After Lockdown, Opening Up: Psychosocial Transformation in the Wake of COVID-19 (Studies in the Psychosocial)

"This is a remarkably creative book, and a creature of lockdown. It illustrates the fraught possibilities at play in liminal fields during times of crisis. Do not expect the familiar patterns of 'normal science', because this is a book proudly exhibiting research in process of formation, brimming with new ideas, hopes and reflections, but also bristling with critical intent. It gives great importance to lived experiences from multiple perspectives, ever keeping in sight socio-political issues of difference, injustice, and inequality." -- Paul Stenner, Open University, UK This edited volume examines the psychosocial transformations experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, and envisions those that might lead to a more equitable society as we 'open up'. The book integrates psychoanalysis, sociology, cultural studies, and psychology to address three main areas: personal experiences of the lockdown, new formations of power and desire that the lockdown has shaped, and global concerns related to the pandemic. Within those three areas, the chapters discuss key themes that include the uses of space during lockdown; experiences of death, loss, and domestic violence; race and the pandemic; technology, media, and viral media; chronic illness; handwashing and COVID-19; and conspiracy theories. Drawing together academics and practitioners with a common vision of social justice and active pedagogy, the contents of this volume combine experiential writing with cutting-edge, theoretically-informed interdisciplinary debates. The book advances and demonstrates the productive diversity of psychosocial studies, drawing on psychoanalytic theories, critical psychologies, critical theories, critical race theories, process philosophies, affect theories, and critical pedagogy. In doing so, it will appeal to scholars across the social sciences. Darren Ellis is Senior Lecturer and Course Leader of Psychosocial Community Work at the University of East London, UK. Angie Voela is a Reader in Social Sciences at the University of East London, UK. Foreword Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures Part I Introduction 1 Introduction: For a Psychosocial Approach to the Lockdown A Critical Event or an Importunate Moment? Opening up as a Psychosocial Endeavour at the University of East London The Personal Experience of Lockdown Entanglements of Power and Desire Global Emergencies References Part II The Personal Experience of the Lockdown 2 Sharing Space—Not Sharing Space: Narcissism and Object Relations in the Pandemic Introduction Sharing Space: Not Sharing Space Narcissistic V Object Relatedness Waiting in Hope? Returning to ‘Normal’ or Facing Loss, and Mourning Concluding Remarks References 3 Death, Loss and Limbo in Times of Pandemic Death in Lockdown Three Months Later Looking Back References 4 The World is Slowing Down: Reflection on Time During Lockdown and Pregnancy Slowing Down: Between Guilt and Indifference Pregnancy in Lockdown—A Capitalist Discourse Slowing Down as Point of View and Perspective Final Thought, While Still Waiting... References 5 Conceptualising the Lockdown from the Point of View of Chronic Illness In Bed with Virginia Woolf, Marcel Proust and Many Others Spaces of Crisis, Spaces and Crisis? Concluding Remarks References 6 Locked-Down, Log-In and Slog-On: A Technocratic Dystopia? Introduction Thirty-Odd Years Ago Disrupting the Bloated Billionaires Shifting Sands and Skills Pandemic as Disrupter From Eternal Return to Invention Social-Mediatisation Labouring for Big Tech? Accelerating the Inevitable The Betweenness of Becoming References Part III Entanglements of Power and Desire 7 ‘It’s Genetic, Innit’? Racialising the Lockdown It’s Genetic Innit? Most Things Stop But the ‘Beat’ Goes on... COVID-19 & Racism A Third Wave, Another Lockdown and a Case for a More Caring Society References 8 Addressing the Safety and Criminal Exploitation of Vulnerable Young People: Before, During and After COVID-19 and Lockdown Vulnerable Not Violent: Addressing the Safety and Criminal Exploitation of Young People A Pilot Complex Intervention in Newham, East London Family Needs Perspectives and Experiences of the Intervention Impact of Participating in the NKS Project Impact on Emotional and Mental Resilience Importance of Being ‘Taken into the Country and Out of Usual Surroundings’ Benefits of Mentoring Effective Mentoring An Integrated Intervention Model: Pre and Post COVID-19 Before, During and After Lockdown Conclusions References 9 Being Trapped in Relational Systems of Narcissistic Abuse During Lockdown Narcissistic Abuse—Triangulation, Manipulation and Cults Gaslighting Narcissistic Using, Abusing and Discarding Case Study Beyond Narcissistic Abuse Recovering from Narcissistic Abuse in Times of Pandemic References 10 Leaving Home: Safer Spaces Beyond the Neoliberal Family Gender, Violence and the Family Ideal Vitruvian Mantology Domestic Space and the Feminine Ideal Pigs, Presence and the Posthuman References 11 ‘Hands, Face, Space’: Psychoanalysis, Secular Rituals and Magical Thinking in COVID-19 Times ‘Wash Your Hands to Happy Birthday’ A Brief History of Cleanliness: Science and Hygiene Soap and Racial Hygiene The Science of Personal Hygiene ‘Hands, Face, Space’: The Magification of Science Psychoanalysis, Magic, Reality After Lockdown, Opening Up References Part IV Global Emergencies 12 Separation, Connection, and the Anticipation of Uncertain (Digital) Futures: Care, Covid-19 Lockdowns and Mental Health Moving Through Space—Not Living in Space Psychological Movement and Anticipation Imagining Future Forms of Mental Health Care References 13 The New Logics of Viral Media References 14 Lockdown, Conspiracy Theories: Inaction, Transmission, Stupidity Weird and Wonderful Poetics A Shock or a Spasm? Beyond Epistemic Confusion I Want to Believe Changing Configurations of Reason, Knowledge and Desire Inter-Individuality and the Mirror Stage Towards a Better Future? Our Responsibility References Afterword References Index