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There is widespread interest in meaningful applications of neuroscience findings to concerns of daily life. As part of outreach efforts, our group chair has made presentations to groups of educators, legal professionals, family therapists, and workers in aboriginal child welfare.
A common question related to the notion of neurogenetic determinism, especially in light of a recent focus on the epigenetics of abuse and trauma. When fostering learning and development of children, assigning guilt and blame for societal ills, assessing for potential plasticity in seemingly ingrained familial patterns, or addressing historical wrongs against colonized populations, it is tempting to fall back on simplistic and reductionist schemes. Yet in each audience, there was a clear curiosity about and enthusiasm for integrating newer discoveries, while at the same time challenging the use of formulaic approaches (such as dialectical behavior therapy, which at least superficially meshes with models of limbic involvement in memory and intense emotional states).
There was also evident concern and interest in further exploring trends in neuroscience applications to surveillance and antidemocratic measures, especially given Toronto's direct experience with massive deployments for the G20 meetings. While these subjects may at first seem far afield from psychoanalytic concerns, history reveals significant involvement from Freud onward in applied projects for the benefit of marginalized groups, for societies as a whole, and for an end to war and fascism.
James W. Deutsch, Chair