When Nature's Mirror Breaks: Hatred, Hope, and Environmental Crisis in the Consulting Room
In my paper published in the journal ROOM: A Sketchbook for Analytic Action, I explore hatred as a complex psychological phenomenon with both personal and societal dimensions, particularly in relation to environmental destruction. Drawing on my clinical experiences and personal reflections, I examine how hatred operates as both a defense mechanism against vulnerability and a potential catalyst for transformation. I engage with contemporary theoretical frameworks, including Sue Grand's concept of “perpetrator fragments”, Josh Cohen's analysis of the “permanent rage economy”, and Peter Sloterdijk's distinctions between focused and dispersed expressions of rage. Through case studies from therapeutic practice and community grief circles, I illustrate how hatred often masks deeper emotions of powerlessness, grief, and complicity. I argue that properly containing and metabolising hatred - rather than suppressing or acting upon it - can reveal its underlying intelligence and transformative potential. This approach requires creating spaces where hatred can be witnessed and explored without judgment, allowing it to evolve from a divisive force into a bridge toward collective healing. I conclude that hatred may represent an honest response to global crises, marking the intersection where love for life encounters destruction, and where desire for connection confronts systemic alienation.
To read the paper, please click on the link below: