A Psychodynamic look at Hunter Biden

This is a psychodynamic* look at the case of Hunter Biden based on his recent three-hour and fifteen minute interview. I’ve referenced my credentials in previous, similar posts regarding Luigi Mangioni and Shannon Sharpe. I came away with sympathy for Mr. Biden. Additionally, with the thought: I’m glad I’m not him. Let’s get into it.

The Heart of the Matter

is: It’s not his fault. However, that can be said about most all of us humans. We are born into circumstance that we had no agency in the creation of (unless you believe in some very far out things.) Furthermore, the question then becomes: At what point are we responsible?

In Hunter’s case, at the age of two (1972) he was in a car accident that killed his sister and mother. At the time, his father, Joe Biden, was being sworn in as a US senator.

Subsequently, Hunter acquitted himself fairly well, albeit with not uncommon typical youth misbehaviors. However, he seemed always on the brink of addiction. Nevertheless, he was on the board of (and well paid for) many government and non-government companies. He seems to believe that this was because of his law degree and skills; and not his father’s positions. Until, his older brother died of brain cancer (2015). The family did not handle the tragedy well.

Subsequently, Hunter fell down into full-out, first order, alcohol and crack cocaine addition.

At what point are we responsible?

At the time of his fall, (2015) Hunter was forty-five. His father, Joe, was vice president of the United States. In the interview, Hunter has only praise and admiration for his father. Moreover, at one point (2:15 in) he says, “Not a single day in his (Hunter’s) whole life where my father did not call or text.” Because of the sudden unexpected death of his (Joe’s) wife and son.

Okay.

This says to me that the family never adequately dealt with the 1972 accident. They were traumatized and became enmeshed. Consequently, Hunter was never able to individuate (become his own person/Self) apart from his father. Sooner or later, escape into addiction is almost inevitable. Addiction becomes an all encompassing “Craving For Ecstasy“.* (See also my review: for a first person account of the grip of addition.)

In Conclusion

I’m glad Hunter is clean and sober. Additionally, that he has found relief in painting and in a loving relationship with his wife. Whom he attributes to making him get sober via The Program (AA).

However, based on the interview, Hunter lives in delusion about many things. (eg. “The one thing about my dad is he never complains.”)* There are many contradictions and an inability to face reality.

He is flush with ego defense mechanisms.

Alcohol Anonymous doesn’t confront the unconscious. It is not Depth Psychology. It works for some people–helping to keep them sober. As does talk therapy. People are different.

My analysis here is only from A Psychodynamic look at Hunter Biden based on a three hour interview. And, I am not a clinical psychologist. I wish him well.

Did you watch the interview? I recommend it. Of course, the Right has olny showed clips of his F-bomb ladened rants. It’s not all that. There is a lot of good stuff here about addiction, just not much Self awareness as to the why of things.

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• The psychodynamic approach (to therapy) is Freudian in nature. Based on the principle that healing comes from awareness. Moreover, awareness comes from making the unconscious conscious. Furthermore, most of human motivation and action/behavior is hidden, or resides in the unconscious. The unconscious is accessible via in-person talk therapy, dream interpretation, and other, sort of mysterious ways. Thus, the bio-medical profession frowns on it.
• Dr. Milkman is a professor of Abnormal Psychology and Addictions at Metro State University in Denver, Colorado. I studied under him in the mid-nineties. However, Harvey was not a Freudian.
• Joe Biden just signed a book deal for 10 million dollars. We’ll see how that holds up.