The APT-Birmingham Public Lecture

Saturday 6th November 2021

HOW CURIOSITY AS AN INNATE DRIVE EXPLAINS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONSCIOUS HUMAN MIND AND HOW THIS REALISATION CHANGES THE WAY WE THINK OF CLINICAL WORK

Philip Stokoe

Between 10:15 – 15:30 (lunch is provided)

In this talk, I will describe the necessity of postulating a curiosity drive in order to explain the development of consciousness, that separates humans from other animals. I will explore the consequences for our understanding of human psychological and emotional problems and demonstrate the way that current practices work because they trigger curiosity in the patient and fail because the patient substitutes certainty for curiosity.

Philip Stokoe is a Psychoanalyst in private practice working with adults and couples, and an Organisational Consultant, providing consultation to a wide range of organisations. Philip worked in the Adult Department of the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust between 1994 and 2012, he was the Clinical Director from 2007. He is a member of the European Psychoanalytic Federation Forum on Institutional Matters, which studies the nature of psychoanalytic institutions.

Philip’s book, The Curiosity Drive: Our Need for Inquisitive Thinking, was published by Phoenix Publishing House in November 2020.


This event will be held at Staff House, University of Birmingham (Edgbaston Campus)between 10:15 – 15:30 (lunch is provided).

The cost for the lecture is £60 for WMIP members and £70 for Non-WMIP members

Bookings should ideally be made at least a fortnight before the lecture to be attended.

Download APTC Public Lecture A5 Booklet (pdf) >>

The APT-Birmingham
Public Lectures

For enquiries contact Sue Harford,
Administrator to the Training Committee
Unit 1A, West Stockwith Park,
Stockwith Road, Misterton,
Nottinghamshire DN10 4ES.

Telephone: 07789 545908
Email aptc@wmip.org

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