The evolution of individual psychology in relation to the constant transformations of the realities faced by psychosocial workers

Abstract

This work stems from the author's experience in various Italian psychosocial services, where a widespread crisis involving operators and users has been highlighted, causing discomfort and dysfunction. The analysis focuses on the relational dynamics between operators, users, and experts, using a psychodynamic interpretation. Three predominant attitudes have been identified: depressive with devaluation, passive dependence with overvaluation, and manipulative, which act as defensive mechanisms against personal and professional frustration. These attitudes reflect the structural and organizational difficulties of the services, often characterized by improvisation, lack of clarity in roles, and poor training of operators. To improve the effectiveness of interventions, a training course is proposed, focused on self-analysis and awareness of the relational and motivational dynamics of operators, conducted in homogeneous groups led by experts with psychodynamic training. The theoretical model of Individual Psychology is suggested as a useful reference for understanding and integrating the interpersonal and social dimension in the psychosocial field, preventing attitudes of power masked by social feelings