Thoughts on Developmental and Psychoanalytic Change Inspired by Heinz Hartmann

ABSTRACT

Rather than attempting to review Hartmann’s extensive contributions to psychoanalytic theory, we are going to follow his example by suggesting a biological meta-theory for psychoanalysis, focusing in particular on adaptation, and also addressing “reality.” We introduce a nonlinear model that highlights the dyad as the common pathway for developmental change – such as the infant-caregiver dyad in early development and the patient-analyst dyad in psychoanalysis. Then we offer a clinical illustration from a child analytic case. We will close with some observations about “adaptation to reality” in remote child therapy during COVID.

KEYWORDS:

• Adaptation to the environment
• concept of reality
• fittedness
• consciousness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alexandra M. Harrison

Alexandra M. Harrison, M.D., is a Supervising and Training Analyst in Adult and Child and Adolescent Analysis at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, Assistant Professor in Psychiatry PT at the Harvard Medical School at the Cambridge Health Alliance, Core Faculty at the University of Massachusetts Boston Infant Parent Mental Health Program, and CEO of the nonprofit, Supporting Child Caregivers. Her academic interests are in the study of therapeutic action through microanalysis of clinical videotapes. Her clinical interests are in the analytic and analytically informed work with preschool children and their parents, and in young children with autistic spectrum disorder. A major current activity is the nonprofit, which collaborates with local institutions in developing countries to promote methods of supporting the infant-parent relationship for the sake of healthy lives.

Ed Tronick

Ed Tronick, Ph.D., a developmental neuroscientist and clinician, is Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, UMass Chan Medical School. He is internationally recognized for research on infant neurobehavior and infant-parent social interaction. He created the Still-Face and the Caretaker Acute Stress paradigms, and formulated Mutual Regulation Repair Model of parent-child interaction. He co-developed the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale and Brazelton exam. He has published more than 300 scientific papers and authored eight books. His most recent book is The Power of Discord with C. Gold. He founded the Napa and Boston Infant-Parent Mental Health Fellowships and was a founding member of the Boston Process of Change Group. He has received the Zero to Three Lifetime Achievement Award and the Scientific Contribution Award from the Society for Research In Child Development.