ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the difficulties that ‘healthy’ severe (24 to 32 gestation weeks) p... more ABSTRACT This paper discusses the difficulties that ‘healthy’ severe (24 to 32 gestation weeks) premature babies encounter during their hospitalisation from a psychoanalytical perspective. It elaborates on early ego formation and its importance to mental development. It compares and contrasts between the early development of a full term baby and a severely premature baby. Finally, it discusses the different psychological problems that a high percentage of severe premature infants will potentially develop as a result of the premature birth and the traumatic stay in the “Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”- NICU. This paper maintains that emerging medical findings support the well established psychoanalytic views which stress the paramount importance of the ‘Good Enough’ environment in early infancy and theoretically links the lacking environment of the NICU with a high risk to develop mental disorders namely: learning and attachment disorders.
Abstract
This thesis discusses the trauma that ‘healthy’ severe premature babies (24 to 32 gesta... more Abstract
This thesis discusses the trauma that ‘healthy’ severe premature babies (24 to 32 gestation weeks) endure as a result of their early birth and their prolonged hospitalisation from a psychoanalytical perspective supported by new medical findings. It elaborates on the concept of trauma from a psychoanalytic view point. It explores pregnancy and birth, as well as comparing and contrasting the early mental development of a full term baby and a severely premature baby. In order to support the claim that severe prematurity is a substantial trauma to the infant, the paper compares the brain trauma of neglected infants, who are widely recognised to be traumatised subjects and the brain trauma that severe premature infants endure as a result of their early birth and subsequent stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This paper maintains that emerging medical findings support the well established psychoanalytic viewpoint which stresses the paramount importance of the ‘Good Enough’ environment in early infancy. It theoretically links the lacking environment of the NICU with a greatly increased risk of developing mental disorders, namely: learning and attachment disorders. Finally, the paper discusses the possible future implications of this trauma and elaborates on recommendations which emphasise the importance of early therapeutic intervention. Using the latest findings in neuroscience and attachment therapy, I will argue that the premature infant is at high risk of developing learning and attachment disorders as a result of the NICU environment, which lacks certain psychological elements essential to the infant’s healthy mental development.
The narrow focus on postnatal depression has shifted in recent years and it now encompasses a bro... more The narrow focus on postnatal depression has shifted in recent years and it now encompasses a broader aspect of the condition which includes the antenatal and postnatal periods and is referred to as perinatal depression. Perinatal depression is a mental state characterized by subjective feelings of sadness accompanied by a lack of interest in activities that cause pleasure, lack of social interest, decreased motivation, decreased self-esteem, and thoughts of death. המאפיינים שכל נראה, להריון כניסה של כלל( )בדרך המשמח המצב עם בסתירה עומדים .הללו It seems that all of the above characteristics stand in direct contradiction with the normative social consensus that pregnancy and the arrival of a new born baby stand for. ומוכרת קיימת זה, נפשי ממצב וסובלות דיכאוניות תחושות על המדווחות הרות נשים של התופעה זאת, ובכל הקליני .בשטח Nevertheless, the phenomenon of pregnant women and women who recently gave birth reporting to suffer from depressive feelings, according to research, stands between ten and fifteen percent. 1 This paper will examine the history of perinatal depression, its symptoms and the two most prominent scales which are used to detect the illness in main stream medicine. The paper will then discuss the evidence of the widespread existence of the condition, the importance of an early detection and the possible devastating outcomes if it remains untreated.
"Two Studies for Self-Portrait" 1977 "To gaze upon Francis Bacon's "Two Studies for Self-Portrait... more "Two Studies for Self-Portrait" 1977 "To gaze upon Francis Bacon's "Two Studies for Self-Portrait" is to stare unflinchingly into the void" 1 Francis Bacon who was born to English parents in Dublin in 1909 is mostly known for his post World War II paintings, where he distorts the subject's faces and figures in the most graphic and grotesque manner. Bacon, who was a self declared homosexual, left his parents home at the age of 17 after his father found him trying on his mother's underwear in front of the mirror, this incident added to the rumours about Bacon's sexual carry on with the house help, and as a result his father sent him away from the family home. 2 After spending some years in Berlin and Paris he settled in London, where he began his career as a painter.
Freud's path to the creation of psychoanalysis was paved with the help of a curious mixture of ex... more Freud's path to the creation of psychoanalysis was paved with the help of a curious mixture of extraordinary innovation and good old fashion education. The foundations of psychoanalysis can be found not only in his knowledge of medicine or ordinary psychology, but also in his familiarity with an extended range of languages, his passion for archaeology and his outstanding knowledge of universal literature. Freud's literary culture was a common property in the well-educated German bourgeoisie society of the time. Therefore, Freud rarely takes the time to identify the sources in his writings, as he assumes that the reader shares his own wide literary knowledge. 1 Freud's extended expertise in literature is indeed at the core of his success in making a general theory on the human psyche, as he makes use of classical myths such as the Oedipus Rex tragedy and the Narcissus story, which are the most famous examples. 2 This paper will discuss "Catch 22" a book by Joseph Heller from a psychoanalytic point of view, by referring to Freud's and Lacan's theory. First it will elaborate on the concepts of creativity, sublimation, das Ding, the Uncanny and the sinthome and then it will follow by illustrating how these concepts are related to Heller's conscious and unconscious aesthetic intentions.
ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the difficulties that ‘healthy’ severe (24 to 32 gestation weeks) p... more ABSTRACT This paper discusses the difficulties that ‘healthy’ severe (24 to 32 gestation weeks) premature babies encounter during their hospitalisation from a psychoanalytical perspective. It elaborates on early ego formation and its importance to mental development. It compares and contrasts between the early development of a full term baby and a severely premature baby. Finally, it discusses the different psychological problems that a high percentage of severe premature infants will potentially develop as a result of the premature birth and the traumatic stay in the “Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”- NICU. This paper maintains that emerging medical findings support the well established psychoanalytic views which stress the paramount importance of the ‘Good Enough’ environment in early infancy and theoretically links the lacking environment of the NICU with a high risk to develop mental disorders namely: learning and attachment disorders.
Abstract
This thesis discusses the trauma that ‘healthy’ severe premature babies (24 to 32 gesta... more Abstract
This thesis discusses the trauma that ‘healthy’ severe premature babies (24 to 32 gestation weeks) endure as a result of their early birth and their prolonged hospitalisation from a psychoanalytical perspective supported by new medical findings. It elaborates on the concept of trauma from a psychoanalytic view point. It explores pregnancy and birth, as well as comparing and contrasting the early mental development of a full term baby and a severely premature baby. In order to support the claim that severe prematurity is a substantial trauma to the infant, the paper compares the brain trauma of neglected infants, who are widely recognised to be traumatised subjects and the brain trauma that severe premature infants endure as a result of their early birth and subsequent stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This paper maintains that emerging medical findings support the well established psychoanalytic viewpoint which stresses the paramount importance of the ‘Good Enough’ environment in early infancy. It theoretically links the lacking environment of the NICU with a greatly increased risk of developing mental disorders, namely: learning and attachment disorders. Finally, the paper discusses the possible future implications of this trauma and elaborates on recommendations which emphasise the importance of early therapeutic intervention. Using the latest findings in neuroscience and attachment therapy, I will argue that the premature infant is at high risk of developing learning and attachment disorders as a result of the NICU environment, which lacks certain psychological elements essential to the infant’s healthy mental development.
The narrow focus on postnatal depression has shifted in recent years and it now encompasses a bro... more The narrow focus on postnatal depression has shifted in recent years and it now encompasses a broader aspect of the condition which includes the antenatal and postnatal periods and is referred to as perinatal depression. Perinatal depression is a mental state characterized by subjective feelings of sadness accompanied by a lack of interest in activities that cause pleasure, lack of social interest, decreased motivation, decreased self-esteem, and thoughts of death. המאפיינים שכל נראה, להריון כניסה של כלל( )בדרך המשמח המצב עם בסתירה עומדים .הללו It seems that all of the above characteristics stand in direct contradiction with the normative social consensus that pregnancy and the arrival of a new born baby stand for. ומוכרת קיימת זה, נפשי ממצב וסובלות דיכאוניות תחושות על המדווחות הרות נשים של התופעה זאת, ובכל הקליני .בשטח Nevertheless, the phenomenon of pregnant women and women who recently gave birth reporting to suffer from depressive feelings, according to research, stands between ten and fifteen percent. 1 This paper will examine the history of perinatal depression, its symptoms and the two most prominent scales which are used to detect the illness in main stream medicine. The paper will then discuss the evidence of the widespread existence of the condition, the importance of an early detection and the possible devastating outcomes if it remains untreated.
"Two Studies for Self-Portrait" 1977 "To gaze upon Francis Bacon's "Two Studies for Self-Portrait... more "Two Studies for Self-Portrait" 1977 "To gaze upon Francis Bacon's "Two Studies for Self-Portrait" is to stare unflinchingly into the void" 1 Francis Bacon who was born to English parents in Dublin in 1909 is mostly known for his post World War II paintings, where he distorts the subject's faces and figures in the most graphic and grotesque manner. Bacon, who was a self declared homosexual, left his parents home at the age of 17 after his father found him trying on his mother's underwear in front of the mirror, this incident added to the rumours about Bacon's sexual carry on with the house help, and as a result his father sent him away from the family home. 2 After spending some years in Berlin and Paris he settled in London, where he began his career as a painter.
