FROM THE ABC MODEL TO THE A-REFLEX MODEL: A TRIPLE PSYCHODYNAMIC, POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, AND EUDAIMONIC ETHOS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IN AFRICA

Abstract

This article aims to critically explore psychodynamic principles for managing the AIDS Epidemic. The methodology is qualitative theoretical analyses, articulated around the ABC Model, which is an abstinence-based sex education policy, and Freudian Psychodynamic Theory. The latter constitute double paradigmatic lenses for enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in managing the spread of AIDS in Africa. The paper posits that the ABC Model has been effective in this fight, but proposes that if psychodynamic principles are associated with the former, there are greater chances that the fight against AIDS will receive a greater psychological boost. In other words, without ‘’individual psychological transformation,’’ the ABC Model would remain limited in its effectiveness, because it does not directly address the issue of transformation of the ‘’death instinct or Thanatos’’ into ‘’life force or Eros.’’ The paper thus advocates that in addition to ‘A’ or ‘’abstinence’’, there could be ‘’Self-Sacrificing Sublimation’’ or Authentic Redirection of libidinal energy into Creative Life Force; ‘B’ or ‘’be faithful to your sexual partner(s) can be reinforced by ‘’Flow’’ for reinforcing Transpersonality; ‘C’ or ‘’use a condom’’ could be complemented by ‘’Creative Self-Expressing Eudaimonism.’’ This paper thus proposes a new model, A-REFLEX, which could be used complementarily with the ABC Model in the fight against AIDS in Africa.