¹Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, UK

Correspondence: Karl Figlio, Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, UK. E-mail: kfiglio@essex.ac.uk

Abstract

This paper proposes a distinction between the psychoanalyst who, as a citizen, is socially active, and a psychoanalytic social activist. The former is a concerned citizen who is also a professional, while the latter understands and acts psychoanalytically in a social sphere. I suggest that the former occurs anyway, and that the latter needs to be better defined and carefully implemented. I offer a simple example.