Self and identity are examined as significant complementary processes in the psychoanalytic psych... more Self and identity are examined as significant complementary processes in the psychoanalytic psychotherapy of two adolescent patients. The distinction between these processes is underscored as emergent from neuropsychological developmental changes while being expressed within a shared unconscious process. These cases examined how the analyst and patients fostered their co-constructed potential space for therapeutic transformation. Each patient had adopted compensatory identities in response to profound psychic conflict. The treatments explored the function of their identities as objectified processes to cope with psychic trauma while also addressing an essential respect for the subjectivity of self as a vehicle for psychological truth.
In replying to the commentaries of Marks-Tarlow and Solow Glennon, I have provided some clarifica... more In replying to the commentaries of Marks-Tarlow and Solow Glennon, I have provided some clarification and expansion on the epistemology of dynamic systems models. These models served as the basis for integrating neuroscientific research findings with the phenomena of self and identity. Some of the challenges offered by the commentators have been specifically addressed with reference to a clarification of a "linguistic system" and causality as it applies to nonlinear dynamics.
The terms self and identity have figured prominently in psychological and psychoanalytic writings... more The terms self and identity have figured prominently in psychological and psychoanalytic writings despite a lack of consistent definitions. Whereas most attempts to clarify the terms have been in the context of a particular theoretical model such as ego psychology, self-psychology, or object relations theory, these clarifications were limited to that particular frame of reference. This paper presents evidence from the dynamic systems models of neuroscience as a foundation to inform psychoanalytic theory toward a clarification of these terms. The neuroscience data supports a distinction between self and identity relative to right hemisphere, reflexive, nonlinguistic experience and left hemisphere, reflective, linguistically mediated experience. A parallel between the empirical study of consciousness in terms of ownership, agency, unity, and continuity is also made with contemporary psychoanalytic concepts and their relationship to self and identity. Additionally, the article offers suggestions for a mutually informing dialogue between psychoanalysis and neuroscience in the hopes of promoting interdisciplinary research.
In replying to the commentaries of Marks-Tarlow and Solow Glennon, I have provided some clarifica... more In replying to the commentaries of Marks-Tarlow and Solow Glennon, I have provided some clarification and expansion on the epistemology of dynamic systems models. These models served as the basis for integrating neuroscientific research findings with the phenomena of self and identity. Some of the challenges offered by the commentators have been specifically addressed with reference to a clarification of a "linguistic system" and causality as it applies to nonlinear dynamics.
The terms self and identity have figured prominently in psychological and psychoanalytic writings... more The terms self and identity have figured prominently in psychological and psychoanalytic writings despite a lack of consistent definitions. Whereas most attempts to clarify the terms have been in the context of a particular theoretical model such as ego psychology, self-psychology, or object relations theory, these clarifications were limited to that particular frame of reference. This paper presents evidence from the dynamic systems models of neuroscience as a foundation to inform psychoanalytic theory toward a clarification of these terms. The neuroscience data supports a distinction between self and identity relative to right hemisphere, reflexive, nonlinguistic experience and left hemisphere, reflective, linguistically mediated experience. A parallel between the empirical study of consciousness in terms of ownership, agency, unity, and continuity is also made with contemporary psychoanalytic concepts and their relationship to self and identity. Additionally, the article offers suggestions for a mutually informing dialogue between psychoanalysis and neuroscience in the hopes of promoting interdisciplinary research.
Self and identity are examined as significant complementary processes in the psychoanalytic psych... more Self and identity are examined as significant complementary processes in the psychoanalytic psychotherapy of two adolescent patients. The distinction between these processes is underscored as emergent from neuropsychological developmental changes while being expressed within a shared unconscious process. These cases examined how the analyst and patients fostered their co-constructed potential space for therapeutic transformation. Each patient had adopted compensatory identities in response to profound psychic conflict. The treatments explored the function of their identities as objectified processes to cope with psychic trauma while also addressing an essential respect for the subjectivity of self as a vehicle for psychological truth.
