Svend Brinkmann Keynote Speaker
- Psychology Professor in The Department of Communication at Aalborg University & expert on philosophical and moral issues in psychology
- Acclaimed author of “Stand Firm: Resisting the Self-Improvement Craze” (Polity Press,2017)
- Labelled the most important intellectual in Denmark by the national press
Svend Brinkmann's Biography
Svend Brinkmann is a Professor of Psychology at Aalborg University. He is an internationally renowned expert on philosophical and moral issues within this discipline. In recent years, he has devoted much of his work to the impact of psychiatric diagnoses upon individuals and society.
In 2014, his book “Stand Firm” was published in Denmark and quickly became a bestseller, propelling Svend into the national limelight. He has since become a well-known figure on TV and radio. The book was published in the UK in 2017.
“Stand Firm” rallied against the prevalent call of the self-help craze to find one’s authentic self. Svend argues that the relentless drive towards positivity brings only doubt and depression. Instead we should actively embrace negative aspects of life and with it, our essential humanity.