Soul Murder: Historic, literary and clinical origins

Dr. Paul Williams

Saturday Nov 22, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Considerations of the soul, its murder and associations with violence (internal and external) against the self will be explored with the use of theory, historical accounts, literary accounts and clinical vignettes

In the morning presentation, Paul Williams will discuss the historical, literary and clinical origins of the phenomenon we today refer to as soul murder. There is an ancient history of association with violence in considerations of the soul, a difficult and ambiguous term from a psychoanalytic standpoint, and these origins will be discussed including in its more contemporary and psychologically evolved form as violence (internal and external) against the self. The conceptual underpinnings of what constitutes soul murder will be addressed, including in the contentious territory of balancing intrapsychically-generated disturbance with the invasive nature of traumatic assault and neglect. Some suggestions will be offered as to what makes it possible for a soul murdered individual to access psychoanalytic help, versus what gives rise to an allegiance to psychic death. The place and role of psychotic thinking in soul murder will also be explored.

CE Credits offered: 2

Course Objectives

After completing this course participants will be able to:

1. Define soul murder.
2. Relate soul murder to clinical vignettes.

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