Working intersubjectively: Contextualism in psychoanalytic practice.

Abstract

Working Intersubjectively: Contextualism in Psychoanalytic Practice endeavors to ground intersubjective psychoanalysis in a larger philosophical context, largely that found in the writings of Aristotle, Gadamer, Wittgenstein, and Bakhtin. This version of intersubjectivity theory has been articulated by Stolorow, Atwood, Brandshaft, and Orange in four earlier volumes. Intersubjectivity "views psychoanalysis as the dialogic attempt of two people together to understand one person's organization of emotional experience by making sense together of their intersubjectively configured experience" (p. 5). The authors conclude that if "we can identify the contexts that have led to a particular experiential organization, we can play with it, question it, and experiment with its reorganization" (p. 90). These authors, both in the current volume and in those that have preceded it, have expanded self psychology from a "one-person" to a relational perspective. The authors do not discuss, however, how their intersubjectivity theory differs from that of Benjamin (1995), another relational psychoanalyst.The authors are to be commended for the readability of the text and the absence of questionable metapsychology and jargon. Even the empirical psychologists they appear to eschew will find few concepts with which to find fault. Psychologists of any stripe will likely not disagree with the ideas of unconscious organizing principles or the threat of psychological annihilation. The authors also are to be applauded for using the term "co-transference" instead of "transference" and "countertransference,"

Using the Rorschach for exploring the concept of transitional space within the political context of the Middle East

“…Thus, dichotomies such as inside-outside, fantasy-reality, consciousness-unconsciousness, intrapsychic-interpersonal, and within the mind and between people are not discrete and unambiguous domains of experience. Rather, the boundaries separating these apparent dichotomies reflect fluidly shifting properties of intersubjective systems that change in different times and contexts (Bromberg, 1993;Orange et al, 1997;Mitchell, 2000). The intrapsychic and the interpersonal are thus overlapping and interdependent domains of experience, an idea that was referred to by Mitchell (2000) as the "relational matrix," where both realms create, interpenetrate, and transform each other in a subtle and complex matter.…”

Au-delà et en deçà des techniques cognitives béhaviorales dans le traitement des troubles graves : les facteurs communs

“…D'ailleurs, les travaux de Bandura (1992) qualifient les attentes d'efficacité du client comme variables dé-terminantes possédant un processus actif spécifique dans tout processus d'intervention. Comme le soulignent avec force Orange et al (1997), il est impérieux de contextualiser l'expérience subjective du client psychotique afin de lui redonner toute la signification subjective d'une expérience pluridimensionnelle souvent chaotique mais possédant des formes et des contenus spécifiques.…”

Implications of intersubjectivity for supervisory practice

“…Benjamin (1988) says, ''the issue is not how we become free of the other, but how we actively engage and make ourselves known in relationship to the other' ' (p. 18). This acknowledges that the other ''object'' is another ''self'' and has its own experiences and history and thus will interact from that position (Benjamin, 1988;Oarnge et al, 1997). By acknowledging the other ''object'' as a subject in and of itself, the focus shifts to the interactive dynamics of two people rather than only the relationship the self has with the internalized object.…”

“…It is often understood as the interplay of dynamics between the subjectivity of the therapist and the patient (Benjamin, 1988(Benjamin, , 1995Oarnge, Atwood, & Stolorow, 1997) and how this influences the course of therapy. Even within intersubjectivity theory, the focus is often on two subjectivities, that of the therapist and patient.…”

“…Before discussing case material, a literature review on intersubjectivity theory, intersubjectivity and supervision, and supervision and therapy in the context of death and dying follows. Oarnge et al (1997) conceptualize intersubjectivity as a ''metatheory of psychoanalysis'' (p. 3). Intersubjectivity focuses on the psychic world of individuals, as these individuals interact with each other.…”