Pierre-Henri Castel, Mais pourquoi psychoanalyser les enfants? Un ritual thérapeutique dans les sociétés modernes.

The article discusses Pierre-Henri Castel's book, "Mais pourquoi psychoanalyser les enfants? Un ritual thérapeutique dans les sociétés modernes," which challenges the common perception of psychoanalysis as an intellectual and individualistic practice. Castel argues that the psychoanalytic cure should be seen as a therapeutic ritual that helps individuals in distress by evoking the norms and values of society. He compares the cure to a healing ritual observed among the Wolof people, highlighting the differences in societal responses to misfortune. Castel also explores the role of psychoanalytic theories in the cure and the practice of remembrance. The article acknowledges the tension between the anthropological and psychoanalytic perspectives presented in the book and suggests that Castel's work offers a more balanced understanding of the psychoanalytic practice. [Extracted from the article]