Self and identity are examined as significant complementary processes in the psychoanalytic psych... more Self and identity are examined as significant complementary processes in the psychoanalytic psychotherapy of two adolescent patients. The distinction between these processes is underscored as emergent from neuropsychological developmental changes while being expressed within a shared unconscious process. These cases examined how the analyst and patients fostered their co-constructed potential space for therapeutic transformation. Each patient had adopted compensatory identities in response to profound psychic conflict. The treatments explored the function of their identities as objectified processes to cope with psychic trauma while also addressing an essential respect for the subjectivity of self as a vehicle for psychological truth.
In replying to the commentaries of Marks-Tarlow and Solow Glennon, I have provided some clarifica... more In replying to the commentaries of Marks-Tarlow and Solow Glennon, I have provided some clarification and expansion on the epistemology of dynamic systems models. These models served as the basis for integrating neuroscientific research findings with the phenomena of self and identity. Some of the challenges offered by the commentators have been specifically addressed with reference to a clarification of a "linguistic system" and causality as it applies to nonlinear dynamics.
The terms self and identity have figured prominently in psychological and psychoanalytic writings... more The terms self and identity have figured prominently in psychological and psychoanalytic writings despite a lack of consistent definitions. Whereas most attempts to clarify the terms have been in the context of a particular theoretical model such as ego psychology, self-psychology, or object relations theory, these clarifications were limited to that particular frame of reference. This paper presents evidence from the dynamic systems models of neuroscience as a foundation to inform psychoanalytic theory toward a clarification of these terms. The neuroscience data supports a distinction between self and identity relative to right hemisphere, reflexive, nonlinguistic experience and left hemisphere, reflective, linguistically mediated experience. A parallel between the empirical study of consciousness in terms of ownership, agency, unity, and continuity is also made with contemporary psychoanalytic concepts and their relationship to self and identity. Additionally, the article offers suggestions for a mutually informing dialogue between psychoanalysis and neuroscience in the hopes of promoting interdisciplinary research.
In replying to the commentaries of Marks-Tarlow and Solow Glennon, I have provided some clarifica... more In replying to the commentaries of Marks-Tarlow and Solow Glennon, I have provided some clarification and expansion on the epistemology of dynamic systems models. These models served as the basis for integrating neuroscientific research findings with the phenomena of self and identity. Some of the challenges offered by the commentators have been specifically addressed with reference to a clarification of a "linguistic system" and causality as it applies to nonlinear dynamics.
The terms self and identity have figured prominently in psychological and psychoanalytic writings... more The terms self and identity have figured prominently in psychological and psychoanalytic writings despite a lack of consistent definitions. Whereas most attempts to clarify the terms have been in the context of a particular theoretical model such as ego psychology, self-psychology, or object relations theory, these clarifications were limited to that particular frame of reference. This paper presents evidence from the dynamic systems models of neuroscience as a foundation to inform psychoanalytic theory toward a clarification of these terms. The neuroscience data supports a distinction between self and identity relative to right hemisphere, reflexive, nonlinguistic experience and left hemisphere, reflective, linguistically mediated experience. A parallel between the empirical study of consciousness in terms of ownership, agency, unity, and continuity is also made with contemporary psychoanalytic concepts and their relationship to self and identity. Additionally, the article offers suggestions for a mutually informing dialogue between psychoanalysis and neuroscience in the hopes of promoting interdisciplinary research.
Self and identity are examined as significant complementary processes in the psychoanalytic psych... more Self and identity are examined as significant complementary processes in the psychoanalytic psychotherapy of two adolescent patients. The distinction between these processes is underscored as emergent from neuropsychological developmental changes while being expressed within a shared unconscious process. These cases examined how the analyst and patients fostered their co-constructed potential space for therapeutic transformation. Each patient had adopted compensatory identities in response to profound psychic conflict. The treatments explored the function of their identities as objectified processes to cope with psychic trauma while also addressing an essential respect for the subjectivity of self as a vehicle for psychological truth.
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