Freedom and dynamic psychology in Sartre

Abstract

This article deals with the contradictions between the fact that man is ontologically free, but at the same time, he experiences himself “determined”, as if compelled by certain undesired behaviours. How is it possible to understand this paradox? To be able to (resolve this), this article introduces 1) the Sartrean’s proposal of new perspective to clinical psychology, set up by dialogue with psychoanalyse; 2) the history of an individual we will use as an “case study” during the explanation. Particularly, Jean Genet’s biography, written by Sartre; 3) the idea of freedom within a Sartrean conception and its implications for human understanding; 4) the issue of psychological dynamics and its development in relation to understanding psychological impasses. With these elements we provide instruments taken from Sartrean theory so as to attempt an explanation of how such contradictions are possible. Keywords: Jean-Paul Sartre; Jean Genet; Freedom; Psychological dynamics; Existentialist psychology.