlines, Blind Trust, and Enemies on the Couch, are essential reading for anyone dealing with questions of collective psyche, trauma, and healing on both individual and communal levels.

Volkan’s legacy remains highly relevant today, as the world faces new forms of violence, migration, cultural shifts, and the re-emergence of historical wounds. His theories offer tools for a deeper understanding of contemporary social phenomena and for finding pathways toward healing, reconciliation, and human connection.