Orecchie e Segnalibri · Radio Music Free

#1043 - Vittorio Lingiardi - "Farsi male"

·15 min·1 clip

Psychiatrist Vittorio Lingiardi explores why we sometimes consciously choose to hurt ourselves, beyond accidental suffering.

Gianluigi Coltri introduces his podcast Orecchie e Segnalibri and today's focus on Vittorio Lingiardi's 2025 book 'Farsi male.' Lingiardi is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst born in 1960 with numerous publications. The book examines why people hurt themselves psychologically, distinguishing between unavoidable suffering and consciously chosen pain. Freud's concept of the 'economic problem of masochism' and unconscious guilt are referenced as foundational ideas. Lingiardi clarifies this is not about sexual sadomasochism but about personality structures and relational dynamics that produce psychic pain. The book categorizes masochism into individual, gender-based (male and female), and collective types, with the latter particularly relevant to contemporary society. Examples range from toxic emotional relationships and self-harm to sacrifices made for noble ideals, where boundaries between virtue and pathology can blur. The compulsion to repeat painful patterns despite negative outcomes is highlighted as a key mechanism. Lingiardi draws from films, books, and poetry, including Emily Dickinson, to illustrate concepts. The host notes the second part of the book feels less captivating due to the heavy subject matter. Lingiardi presents pure psychological types while acknowledging real people are always mixtures of tendencies. The episode concludes with discussion of collective self-harm in politics, referencing figures like Hitler and contemporary politicians. Coltri emphasizes the book's goal is to foster understanding rather than provide prefabricated solutions, requiring patience and self-awareness.

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