The Darker Side of Human Nature

LONDON, January 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Institute of Psychoanalysis Explores Our Emotional and Mental Lives From Childhood to Old Age, and the Darker Side of Human Nature

- Events Complement the Science Museum Exhibition, Psychoanalysis: The Unconscious in Everyday Life (runs until 2 April 2011)

The inner experience of babies, attitudes to ageing and the darker side of human nature are some of the fundamental issues explored during The Institute of Psychoanalysis' continuing special events programme. The programme complements the Science Museum's groundbreaking exhibition, Psychoanalysis: The Unconscious in Everyday Life (admission free, ends 2 April 2011).

Civilization and its Discontents (8 April) asks whether humanity can master its drive to aggression and self-destruction. Dr David Bell, President of The Institute of Psychoanalysis, discusses Freud's seminal work with eminent literary critic Dame Gillian Beer, showing its continuing contemporary relevance with reference to the 'war on terror', attitudes to immigration and the effects of the penetration of the market into modern life.

The darker side of human nature will be explored further at The Murder of Sanity and the Sanity of Murder (19 March), looks at how we can understand incomprehensible events, using clinical observation, literature and art to explore issues including sexual addiction, revenge, psychopathy and murder.

The Child, the Family and the Outside World (26 February) asks how we can make sense of the inner experience of babies and young children. Using clips from James Robertson's pioneering film A Two-Year-Old Goes to Hospital, it examines the importance of observation in understanding the inner world of children.

At the other end of the life cycle, Thinking About Time and Ageing (4 February) explores why some people shy away from old age while others embrace it, and how psychoanalysis can help free people from the emotional paralysis that growing older can bring.

Humour and psychoanalysis will be the focus for a special screening of the charming comedy Inconscientes (Unconscious - 13 February), followed by a discussion with the film's award-winning director Joaquín Oristrell.

Further events include Developing Identity (16 January), Can Psychoanalysis be a Science? (23 February), The Horror in Dreams (9 March) and Big Wild Cats (15 March).

Events take place at various London venues. Full details at http://www.beyondthecouch.org.uk or call +44(0)20-7563-5016

Full event details/media releases at: http://www.beyondthecouch.org.uk

The Institute of Psychoanalysis - media enquiries as above.

For clinical enquiries contact the London Clinic of Psychoanalysis on +44(0)20-7563-5002, clinic@iopa.org.uk, http://wwww.psychoanalysis.org.uk