Reconsidering Self and Identity Through a Dialogue Between Neuroscience and Psychoanalytic Theory

Abstract

The terms self and identity have figured prominently in psychological and psychoanalytic writings despite a lack of consistent definitions. Whereas most attempts to clarify the terms have been in the context of a particular theoretical model such as ego psychology, self-psychology, or object relations theory, these clarifications were limited to that particular frame of reference. This paper presents evidence from the dynamic systems models of neuroscience as a foundation to inform psychoanalytic theory toward a clarification of these terms. The neuroscience data supports a distinction between self and identity relative to right hemisphere, reflexive, nonlinguistic experience and left hemisphere, reflective, linguistically mediated experience. A parallel between the empirical study of consciousness in terms of ownership, agency, unity, and continuity is also made with contemporary psychoanalytic concepts and their relationship to self and identity. Additionally, the article offers suggestions for a mutually informing dialogue between psychoanalysis and neuroscience in the hopes of promoting interdisciplinary research.

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Notes on contributors

Michael J. Gerson

Michael J. Gerson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of graduate psychology at California Lutheran University. He is a practicing clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents in Westlake Village, California.