PSIQUE.SPACE is a program that emerged from the collaboration of two Latin American clinical psychologists, Fabiane M. Borges and Marcela Chao, who work in the fields of mental health and the environment through the intersection of art and science, with projects developed in the field of space and oceanic culture.
PSIQUE.SPACE offers a new perspective on psychology and mental health in a world prone to chaos.
We identify three highly challenging factors for contemporary subjectivity, which serve as conditioning sources of psychosocial illness. These factors trigger relentless feelings of helplessness, distress, depression, anxiety, sadness, insomnia, emotional fatigue, memory loss, depersonalization, and derealization. They can also manifest through mechanical behaviors (zombification), cognitive distortions (psychopathology), and emotional alienation (fanaticism or suicide). The three factors are:
The exponential advancement of technology brings with it the structural instability of human work, gradually replaced by robotic work. This change leads to hyper-surveillance and digital control due to excessive exposure to robots and artificial intelligence. These elements create reality bubbles that confine the human experience to specialized niches of knowledge and information. Additionally, there is a sense of fear associated with the exponential growth of the arms industry. Other consequences include the loss or deterioration of mental and digital memory due to information overload and the commodification of memories by technology companies. Self-exploitation occurs in both work and life expectations, along with a pervasive sense of perpetual dissatisfaction imposed by social media.
The climate emergency that brings with it the threat to terrestrial biodiversity, the risk of human extinction, and the end of the world as we know it. Specifically, this crisis has become increasingly pronounced through local issues such as droughts, floods, extreme heat or cold, climate deregulation, water and food shortages in previously abundant regions, territorial destruction, forced migration, and ocean deterioration. These challenges trigger negative emotions, including a sense of hopelessness, nihilism, desperate concerns about self-preservation and the state of the world, uncertainty about how to act or join groups dedicated to seeking better collective futures, and even denial. These factors can lead to various degrees of psychological distress.
Human expansion into new territories such as the ocean and space challenges us to think beyond Earth. There is a growing interest in maritime exploration today. In 2021, the United Nations declared the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Science is called upon to conduct experiments and laboratory research to make this transformation sustainable, preserving biodiversity and protecting marine ecosystems. This expansion has parallels in space exploration, where the Moon, asteroids, and Mars represent new frontiers for humanity. These endeavors also seek to develop more sustainable techniques, not only for exploration but also to sustain life on Earth. Consequently, both national and private space programs are making substantial investments in this field. What happens in the ocean extends to outer space in a similar manner. Because we consider ourselves a species capable of living beyond our earthly cradle, we must understand our fundamental needs and find solutions for our survival, encompassing physical, mental, and social aspects. Studies in the fields of oceanic and space exploration have emphasized the importance of addressing human psychological well-being.
Through a series of exercises and future projections, considering the limitations we will face in the ocean and beyond our planet, we can speculate and create frameworks of thought to help us navigate this new reality. This involves updating past imaginaries and promoting new possibilities for the future in a creative and determined manner. This perspective contributes to our understanding of ourselves from various temporal, terrestrial, maritime, and spatial scales. Psique.space is a place of reflection that offers tools to enhance our relationship with a fast-paced and ever-changing present. Our workshops, courses, and guidance are designed to alleviate distress and uncertainty while deepening our understanding of our place in the cosmos.
OUR GOALS
To analyze and counteract the psychological and sociocultural impacts stemming from the rapid advancement of technology, including the progressive replacement of human jobs by automation, digital control, and the commercialization of memory, as well as self-exploitation and social dissatisfaction fostered by social media.
To address the threats and psychological repercussions generated by the global climate emergency, ranging from local natural disasters to existential distress caused by the loss of biodiversity, forced migration, and widespread uncertainty about the collective future.
To foster exploration and sustainable expansion into new territories, such as the oceans and outer space, with a focus on preserving biodiversity and promoting human well-being, acknowledging the need to address the psychological challenges inherent in these exploratory initiatives.
PSIQUE.SPACE
