Seven Deadly Sins Revisited

‘Mindlessness: The Deadliest Sin of All‘

“We are living in a time of disaffection and fear of powerlessness of global proportions. With terrorist attacks and the pressure of immigration threatening group identities, the response is increasing isolationism, nationalism, and paranoia of what is foreign. Paradoxically, populist groups that abnegate individual thinking to their leader gain ground when thought is most needed. As borders close, so do minds. The sin of failing to think for oneself, as we have witnessed throughout history, paves the way for the dehumanization of others and justifies atrocities. In this talk I will look at the psychodynamics of our current political landscape and the dangers of mindlessness."

Dr Coline Covington BPC, PSA is Speaker for our concluding CPD Seminar on The Seven Deadly Sins Revisited. Coline is a Jungian Training Analyst with the SAP and BPF with over 25 years of clinical and professional experience.  She has written and published widely on themes relating to Terror, War and the Nature of Evil. She is a former Chair of the British Psychoanalytic Council and former Editor of the Journal of Analytical Psychology. She is also a member of the International Dialogue Initiative (IDI), a group of experts formed by Professor Dr Vamik Volkan, Lord Alderdice, and Dr Robi Friedman to apply psychoanalytic concepts to understanding political conflict and the effects of trauma on political behaviour.  

Coline has a co-edited: “Terrorism and War: Unconscious Dynamics of Political Violence” (Karnac, 2002); “Sabina Spielrein: Forgotten Pioneer of Psychoanalysis” (Second edition, Routledge, 2015). She has also written: “Shrinking the News: Headline Stories on the Couch”, (Karnac, 2014) Her latest publication is: “Everyday Evils: A Psychoanalytic View of Evil and Morality” (Routledge, forthcoming). She has also published numerous articles in psychoanalytic journals and has written a regular column for The Week online.