Christine Downing Dissertation Fellowship
2A15 – 2016 Award Recipient
OPUS Archives and Research Center, lnc.
is pleased to announce that
Ryan R. Adamczyk, M.A.
has been awarded the 2015 – 2016
Christine Downing Dissertation Fellowship
Mr. Adamczyk is the recipient of $5,000 to support research for his dissertation titled “Re-imagining Physical Disability: A Second Look at its Phenomenal and Archetypal Significance.” His study endeavors to discover whether or not a positive aspect to the experience of physical disability can be discovered and incorporated into the disabled individual’s psychological life. ln other words, a potential positive aspect to the experience of physical disability is being sought without neglecting an awareness of its negative counterpart. Where a strictly cognitive behavioral approach would be focused upon the cure of a symptom, a depth psychological approach is focused upon the care of the soul. This necessarily involves looking for the healing within the wound. Additionally, through an archetypal psychological perspective, Mr. Adamczyk is seeking to imagine a holistic picture of physical disability that offers and opportunity for soul making.
ln keeping with the Fellowship’s requirements, Mr. Adamczyk will be conducting research in OPUS’ archival collections. Specifically, he’ll be examining James Hillman’s theories pertaining to the underworld perspective of Archetypal psychology and Marion Woodman’s ideas in the area of archetypal embodiment.
