The real body of therapeutic communities in society of lockdown

Abstract

Purpose It is argued that COVID-19 epidemic has critically affected, from many points of view, the hyper-modern economic system, dominant in the globalized capitalist societies. This paper aims to describe the point of view of therapeutic communities, basing my reflections on the Italian experience. Design/methodology/approach The author would like to share a critical thought on three issues that this pandemic crisis has made manifest in Italian society: the return of the removed bodies, the feeling of excess represented by therapeutic communities and the emergence of the need for a common thought. Findings Body become again an object of studies and with it also the group, as grouping of the bodies. Also the community become a now old-object of studies, as grouping of bodies and groups in a human environment. The objectives of this study are presented as the substance of the democratic vision of society, which therapeutic communities have a responsibility to promote scientifically and ethically. Originality/value Therapeutic community is presented as transformative and evolutionary for individuals and groups that compose it, as equally conflictual and destructive, both internally and externally. The author thinks this is the substance of the democratic vision of society, which therapeutic communities have a responsibility to promote scientifically and ethically.