The Nightmare for Aboriginal People and its Relation to Dreamtime

• Published in: International journal of applied psychoanalytic studies Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 217 - 229
• Main Author: Lord Alderdice, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2014; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aboriginal; culture; Dreamtime; large group psychology
• ISSN: 1742-3341; 1556-9187; 1556-9187
• DOI: 10.1002/aps.1413

ABSTRACT Using his experience of applying “large group” psychology to analyzing and intervening in violent political conflicts in many parts of the world, the author describes his observations from a brief engagement with some Australian Aboriginal people and those who are trying to help them. He concludes that the way in which Aboriginal culture views existence, in particular its concepts of time, space and the symbolic, is a major contributor to their difficulties in challenging and coming to terms with the majority culture. He proposes that simply continuing to provide material resources to improve Aboriginal well‐being will not be effective, and that a conservation approach to Aboriginal culture may doom Aboriginal people to continuing misery and untimely deaths. A process of psychosocial engagement is proposed that requires a preparedness to change perspectives on both sides to address the long‐term problems of historically disturbed relationships between indigenous and colonizing peoples. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.