Background: Projective identification is a term widely used in the psychoanalytic literature to describe primary and unconscious communication, usually between two individuals. The process is of high clinical relevance, especially in the therapy of borderline conditions, although the individual mechanisms are unclear. An important aspect of projective identification is a bodily experience. Current questions are how this bodily experience arising from the countertransference can be used therapeutically. Methods: The research is based on experience with supervisions, results of scientific research and psychodynamic literature. Results: We are aware that the term projective identification is quite commonly used to support the impression, the bodily feelings of the therapist are induced by the patient. In the following, based on Ogden's concept we will try to determine the model much finer than the three-phasic one and give it a general experimental empirical psychological basis. This will be undermined with two clinical case vignettes. A further clarification of its general psychological foundations that goes back to Freud will be tried. It will be shown that the use of the concept of mirror neurons as an explanation poses equal questions. Conclusion: Projective identification is a complex transdisciplinary concept that should be further explored from both a psychodynamic and neurobiological point of view. Bodily experiences certainly form the basis of projective projection. This should be taken into account in further scientific investigations.
| Published in | American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 10, Issue 4) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12 |
| Page(s) | 169-175 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Affect Exchange, Facial Affect, Clinical Case Studies, Projective Identification, Metaanalytic Theories
| [1] | Alford, C. E. (2004): Mirror neurons, psychoanalysis, and the age of empathy. Int J Appl Psychoanal Stud 13, 7-23. |
| [2] | Bazan, A. (2012): From sensorimotor inhibition to Freudian repression: insights from psychosis applied to neurosis. Front Psychol 3, 1-17, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00452. |
| [3] | Bion, W. R. (1992 [1962]): Lernen durch Erfahrung. Übers. E. Krejci. Frankfurt/M (Suhrkamp). |
| [4] | Benecke, C. & Brauner, F. (2017): Motivation und Emotion. Psychologische und psychoanalytische Perspektiven. Stuttgart (Kohlhammer). |
| [5] | Benecke, C. & Krause, R. (2005): Facial affective relationship offers of patients with panic disorders. Psychother Res 15, 178 -187. |
| [6] | Ciompi, L. (2000): Die emotionalen Grundlagen des Denkens. Entwurf einer fraktalen Affektlogik. Göttingen (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht). |
| [7] | Freud, S. (1895): Entwurf einer Psychologie, GW Nachtragsband, 375-488. |
| [8] | Frosch, J. (1983): The psychotic process. International Psychoanalytic Process, New York. |
| [9] | Gallese, V. (2003): The roots of empathy: The Shared Manifold Hypothesis and the neural basis of intersubjectivity. Psychopathology 36, 171-180. |
| [10] | Goetzmann, L., Holzapfel, M. (2003): Zur Natur des Sechsten Sinns“ - die Gegenübertragung im Kontext der Psychoanalyse und der kognitiven Neurosciences. Forum Psychoanal 19, 116-128. |
| [11] | Goetzmann, L. & Ruettner, B. (2007): Explosionen, Beton, Totes und Schrumpfungsprozesse – Focusing-Wahrnehmung des Körpers in der Gegenübertragung. Psyche – Z Psychoanal 61, 137-150. |
| [12] | Goetzmann, L., Siegel, A. & Ruettner, B. (2019): The connectivity/conversion paradigm - A new approach to the classification of psychosomatic disorders. New Ideas Psychol 53, 26-33. |
| [13] | Goetzmann, L., Siegel, A. & Ruettner, B. (2020): On the axis of psychosomatic totality. Eur J Psychoanal, http://www.journal-psychoanalysis.eu/on-the-axis-of-psychosomatic-totality/#top. |
| [14] | Goetzmann, L. (2020): Gamma elements as protomental representations: Suggestions for expanding W. R. Bion’s model of elements. Int J Psychoanal, in press. |
| [15] | Haag, F. (1993): Fear of fusion and projective identification in autistic children. Psychoanal Inq 13, 63-84. |
| [16] | Holderegger, H. (2012): Trauma und Übertragung. Psyche – Z Psychoanal 66, 1102-1117. |
| [17] | Huber, E., Kratzer, D., Juen, B. (2018): Mimik – Emotion – Interaktion. Festschrift für Eva Bänninger-Huber. Innsbruck (Studia Universitätsverlag). |
| [18] | Kihlstrom JF, Barnhardt TM, Tararyn DJ (1992). Implicit perception. In: Bornstein RF und Pittman TS (Hrsg) Perception without awareness. Guilford Press, New York – London, 17-54. |
| [19] | Lazarus, R. S. (1984): On the primacy of cognition. Am Psychol 39, 124-129. |
| [20] | Krause, R. (2009): Psychodynamische Interventionen. In: M. Hautzinger & P. Pauli (Hg.): Enzyklopädie der Psychologie. Psychotherapeutische Methoden. Göttingen (Hogrefe), 161-271. |
| [21] | Krause, R. (2010): Ekel und Körper in der analytischen Psychotherapie. In: R. Vogt (Hg.): Ekel als Folge traumatischer Erfahrungen. Gießen (Psychosozial-Verlag), 15-29. |
| [22] | Krause, R. (2016): Auf der Suche nach dem missing link zwischen Analytiker und Analysand, ihren Körpern und ihrer gemeinsamen Seele. Oder wie ist der intersubjektive Raum konstruiert und tapeziert? In: K. Nohr und S. Leikert (Hg.) Zum Phänomen der Rührung in Psychoanalyse und Musik. Gießen (Psychosozial Verlag), 61-74. |
| [23] | Leuschner, W. (2017): Paul Schilders Körperbild-Modell und der „body intercourse“. Psyche – Z Psychoanal, 71, 123-150. |
| [24] | Merten, J. (1997): Facial-affective behaviour, mutual gaze, and emotional experience in dyadic interactions. J Nonverbal Behav, 21, 179-201. |
| [25] | Moser, U. (2008): Traum, Wahn und Mikrowelten. Frankfurt (Brandes & Apsel). |
| [26] | Nahum, J., Bruschweiler-Stern. N., Harrison AM et al. (2002): Explicating the implicit: The local level and the microprocess of change in the analytic situation. Int J Psychoanal 83, 1051-1062. |
