A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts (Clinical Psychology) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2000. / This dissertation examines the concept of depression from the perspective that experiences of darkness and depth have validity, not as states to he avoided, rescued from or talked out of, but as creative opportunities. It also highlights that the journey into depths may be a perilous one, which should not be made unaccompanied. The process of reaching and holding the deep centre, individuation, is served only by willingness to stay with what may be highly uncomfortable experiences. What also becomes imperative is recognizing and honouring the call from depression. This initial dive into the depths may lead to.almost immediate resurfacing, which enables the inward-turned energy to be re¬directed outwards and ordinary life to be resumed, although with part of oneself still looking towards the centre. For Winnicott depression is regarded as having value. He felt that to enter, stay with and come out of depression was a triumph of integration. The argument in this dissertation is that creative work can come from depression as a means of finding the truth about oneself and thus increasing one's self-esteem. The creative impulse needs the depressed mood to flourish, in which sense, depression itself can be regarded as creative. The contention remains that it is the honouring of the journey into depression that is critical to the outcome.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uzulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/985 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Ngcobo, Humphrey Siphiwe B. |
| Contributors | Edwards, S.D. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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