The 'Powers of Horror': Abjection, Critical Realism and Social Work.

This article focuses on the concept of abjection, as formulated by psychoanalyst Julia Kristeva, and its relevance as a causative mechanism within social work assessment, framed by the philosophical perspective of critical realism. Abjection refers to a deep-seated psychological process that differentiates the self from what is perceived as impure or anomalous, leading to feelings of disgust and social exclusion, which can extend to groups marginalized by societal structures, a phenomenon termed social abjection. The article argues that social workers must engage in "abjection work"—critical self-reflection and supervision—to recognize and mitigate their own abjection responses, thereby improving empathetic practice and assessment. It further proposes that the countervailing mechanism of recognition, embedded in narrative social work and emancipatory groupwork, can help restore dignity and agency to those subjected to abjection. This approach underscores the importance of addressing both internal psychological reactions and broader social stigmatization to foster anti-oppressive social work practice.