| [27] | Pally, R. (1997): How the brain actively constructs perceptions. Int J Psychoanal 78, 1021-1030. |
| [28] | Ogden, T. H. (1997): On projective identification. Int J Psychoanal 60, 357-273. |
| [29] | Plutchik, R. (1980): Emotion. A psychoevolutionary theory. New York (Harper & Row). |
| [30] | Steimer-Krause, E., Krause, R. & Wagner, G. (1990): Interaction regulations used by schizophrenic and psychosomatic patients: studies on facial behaviour in dyadic interactions. Psychiatry 53, 209-28. |
| [31] | Steimer-Krause, E. (1994): Nonverbale Beziehungsregulation in Dyaden mit schizophrenen Patienten. Ein Beitrag zur Übertragungs-Gegenübertragungsforschung In: U. Streeck & K. Bell (Hsg): Psychoanalyse schwerer psychischer Erkrankungen. München (Pfeiffer), 209-229. |
| [32] | Tomkins S. (1995): Exploring affect. The selected writings of Sylvan S. Tomkins. Cambridge (University Press). |
| [33] | Tronick, E. Z. (1998): Dyadically expanded states of consciousness and the process of therapeutic change. Infant Ment Health J 19, 290-299. |
| [34] | Zajonc, R. (1980): Feeling and thinking: Preferences need no inferences. Am Psychol 35, 151-175. |
| [35] | Zajonc, R. (1984): On the primacy of affect. Am Psychol 39, 117-123. |
APA Style
Krause Rainer, Goetzmann Lutz, Ruettner Barbara. (2022). The Idea of Projective Identification-Metatheory and Treatment Technique. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 10(4), 169-175. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12
ACS Style
Krause Rainer; Goetzmann Lutz; Ruettner Barbara. The Idea of Projective Identification-Metatheory and Treatment Technique. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2022, 10(4), 169-175. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12,
author = {Krause Rainer and Goetzmann Lutz and Ruettner Barbara},
title = {The Idea of Projective Identification-Metatheory and Treatment Technique},
journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
volume = {10},
number = {4},
pages = {169-175},
doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20221004.12},
abstract = {Background: Projective identification is a term widely used in the psychoanalytic literature to describe primary and unconscious communication, usually between two individuals. The process is of high clinical relevance, especially in the therapy of borderline conditions, although the individual mechanisms are unclear. An important aspect of projective identification is a bodily experience. Current questions are how this bodily experience arising from the countertransference can be used therapeutically. Methods: The research is based on experience with supervisions, results of scientific research and psychodynamic literature. Results: We are aware that the term projective identification is quite commonly used to support the impression, the bodily feelings of the therapist are induced by the patient. In the following, based on Ogden's concept we will try to determine the model much finer than the three-phasic one and give it a general experimental empirical psychological basis. This will be undermined with two clinical case vignettes. A further clarification of its general psychological foundations that goes back to Freud will be tried. It will be shown that the use of the concept of mirror neurons as an explanation poses equal questions. Conclusion: Projective identification is a complex transdisciplinary concept that should be further explored from both a psychodynamic and neurobiological point of view. Bodily experiences certainly form the basis of projective projection. This should be taken into account in further scientific investigations.},
year = {2022}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - The Idea of Projective Identification-Metatheory and Treatment Technique AU - Krause Rainer AU - Goetzmann Lutz AU - Ruettner Barbara Y1 - 2022/11/16 PY - 2022 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12 DO - 10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12 T2 - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience JF - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience JO - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience SP - 169 EP - 175 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-426X UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12 AB - Background: Projective identification is a term widely used in the psychoanalytic literature to describe primary and unconscious communication, usually between two individuals. The process is of high clinical relevance, especially in the therapy of borderline conditions, although the individual mechanisms are unclear. An important aspect of projective identification is a bodily experience. Current questions are how this bodily experience arising from the countertransference can be used therapeutically. Methods: The research is based on experience with supervisions, results of scientific research and psychodynamic literature. Results: We are aware that the term projective identification is quite commonly used to support the impression, the bodily feelings of the therapist are induced by the patient. In the following, based on Ogden's concept we will try to determine the model much finer than the three-phasic one and give it a general experimental empirical psychological basis. This will be undermined with two clinical case vignettes. A further clarification of its general psychological foundations that goes back to Freud will be tried. It will be shown that the use of the concept of mirror neurons as an explanation poses equal questions. Conclusion: Projective identification is a complex transdisciplinary concept that should be further explored from both a psychodynamic and neurobiological point of view. Bodily experiences certainly form the basis of projective projection. This should be taken into account in further scientific investigations. VL - 10 IS - 4 ER -
Email: