Shame and the Evil Eye

The Pittsburgh Jung Society in co-sponsorship with the C.G. Jung Institute of Pittsburgh presents the Shame and the Evil Eye Workshop on Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. This workshop is being presented by Sandra E. Miller, PhD, Jungian Analyst and will be held at Adamson Auditorium, 136A Baker Hall, Carnegie Mellon University.

“We turn away the whole body, most especially the face, which we endeavor in some manner to hide. An ashamed person can hardly endure to meet the gaze of those present, so that he almost invariably casts down his eyes or looks askant.” Darwin

Shame is a universal human experience and has been described variously as an innate affect, as a defense, as a reaction formation against the sexual drive or as a narcissistic response to the failure to meet an ego-ideal. How should we understand shame? What purpose does it serve?

Participants will explore the phenomenon of shame as a universal affect that is typical in human experience and as a clinical phenomenon that hampers an individual’s ability to love and work. We will explore the developmental precursors to excessive shame, and its interpersonal and intrapsychic manifestations. We will also consider the particular challenges for the clinician when treating individuals with excessive shame.

Dr. Miller will offer an archetypal image through which to explore shame: the widespread folk motif of the evil eye. Across a wide range of cultures, there is remarkable similarity of belief in how individuals can be harmed by being seen by a person with the evil eye and in the specific rituals and atropaic devices designed to protect members from being attacked.

Sandra E. Miller, Ph.D. is a psychologist and Jungian analyst in private practice in Pittsburgh. A Senior Analyst with the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, Dr. Miller is a training analyst and Coordinator of Education for the Pittsburgh Seminar of the Inter-Regional Society (The C.G. Jung Institute Analyst Training Institute of Pittsburgh). She serves as chair of the Inter-Regional Society Membership Committee and has recently begun a study group for analysts and training candidates interested in Sandplay. She has served as adjunct associate professor at Duquesne University, providing supervision for advanced doctoral students in clinical psychology. In addition to her analytic work, Dr. Miller offers play therapy for young children and parent consultation.

Continuing Education for Psychologists: This workshop is offered for 3.0 continuing education credits. The C.G. Jung Institute of Pittsburgh, co-sponsor of this event, has been approved by the American Psychological Association to provide continuing education for psychologists. The Institute maintains responsibility for the program. Grievances and further inquiries can be directed to Stanley Perelman, Ph.D. 4609 Winthrop St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213. CE fee for a psychologist is an additional $5.00 per credit. At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize the clinical manifestation of shame in their patients
2. Differentiate between shame and guilt
3. Identify developmental factors which contribute to an excessive sense of shame
4. Discuss the archetypal foundations of shame as a universal and clinical experience
5. Demonstrate the significance of the evil eye symbol in constituting shame
6. Discuss strategies for treatment of individuals with excessive shame

This program is appropriate for psychologists at all skill levels and for others knowledgeable in psychology.

DONATIONS:
Member $45.00
Non-Member $50.00
Senior/Full-time Student $35.00

Workshop:
May 22, 2010 9:30 am to 1pm
Adamson Auditorium
136A Baker Hall
Carnegie Mellon University

You can open a registration form to complete and send in.