The dynamics of “perfection” in the era of competitiveness: on November 13th in the seminar "Lost in perfection? Care, relationships and lifestyles between ideal and performance" of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma a comparison of cultural and psychological phenomena and reactions to current trends
Rome, 12 November 2024 The growing social and cultural pressure to pursue "perfection" is profoundly transforming our daily lives., interpersonal relationships and professional dynamics. This structural trend tends to permeate all spheres of social life, generating new discomforts and new cultural and psychological reactions. It alters the forms and meaning of personal experience, life goals, and the perception of one's own existential journey, even the way one relates to oneself and the world.
The seminar will focus on these topics. "Lost in Perfection? Care, Relationships and Lifestyles Between Ideal and Performance", which will be held next November 13, 2024 from 14.00 pm in the main hall of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.
Coordinated by Prof. Andrea Maccarini, Professor of Sociology at the University of Padua and member of the Consulting Committee “Philosophy and Science” UCBMThe seminar will feature experts from various disciplines, with the aim of exploring the impact of global society on self-perception and modern forms of “self-care”. The inaugural session will be entrusted to Prof. Vera King, professor of Sociology and Social Psychology at the University of Frankfurt, who will offer an introductory reflection on the phenomenon.
The seminar will see the participation of teachers and researchers of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma (UCBM), with specialist contributions from engineers, psychologists, plastic surgeons, and professors of moral philosophy and nutritional science who will contribute to providing a multidisciplinary overview of the topic, analyzing the cultural, psychological, and social implications of "perfection" as the optimization of human performance.
Perfection as a performance
In an era marked by a growing acceleration of the pace of life and a strong competitiveness, "perfection" is no longer conceived as an abstract ideal, but as a measurable and optimizable goal, an efficiency of one's abilities that extends to every aspect of existence. Caregiving relationships, life goals, and the perception of one's existential journey are changing. Contemporary culture promotes an ideal of success that pushes individuals to constantly improve themselves, with the adoption of practices ranging from cosmetic surgery to fitness programs, from meditation to self-monitoring. With these, the forms of personal distress are also changing, paving the way for feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and hopelessness.
The dilemmas of ongoing transformations
In this scenario the seminar aims to explore the dilemmas that these transformations raiseHow do they influence our self-understanding, our sociability, interpersonal relationships, and caring bonds? How do we change our perception of the body, time, and our identity in response to these new cultural and social dynamics? And what are the ethical and psychological implications of constant and measurable self-improvement?
The theme of the “self-improvement,” “self-care,” and “self-work” they change in turn and, in this perspective, they develop within subjects "in search of perfection" by building a set of practices and activities aimed at self-improvement
A comparison between social sciences, philosophy and professions
The seminar will offer an opportunity for critical reflection, inviting participants to engage with the social, cultural, and ethical implications of these trends. How are our self-concepts changing? How are personal relationships and bonds changing? How can contemporary society reshape the concept of human flourishing? What space remains for a critical vision of reality? How can we respond to a cultural pressure that seems to leave no room for alternatives? And what role can social sciences and philosophy play in this debate?
This multidisciplinary event The event aims to stimulate a profound discussion on the relationship between the individual and society, between self-care and performance, with the aim of mapping the ethical and social challenges that await us. Participants will include: professors of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma Giorgio Pennazza, Professor of Electronics for Sensory Systems, Departmental Faculty of Engineering; Marco Santonico, Professor of Electronics and Vice Dean of the Departimental Faculty of Science and Bio-Technology; Luca Vollero, Associate in Information Processing Systems, Departmental Faculty of Engineering; Loredana Zollo, Dean of the Departmental Faculty of Engineering; Annalisa Cogliandro, University Researcher UCBM and Specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico; Paolo Pellegrino, medical psychotherapist and teacher of Social Psychology UCBM; Giampaolo Ghilardi, Associate Professor of Fundamentals of Anthropology and Ethics; Laura Dalla Ragione Professor of Eating Disorders, Faculty of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health.
