Trauma and Forgiveness
Consequences and Communities

Using case studies and theory, Alford argues that the traumatized are generally capable of representing their experience.

C. Fred Alford (Author)

9781107626607, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 November 2015

230 pages
23 x 15 x 1.4 cm, 0.35 kg

'This book is remarkably successful in distilling and presenting the debate and its many entangled strands. It takes us on a journey through the many contemporary writings on forgiveness of philosophers, psychologists and contemporary historical commentators.' R. D. Hinshelwood, Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex

Contrary to the view of trauma popularized by literary theorists, Trauma and Forgiveness argues that the traumatized are capable of representing their experience and that we should therefore listen more and theorize less. Using stories and case studies, including testimonies from Holocaust survivors, as well as the victims of 'ordinary' trauma, C. Fred Alford shows that, while the traumatized are generally capable of representing their experience, this does little to heal them. He draws on the British Object Relations tradition in psychoanalysis to argue that forgiveness, which might be expected to help heal the traumatized, is generally an attempt to avoid the hard work of mourning losses that can never be made whole. Forgiveness is better seen as a virtue in the classical sense, a recognition of human vulnerability. The book concludes with an extended case study of the essayist Jean Améry and his refusal to forgive.

1. Introduction: trauma and forgiveness
2. Is the Holocaust traumatic?
3. Winnicott and trauma
4. Melanie Klein and forgiveness: theory
5. Melanie Klein and forgiveness: practice
6. Winnicott: forgiveness and transitional experience
7. Jean Améry: resentment, loneliness, and aging
8. Conclusion: trauma as knowledge.

Subject Areas: Clinical psychology [MMJ], Psychology [JM], Sociology [JHB]