Self Psychology and the Concept of the Nuclear Self: A Dynamic Systems Perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this article will be to review some self psychological concepts and describe their commonalities and differences with system theories that have emerged under the umbrella of a dynamic systems framework. There are several important elements of self psychological language and theory that cohere with a systems vantage point. There are also elements that are not consistent with a dynamic systems perspective, such as the nuclear self. The concept of the nuclear self has the potential to galvanize psychoanalysts to look for the buried essence of structural properties and a preprogrammed design. It is our view that the language and underlying theory of psychoanalysis should be consistent with the fluidity, variability, and soft assembled nature of a systems viewpoint.

Keywords:

• complexity theory
• nonlinear
• nuclear self
• systems
• systems theory

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeffrey L. Trop

Jeffrey L. Trop, M.D., is Assistant Honorary Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine, and Training and Supervising Analyst, Faculty, Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles.

Gabriel Trop

Gabriel Trop, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of German, Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literature, UNC-Chapel Hill.