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MiroMente

Folkloristic Methods in Dreams Interpretation

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Abstract

The current paper deals with the affinity between dreams and fairy tales by using methods taken from the folk literature discipline. In the search to define common meeting points between literature and psychoanalysis, the most popular tendency has been towards psychological interpretation of literary genres. The current paper describes the opposite process, in which a mental product – the dream – is given a literary treatment. This process reflects the assumption that literary and folkloristic interpretations, which focus on aesthetic, collective and universal aspects of dreams, might have an important contribution to make, both on a Read more

ChagalFiaba

Presentation, The Ordering Function of Thought in Folktales

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Each of the articles in the volume relates to unique aspects regarding the affinity existing between fairy tales, or tales which share common characteristics with folktales, and the therapeutic process – either individual therapy, or a group workshop. Several articles in this issue deal with the ways in which fairy tales function in the therapeutic process.
The connecting thread of the articles is the use of the fairy tale as a “mediating object” in psychotherapy, as well as in educational situations: fairy tales convey profound topics, both in therapeutic and educational contexts and provide indirect access to these topics.  Lafforgue, citing Kaës, defines them as a “prêt-porter” for thinking, emphasizing their “ordering function”. Read more

ChagalFiaba

Back to “Cinderella”: fairytales in the Bibliotherapeutic Dialogue

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Abstract

Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic method in the field of Art therapy, which suggests focusing the therapeutic dialogue on a literary text, either written or read. This text functions within the therapeutic dialogue as a “third voice”, in addition to the voices of the patient and the therapist, and takes part in the dialogue as an autonomous Read more

ChagalFiaba

The fairy tale as a therapy tool: an experience with the multidisabled blind

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Abstract

This paper describes our clinical experience based on a fairy tale workshop carried out with a group of multidisabled blind children. It aims at showing how the huge communicational potential of the fairy tale can be helpful non only to the children taking part in the workshop but also to the team members involved. As a mediator of symbolization processes, the fairy tale appeals to the emotions that are not immediately accessible to thought and, thanks to its simple language, can reach the listeners’ inner world. In this perspective, the pleasure shared by the group members (both children and team members) becomes a precious ally for the establishment of a “narrative bond”: the fairy tale helps explaining also traumatic facts and events of life. In the situation reported Read more

ChagalFiaba

On the uses of the folk-tale in education

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Abstract

More than thirty years of work as a child psychiatrist and analyst and weekly meetings with the teachers of psychotic children in my care, have led me to reflect upon the process of learning to read and the apparent lack of interest in books and reading amongst certain social groups. It is clearly the case that our consumer society favours information in the form of quick, screen-based Read more

ChagalFiaba

The fairy tale as an observation instrument: the psychologist gets into the class

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Abstract

Bringing fairly tale  in the classroom, in a setting clearly discussed with the teacher providing for the reading of the text, the time of the conversation with children (including the proposal after each intervention to draw what has affected them more) , the defined time for discussion with the teacher present during the work, to  participate to what happened, allows us to do a deep observation of the dynamics pertaining to the group, particularly to identify children in need of listening, and reflect on  the typical style of the  Read more

ChagalFiaba

The Relationships between Incest and Hubris in Dreams, Myths and Folk Tales

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Abstract

In ancient myths, Hubris and Incest appear as the two archetypes, and are largely mentioned as the primary human sins in various cultures. It is in fact reasonable to assume that these two taboos constitute an ideological foundation, ground rules or moral axioms for the entire human civilizations. The many notations provided in the stories of creation, myths, works of art and legends, only serve to strengthen this hypothesis. Despite their numerous joint appearances and reciprocity, while attempting to understand their essence and basic importance, it seems that the affinity existing between them has not been stressed strongly enough. A dream told by a 33 year old man, married and a father to one child, demonstrates the special relationship existing between incest and hubris. The man came to treatment because he couldn’t hold on to a job and had a tendency to frequently change occupations. Having high ambitions of getting rich, he had the tendency to put enthusiastic efforts into dubious business schemes. They all eventually turned out to be totally unrealistic and caused him a great deal of disappointment, not to mention financial loss. He was in fact dependant on the support of his wife’s affluent Read more