Presentation Information
[SY-2-02]Bridging Divides: Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Gender, LGBTQ+ Identity, and Mental Health in Korea
*Chan-Seung Chung (Korean Neuropsychiatric Association(Korea))
Keywords:
Archetype,Analytical Psychology,Culture,Dream
This presentation explores the intersection of psychoanalysis, gender, LGBTQ+ identity, and mental health within the Korean sociocultural landscape. LGBTQ+ individuals in Korea face significant social stigma, discrimination, and lack of legal protection, with profound effects on mental health. Based on case studies, this lecture delves into the unique psychological challenges experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals and examines how societal biases and cultural conflicts contribute to their mental anguish. Each case offers insight into how unconscious conflicts related to identity and societal expectations manifest in dreams and behavior, highlighting the psychological toll of navigating gender and sexual identity within a conservative social framework. This analysis argues that the societal resistance to LGBTQ+ identities in Korea - rooted in Confucian values and amplified by fundamentalist religious views - contributes to psychological harm. By understanding and respecting the complexities of gender and sexuality, individuals and society can move toward genuine empathy and inclusion. Psychoanalytic perspectives offer a path to bridge societal divides, addressing both conscious and unconscious dimensions of this journey toward mutual recognition and understanding.