Freud's path to the creation of psychoanalysis was paved with the help of a curious mixture of ex... more Freud's path to the creation of psychoanalysis was paved with the help of a curious mixture of extraordinary innovation and good old fashion education. The foundations of psychoanalysis can be found not only in his knowledge of medicine or ordinary psychology, but also in his familiarity with an extended range of languages, his passion for archaeology and his outstanding knowledge of universal literature. Freud's literary culture was a common property in the well-educated German bourgeoisie society of the time. Therefore, Freud rarely takes the time to identify the sources in his writings, as he assumes that the reader shares his own wide literary knowledge. 1 Freud's extended expertise in literature is indeed at the core of his success in making a general theory on the human psyche, as he makes use of classical myths such as the Oedipus Rex tragedy and the Narcissus story, which are the most famous examples. 2 This paper will discuss "Catch 22" a book by Joseph Heller from a psychoanalytic point of view, by referring to Freud's and Lacan's theory. First it will elaborate on the concepts of creativity, sublimation, das Ding, the Uncanny and the sinthome and then it will follow by illustrating how these concepts are related to Heller's conscious and unconscious aesthetic intentions.
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Papers by Yifa McDonald
This paper discusses the difficulties that ‘healthy’ severe (24 to 32 gestation weeks) premature babies encounter during their hospitalisation from a psychoanalytical perspective. It elaborates on early ego formation and its importance to mental development. It compares and contrasts between the early development of a full term baby and a severely premature baby. Finally, it discusses the different psychological problems that a high percentage of severe premature infants will potentially develop as a result of the premature birth and the traumatic stay in the “Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”- NICU. This paper maintains that emerging medical findings support the well established psychoanalytic views which stress the paramount importance of the ‘Good Enough’ environment in early infancy and theoretically links the lacking environment of the NICU with a high risk to develop mental disorders namely: learning and attachment disorders.
This thesis discusses the trauma that ‘healthy’ severe premature babies (24 to 32 gestation weeks) endure as a result of their early birth and their prolonged hospitalisation from a psychoanalytical perspective supported by new medical findings. It elaborates on the concept of trauma from a psychoanalytic view point. It explores pregnancy and birth, as well as comparing and contrasting the early mental development of a full term baby and a severely premature baby. In order to support the claim that severe prematurity is a substantial trauma to the infant, the paper compares the brain trauma of neglected infants, who are widely recognised to be traumatised subjects and the brain trauma that severe premature infants endure as a result of their early birth and subsequent stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This paper maintains that emerging medical findings support the well established psychoanalytic viewpoint which stresses the paramount importance of the ‘Good Enough’ environment in early infancy. It theoretically links the lacking environment of the NICU with a greatly increased risk of developing mental disorders, namely: learning and attachment disorders. Finally, the paper discusses the possible future implications of this trauma and elaborates on recommendations which emphasise the importance of early therapeutic intervention. Using the latest findings in neuroscience and attachment therapy, I will argue that the premature infant is at high risk of developing learning and attachment disorders as a result of the NICU environment, which lacks certain psychological elements essential to the infant’s healthy mental development.
This paper discusses the difficulties that ‘healthy’ severe (24 to 32 gestation weeks) premature babies encounter during their hospitalisation from a psychoanalytical perspective. It elaborates on early ego formation and its importance to mental development. It compares and contrasts between the early development of a full term baby and a severely premature baby. Finally, it discusses the different psychological problems that a high percentage of severe premature infants will potentially develop as a result of the premature birth and the traumatic stay in the “Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”- NICU. This paper maintains that emerging medical findings support the well established psychoanalytic views which stress the paramount importance of the ‘Good Enough’ environment in early infancy and theoretically links the lacking environment of the NICU with a high risk to develop mental disorders namely: learning and attachment disorders.
This thesis discusses the trauma that ‘healthy’ severe premature babies (24 to 32 gestation weeks) endure as a result of their early birth and their prolonged hospitalisation from a psychoanalytical perspective supported by new medical findings. It elaborates on the concept of trauma from a psychoanalytic view point. It explores pregnancy and birth, as well as comparing and contrasting the early mental development of a full term baby and a severely premature baby. In order to support the claim that severe prematurity is a substantial trauma to the infant, the paper compares the brain trauma of neglected infants, who are widely recognised to be traumatised subjects and the brain trauma that severe premature infants endure as a result of their early birth and subsequent stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This paper maintains that emerging medical findings support the well established psychoanalytic viewpoint which stresses the paramount importance of the ‘Good Enough’ environment in early infancy. It theoretically links the lacking environment of the NICU with a greatly increased risk of developing mental disorders, namely: learning and attachment disorders. Finally, the paper discusses the possible future implications of this trauma and elaborates on recommendations which emphasise the importance of early therapeutic intervention. Using the latest findings in neuroscience and attachment therapy, I will argue that the premature infant is at high risk of developing learning and attachment disorders as a result of the NICU environment, which lacks certain psychological elements essential to the infant’s healthy mental development.