The role of subjectivity and intersubjectivity in the reconstruction of dissociated schemas; converging perspectives from psychoanalysis, cognitive science and affective neuroscience.

Abstract

Therapeutic change involves integration of emotion schemas that have been dissociated. Two types of avoidant dissociation are distinguished: primary dissociation dominated by fragmentary emotional memories; and secondary dissociation involving initial encoding of more organized memories whose meaning is avoided. Reconstruction of dissociated emotion schemas occurs through the referential process which includes three basic components: arousal of the subsymbolic affective core of a dissociated schema in the treatment relationship; connections of subsymbolic processes to symbolic representations in narratives and interactions in the session; and reflection leading to reorganization of the schema. The role of enactive perception and embodied communication as underlying intersubjectivity in the referential process is reviewed. Variations in states of awareness associated with each phase of the process, in both analyst and patient, and their effects on therapeutic change are examined. Current work in cognitive science and affective neuroscience supporting this process model is reviewed. This formulation is largely compatible with Freud's early theory of recollection and "associative working-over" with new emphasis on subjective state and the relational context. Studies of the referential process provide a potential interface between investigations of psychotherapy process and basic cognitive science and neuroscience research.

Creating Art Together as a Transformative Process in Parent-Child Relations: The Therapeutic Aspects of the Joint Painting Procedure

“…Schore and Marks-Tarlow (2017) state that non-verbal symbolic representation, such as play and the arts, facilitates emotional regulation function because it arouses a variety of feelings that enact regulatory boundaries. The mentalization process occurs within the JPP in a non-verbal and sensory way, and at the same time the partners can verbally address the process ( Bat Or, 2010 ; Bucci, 2011 ). The state of mutual recognition emerges as a continuation of the relational processes and enables expression of each of the individual in the dyad as well as shared expression, while being in a close and mutual relationship ( Benjamin, 2005 ; Gini et al, 2007 ).…”

“…Focusing on art psychotherapy, Bucci (2011) emphasized that verbal language cannot contain all aspects of communication between people and underscored that we need to attend to three levels of communication: verbal, symbolic non-verbal, and subsymbolic ( Bucci, 2011 , 2014 ). The verbal level is related to language as communication and is expressed through a shared conversation during the therapeutic meeting.…”

Objective Measures of Subjective Experience: The Use of Therapist Notes in Process-Outcome Research

“…In the context of this research we can recognize subjective experience in psychoanalysis as a necessary area of scientific study. This has been seen as a paradigm shift in cognitive psychology, and may constitute a paradigm shift in psychoanalysis as well (Bucci, 2011a). The importance of the subjective experience of the participants is not a basis for a split between psychoanalysis and science but offers unique opportunities for collaborative research.…”

“…The measures to be applied in this study are defined in the framework of the theory of multiple coding and the referential process, derived from current work in cognitive science, psycholinguistics, affective neuroscience, and related fields (Bucci, 1997(Bucci, , 2002(Bucci, , 2011a(Bucci, , 2011b. Several experimental and clinical studies (Bucci & Maskit, 2006 have provided evidence for the validity of our computerized system as measuring the psychological constructs that are theoretically defined.…”

“…The language of the Narrative/Symbolizing phase represents the most direct linking of emotional experience with language. In very general physiological terms, this involves connection of emotion triggering sites and cortical association areas and involves hippocampal activation; this is the pivotal function of the referential process (Bucci 2011a(Bucci , 2011b.…”