PARADOXES OF MODERNITY: A PSYCHOANALYTIC VIEW OF THE AMBIVALENCE OF THE NEW ERA

Abstract

The modern era, characterized by rapid technological, socio-economic, scientific, environmental, and cultural changes, brings not only progress but also unique paradoxes reflecting the profound ambivalence of human experience. Individuals, drawn closer by technology, often feel isolated; the pursuit of individuality sometimes leads to the loss of one’s authentic self. These and similar paradoxical phenomena open new horizons for psychoanalysis, which serves as a tool for understanding the inner dynamics of the contemporary individual. While psychoanalytic concepts are frequently employed to explore and explain various aspects of human psyche and behavior, the question of modern paradoxes through the lens of human experience remains under-researched. Key issues include the impact of advanced technologies and rapid changes in all spheres of life on self-perception, identity formation, and interpersonal connections; the ways ambivalence manifests in contemporary existence; and the paradoxes that have emerged in recent years, becoming subjects of analysands’ experiences. These questions are addressed in this article from a psychoanalytic perspective. In psychoanalytic terms, a paradox arises as a form of deep ambivalence, emerging from the tensions between desire and fear, love and hate, belonging and loneliness. An analysis of the evolution of psychoanalytic perspectives allows us to trace how different schools of psychoanalysis have interpreted the conflicting and ambivalent aspects of human experience. The author of this article conducted a longitudinal, embedded study of modern paradoxes, presenting their psychoanalytic interpretation. As a practicing consultant with 26 years of experience and a researcher with 24 years in the field, the author utilized diverse methodological approaches between 2017 and 2024, analyzing over 400 analysands through clinical case studies, theoretical analysis, and psychoanalytic interpretation. At the initial stage of the study, four key paradoxes were identified and interpreted through the ideas of M. Klein, D. Winnicott, S. Freud, H. Kohut, A. Elliott, E. Fromm, and others. Clinical observations of modern paradoxes are based on the author’s extensive experience working with clients in psychoanalytic consultations and psychotherapy sessions. The systematic collection and classification of paradoxes led to the identification of five domains: paradoxes of comfort and stress (1), communication and authenticity (2), choice and meaning (3), technological paradoxes (4), and existential paradoxes (5). The author’s practice spans diverse social groups, age categories, and personal histories. Through the interpretation of their experiences and emotions, typical elements of modern paradoxes were identified: the phenomenon, the psychoanalytic perspective, and the therapeutic task. Given the limited scope of this article, the author provides a selective overview of ten paradoxes using this framework. The psychoanalyst must create an environment where clients can explore these contradictions without fear of judgment. The article substantiates psychoanalytic methods effective for working with such clients and discusses contexts where these approaches are particularly relevant. Finally, the author concludes that modern paradoxes are not random phenomena but reflect profound inner processes requiring comprehension through the lens of psychoanalytic theories. The findings of this study may serve as a foundation for further psychoanalytic research aimed at developing therapeutic approaches that help individuals find balance between new technologies and their inner worlds, restoring the connection with their authentic selves.