The ‘Powers of Horror’: Abjection, Critical Realism and Social Work

Abstract

Abstract Assessment is a pivotal part of social work process and is meant, amongst other things, to identify the deep-seated causes of human behaviour and well-being. This search for causation, it is argued, can be illuminated through a critical realist understanding of the person in society. In line with this philosophical stance, this article introduces a little considered causative mechanism pertinent to social work assessment: that of psychological abjection. Formulated by the French psychoanalytical theorist, Julia Kristeva, abjection serves to differentiate the self from the ‘abject’ or what is viewed as atypical in presentation. This concept is then scrutinised leading to the enlarged notion of social abjection; that is, the ‘othering’ and shaming of social groups which are viewed as anomalous. The implications of both psychological and social abjection for social workers are subsequently considered. At this point, the countervailing causative mechanism of recognition is proposed to mitigate abjection, and an argument is made for applying it within narrative social work and emancipatory groupwork. Finally, it is contended that social workers must commit to abjection work. This effort involves professionals gaining insight into how the abjection mechanism affects their inner world of perception and emotion, assessment of situations, and approach to service users.