A Nation on the Couch

Citizenship

Emma, Louise, Camilla 2.s

What is the chapter about? In the chapter, the author tells us about the Argentinians use of psychologists, their maybe exaggerated use of psychologists. Miranda France is from England and she is working as a journalist in Buenos Aires and is trying not to judge someone just because they are from Buenos Aires. When she is going to the library she is met by a large man who starts picking on her because she is from England, he certainly judges her. He has heard that you cant get any fruit or vegetables in London, and that is it just a dirty and expensive, making Miranda kind of furious. She is leaving the library in a rage and when she gets back to her apartment, her neighbour Gabriel starts asking her about her feelings. He has a way of opening up people and makes them share their feelings with him so he can try to make them feel better. Gabriel is a psychologist but so many people in Buenos Aires are psychologists. Mirandas roommate Raquel use to say that there are more psychologists in Buenos Aires than there are people. Everybody in Buenos Aires are having a psychologist, it is the one thing that you want to hold on to, even though it is very expensive. People rather cut down on some of their other expenses than not having a psychologist. During the 1970s the role of psychologists changed and at a point it made psychologists and their patients disappear. But today it is a common thing to have one; actually there might be something wrong with you if you dont get any sessions with a psychologist. That must mean that you cant afford it or that you think youre too good to be treated. But Miranda thinks that is has just become a fad and the only reason why to do the same as everyone else is because it is fashionable. She is telling us stories about people she has met who are trying their hardest always to have a psychologist and stories about people who had one or hadnt had one, even babies have one today. Both grownups and children are using them, maybe to do well in school. In Argentina they are taught at school to finish fast and cheating at exams but not understanding what they are learning. In the end of the chapter Miranda talks with Raquel who explains that maybe people in Argentina are always on the couch because they were used to being told what they could and couldnt do under the dictatorship. They are not used to have personal freedom and now that they have, they are confused and at a loss. Why are there so many psychoanalysts in Buenos Aires and why do the Argentinians need them?
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A Nation on the Couch

Citizenship

Emma, Louise, Camilla 2.s

Psychoanalysis has always been popular in Argentina, but has also functioned as a way of dealing with the dictatorship during the 70s. The most common thing to ask oneself is why do the Argentinians need psychoanalysis now? Since the country has been improving and the dictatorship is over !why are there still so many psychoanalysts? After the dictatorship some feel that Argentina is a forgotten country. They still have scars from the period of opression. The psychoanalysts functions as, a way of opening a breathing space in the midst of the chaos. Buenos Aires te mata the city would kill you unless you were psychologically equipped to defend yourself against it. What is the function of the psychoanalysts and to what extend do they help their clients? The job of phsycoanalysts is very different from Argentina to Europe. Since the demand of psychoanalysts is so huge their function according to their clients have changed. During the dictatorship they were a channel for the tacit registering of non-conformity with the state. Now, they are used to improve the individual, influenced by the common thought in Argentina; Everyone can be improved. They help you improve you as a person and this means devoting themselves to their patients at all times. The clients may call them after a bad job interview gone bad or just during a long vacation. In comparison to their function in Europe, they are much more a part of your day-to-day life. How and why is it a status symbol to be in therapy? Since the whole nation go to analysts the way to be seen as a high status in society, you had to have the best car, the expensive house and of course the best psycoanalyst that money can buy. Like one of Miranda Frances friends says, sometimes I havent the faintest idea what shes on about. But analysis is all anybody talks about at the shows so I keep having it. I think many people have analysis because its a way of showing that you are wealthy, glamorous and clever. How can it be compared to Europe? One would think that the number of Europeans in therapy is big at least as a European citizen it is easy to think so. Compared to the prevalence of psychotherapy in Argentina though, it seems to be a tiny number. This may be because it is in Europe somehow still regarded as a tool to move on from something, wether it is a trauma, a divorce, stress etc. It is mostly a temporary thing to be in psychotherapy here. It seems that is Argentina it is often a permanent thing, and that is
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A Nation on the Couch

Citizenship

Emma, Louise, Camilla 2.s

is normal to be almost friends with your therapist. It is certain that one of the big differences between psychotherapy in Argentina and Europe is that it is not really a status symbol over here. It is not something you talk about. Not that it is taboo, it is simply not a part of the cultu to the same extent.