The Unconscious in Self Psychology

Abstract

After defining the content of the unconscious in self psychology, the place of repressed archaic selfobject needs, the development of the concept of selfobject is described. The three basic selfobject transferences are portrayed, and the circumstances of healing in the therapeutic process from a Kohutian versus Freudian point of view are defined. Consecutively, the diversifications in the conceptions of the unconscious in self psychology are explained, beginning with intersubjective systems theory and then a self and motivational systems view. The study and integration of ideas from developmental psychology, that is, attachment theory, implicit knowledge, memory research, and neurobiology, highlight that self psychology is able to integrate usefully new paradigms from other disciplines.

Después de definir el contenido del inconsciente en la psicología del self, es decir el sitio de las necesidades de selfobject reprimidas, se describe el desarrollo del concepto de selfobject. Se describen las tres transferencias básicas de selfobject, y se definen las circunstancias de la cura en el proceso terapéutico desde el punto de vista kohutiano en contraste con el freudiano. A continuación se explican las distintas concepciones de inconsciente en la psicología del self, empezando por la teoría de los sistemas intersubjetivos y la del self y los sistemas motivacionales. El estudio e integración de las ideas provenientes de la psicología del desarrollo, es decir de la teoría del apego, del conocimiento implícito, de la investigación sobre la memoria, y de la neurobiología, pone de manifiesto que la psicología del self es capaz de integrar de manera útil los nuevos paradigmas provenientes de otras disciplinas.

Après avoir défini le contenu de l'inconscient en psychologie du soi, la place des besoins objetsoi archaïques réprimés, le développement du concept d'objetsoi y est décrit. Les trois transferts objetsoi fondamentaux sont présentés et les circonstances de la guérison dans le processus thérapeutique sont définies à partir d'un point de vue kohutien vs freudien. L'auteur explique consécutivement les diversifications dans les conceptions de l'inconscient en psychologie du soi, en commençant par celle de la théorie des systèmes intersubjectifs et ensuite, selon la vision du soi et de ses systèmes motivationnels. L'étude et l'intégration des idées de la psychologie du développement, i.e. la théorie de l'attachement, la connaissance implicite, la recherche sur les mémoires, et la neurobiologie, soutiennent que la psychologie du soi est capable d'intégrer utilement de nouveaux paradigmes provenant d'autres disciplines.

Dopo aver definito il contenuto dell'inconscio secondo la psicologia del sé, il luogo dei bisogni d'oggetto-sé arcaici rimossi, viene descritto lo sviluppo del concetto di oggetto-sé. Vengono illustraii i tre transfert d'oggetto-sé fondamentali, e vengono definite le circostanze della cura nel processo terapeutico da un punto di vista kohutiano a confronto con quello freudiano. Di seguito vengono spiegate le diversificazioni nella concezione dell'incosncio nell'ambito della psicologia del sé, cominciando con la teoria dei sistemi intersoggettivi e poi con il punto di vista del sé e dei sistemi motivazionali. Lo studio dell'integrazione delle idee che provengono dalla psicologia evolutiva, cioè la teoria dell'attaccamento, il conoscere implicito, la ricerca sulla memoria, e la neurobilogia, mette in evidenza che la psicologia del sé è in grado di integrare in modo utile nuovi paradigmi da altre discipline.

Zunächst wird der Begriff des Unbewussten in der Selbstpsychologie definiert, d. h. die Verortung der unterdrückten archaischen Selbstobjektbedürfnisse, um anschließend die Entwicklung des Selbstobjektbegriffes zu beschreiben. Die drei grundlegenden Selbstobjektübertragungen sowie die Umstände der Heilung im therapeutischen Prozess sowohl aus kohutianischer vs. freudianischer Sicht werden dargestellt. Danach erfolgt eine Erklärung der Diversifikationen in den Konzeptionen des Unbewussten in der Selbstpsychologie: Zunächst aus der Sicht der Intersubjective Systems Theory und dann aus der Sicht der Systeme des Selbst und der Motivationen. Die Untersuchung und die Integration von Vorstellungen aus der Entwicklungspsychologie (z. B. aus der Bindungsforschung, aus dem Wissen zum Impliziten, zur Gedächtnisforschung und der Neurobiologie) weisen darauf hin, dass die Selbstpsychologie in der Lage ist, sinnvolle neue Paradigmen aus anderen Disziplinen zu integrieren.

Notes

¹Kohut was still using the classical Freudian terminology at that time.

²Bacal (Bacal and Newman, 1990) developed the idea of the fantasy selfobject. In connection with Winnicott's concept of the transitional area or area of possibility, Bacal's description of a fantasy selfobject includes a fantasized companion facilitating a selfobject experience.

³This means the appropriateness of the task to be accomplished, which should, as far as possible, lie within the proximal zone of the infant's present possibilities.

⁴ Kohut (1984) described mature selfobject relationships in adulthood, as opposed to archaic selfobject relationships (e.g., merger needs), as empathic resonance. He speaks of a developmental line from immature to mature narcissism, instead of differentiating between normal and pathological narcissism (see also Hartmann, 1995, 1997).

⁵As an example, Kohut (1991) described how the decision to equip Nazi dive-bombers with sirens required empathy, which had the purpose of increasing the fear of people exposed to the air raids. Also in the case of torture, brainwashing, or most methods of terror, empathy with the victims is useful.

⁶Here, Kohut (1982) refers to the example of astronauts (correspondence with Erich Heller).

⁷Through these organizing principles, the conscious experiences of an individual are formed into psychological structures, without the latter becoming conscious.

⁸The above-mentioned prereflective unconscious is meant here.

⁹This conception of the unconscious is similar to the past unconscious (as distinct from the present unconscious) in Sandler and Sandler (1984). The past unconscious is not the result of repression but of the progressive cognitive development of the child. It prepares the templates, rules, or procedures that we refer to internally and unconsciously in dealings with others to create interactions. In this respect, there is overlap here with the prereflective unconscious.