This book offers an overview of the rapidly expanding field of Psycho-Social research. Drawing on aspects of discourse psychology, continental philosophy and anthropological and neuro-scientific understandings of the emotions, psycho-social studies has emerged as an embryonic new paradigm in the human sciences. Psycho-social studies uses psychoanalytic concepts and principles to illuminate core issues within the social sciences. The present volume contributes to the development of the new research methodologies in a number of ways. It is written largely from the point of view of practitioners who are also researchers. Although contributors draw largely upon object-relations traditions in psychoanalysis, other influences are also present, particularly from continental philosophy and the sociology of the emotions. It develops an approach to epistemology - how we know what we know, which is strongly informed by a living approach to psychoanalysis, not just as a theory but as a way of being in the world - that is as a stance. It examines, in great depth and from a number of perspectives, the complex psycho-social dynamics that characterise the research encounter. And finally, it demonstrates a number of specific methodologies at work and the authors learning from this experience.

Since the 1990s, partly due to the impact of feminism, the social sciences have begun to change. Traditional models of human rationality which opposed reason to passion are being challenged. The familiar split between 'individual' and 'society', psychology and sociology, is now recognized as unhelpful to the study of both. And as ways have been sought to overcome such splits psychoanalysis has increasingly appeared in the breach. Psycho-social studies is also informing the development of new methodologies in the social sciences including the use of free association and biographical interview methods, the application of infant observation methodologies to social observation, the development of psychoanalytic ethnography/fieldwork and attention to transference/countertransference dynamics in the research process. Contents-Ways of Knowing-The Dynamics of the Research Encounter-Methods of Inquiry and Analysis

Simon Clarke is Professor of Psycho-Social Studies and Director of the Centre for Psycho-Social Studies at the University of the West of England. He is the author of 'Social Theory, Psychoanalysis and Racism', 'From Enlightenment to Risk: Social Theory and Contemporary Society' and 'Emotion, Politics and Society' (co-edited with Hoggett and Thompson). He is a member of the board of directors of the Association for the Psychoanalysis of Culture and Society and Editor of 'Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society' Paul Hoggett is Professor of Politics and Director of the Centre for Psycho-Social Studies at the University of the West of England. He is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, a member of the Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy, Associate Member of the Lincoln and is also an experienced group relations consultant. His books include 'Partisans in an Uncertain World' and 'Emotional Life and the Politics of Welfare'. He is a board member of the Association for Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society, and has editorial roles on 'Organisational & Social Dynamics', 'Psychodynamic Practice' and 'Psychoanalysis Culture and Society'