Old age and difficult life transitions: A psycho-social understanding

Crociani-Windland, Lita

Abstract

This paper develops a psycho-social understanding of difficult and disabling life transitions, particularly in relation to old age. The paper brings together a biographical case study and theoretical analysis that draws on three sources: the work of Deleuze and Bergson in continental philosophy, Winnicott in psychoanalysis, and Turner in anthropology. By linking experience, theory and practice, I show how different, but related concepts, at different levels, may shed light on some puzzling behaviour common in old age. More broadly, I point to the value of such theoretical work for understanding and managing traumatic affect and life transitions.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Jan 29, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 22, 2016
• Journal: Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society
• Print ISSN: 1088-0763
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 335-351
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/pcs.2013.4
• Keywords: old age, affect, transitional phenomena, ritual, repetition
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/925351
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/pcs.2013.4
• Additional Information: Additional Information : Online publication 4 April 2013. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Crociani-Windland, L. (2013) Old age and difficult life transitions: A psycho-social understanding. Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society, 18 (4). pp. 335-351. ISSN 1088-0763 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/pcs.2013.4
• Contract Date: Mar 22, 2016