Citation

Cowan‐Jenssen S, Goodison L. Psychother. Politics Int. 2008; 6(3): 171-184.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ppi.168

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this two-part paper, we explore how, in Western society, intensified consumer culture, playing on feelings of shame and inadequacy, can be seen as reactivating the ‘narcissistic wound’ while the recent growth of information technology increasingly provides access to a global spectacle and a virtual world that offer an escape from reality, fuelling the illusion of immortality and invulnerability to physical/emotional needs. We ask who benefits from this culture of unrelatedness and disembodiment and what are the repercussions in terms of participation in social life and organized response to global issues.