The Hero in the Mirror: From Fear to Fortitude (Relational Perspectives Book Series)

In times of stress, trauma and crisis—whether on a personal or global scale—it can be all too easy for us to externalize a larger-than-life figure who can assuage our suffering, a Hero who comes to the fore even as we recede into the background. In taking on our collective burden, however, such an omnipotent Hero can actually undermine us, representing as it does the very same characteristics we fail to note in one another. By granting the Hero to power to set things right, we seem to deny it to ourselves, leaving us temporarily lightened but ultimately helpless. In response, Sue Grand deconstructs the myth of the Heroic and argues for the "ordinary hero," a more realistic figure with the same limitations, concerns and fears as the rest of us, but who nonetheless stands up for the greater good in the face of danger, despair and villainy. From the foundation of relational psychoanalysis, Grand incorporates cultural and ethical considerations in her examination of what this ordinary hero might look like, a trip that takes us from the consulting room to right outside our front doors, from the heart of a "civilized" nation to the myriad war-torn regions dappling the globe, both past and present. Along the way we meet individuals whose encounters with adversity range from the mundane to the catastrophic, and learn how they struggle against the dubious concept of the Hero looming large in their lives. Recounting this journey in finely-tuned yet imminently accessible and enjoyable prose, Grand demonstrates that the best place to ultimately find the ordinary hero is within each other: The hero is us. Recent socio-political conditions have moved psychoanalysis into an ongoing consideration of the nature of terror. In her previous book, The Reproduction of Evil (Analytic Press 2002), Sue Grand examined the perpetrator of 'evil': the way a history of trauma was transmuted into a repetition of trauma. In this book, she will offer a phenomenology of terror - through a look at war, genocide, terrorism, torture, as well as familial abuse - and query the conditions through which an individual (or group) retains its humanity through acts of rescue, resistance and memorial activity. This book asks questions about how/why some individuals (and communities) are immobilized by fear, while others can act without fear, or, in spite of it. Why do some abandon the persecuted other, while others retain a vision of that other as human, deserving of shelter? Why do some patients address dread in openness and concern, while others abandon the internal persecuted self, evacuating terror through schizoid compromise, manic defense, or narcissistic insularity? How have the practitioners of the 'impossible profession' defined their own affective and moral 'courage' in the consulting room; how does courage fail them in encounters with terror? Should the patient's social concern and 'heroic motility' be considered an important component of the therapeutic agenda? How does such motility develop, appear, and collapse within the analytic dyad? In the tradition of applied psychoanalysis, Grand moves back and forth from the individual to the historic-sociocultural, from literary to clinical narratives, articulating intrapsychic and intersubjective dynamisms which elucidate these issues

in Times Of Stress, Trauma And Crisis—whether On A Personal Or Global Scale—it Can Be All Too Easy For Us To Externalize A Larger-than-life Figure Who Can Assuage Our Suffering, A Hero Who Comes To The Fore Even As We Recede Into The Background. In Taking On Our Collective Burden, However, Such An Omnipotent Hero Can Actually Undermine Us, Representing As It Does The Very Same Characteristics We Fail To Note In One Another. By Granting The Hero To Power To Set Things Right, We Seem To Deny It To Ourselves, Leaving Us Temporarily Lightened But Ultimately Helpless.

in Response, Sue Grand Deconstructs The Myth Of The Heroic And Argues For The Ordinary Hero, A More Realistic Figure With The Same Limitations, Concerns And Fears As The Rest Of Us, But Who Nonetheless Stands Up For The Greater Good In The Face Of Danger, Despair And Villainy. From The Foundation Of Relational Psychoanalysis, Grand Incorporates Cultural And Ethical Considerations In Her Examination Of What This Ordinary Hero Might Look Like, A Trip That Takes Us From The Consulting Room To Right Outside Our Front Doors, From The Heart Of A Civilized Nation To The Myriad War-torn Regions Dappling The Globe, Both Past And Present. Along The Way We Meet Individuals Whose Encounters With Adversity Range From The Mundane To The Catastrophic, And Learn How They Struggle Against The Dubious Concept Of The Hero Looming Large In Their Lives. Recounting This Journey In Finely-tuned Yet Imminently Accessible And Enjoyable Prose, Grand Demonstrates That The Best Place To Ultimately Find The Ordinary Hero Is Within Each Other: The Hero Is Us.