1. New Directions
Geoff Goodman, Ph.D.

2. I. Do Development and Psychopathology Share Psychic Processes
I. Do Development and Psychopathology Share Psychic Processes? (Fonagy & Target)
Psychosis is not reactivation of infantile modes of functioning
later development alters mechanism and function of early structures
severe psychopathology--functions differently in an adult mind from the functions they served in childhood

3. Continued…
B. Etiology of psychopathology not linked to developmental phase
trauma can result in abandonment of mature forms of functioning
concepts need to pertain to later childhood, adolescent, and adult development
Klein’s theory of positions applies to the lifespan
Bowlby’s theory of attachment patterns applies to the lifespan

4. II. Integration of Genetics into Psychoanalytic Accounts of Development and Psychopathology
Genetically inherited personality traits can provoke negative parental responses
Shared environments experienced differently by two children (e.g., favoritism)
Increase in prevalence of childhood mental disorders over past 50 years

5. Continued…
D. Mediating environmental effects of genetically provoked abuse (i.e., destruction of trust)
E. Intrapsychic representational processes moderate environmental and genetic effects

6. III. Unconscious Processes
Motivational Processes
human behavior motivated by multiple goals
excessive demands on working memory
organizational processes must be outside consciousness
independence of neural circuitry
processing units on periphery become marginalized
conflicts between output of central and peripheral processing units reflecting varying levels of maturity inevitable and unconscious

7. Continued… B. Affective processes
neural mechanisms between conscious and unconscious affective processing are distinct
conflicts among affective processing units from different developmental stages

8. IV. Early Childhood Experience
Early childhood experiences make persons vulnerable to later traumatic experiences
B. Later experiences are influential in the development of psychopathology
C. Persons with early trauma histories place themselves in traumatic situations later in development

9. Continued…
D. Early childhood experiences produce neuroendocrine abnormalities
1. rat studies
a. early separation from mother
b. unlicked pups
2. infant studies
D attachment --> increased cortisol
extended separation from primary caregiver
3. irreversible effects of prolonged early and severe deprivation

10. V. Mental Representations and Object Relationships
Representations distorted by defensive processes and impulses
Representations indicate genetic predisposition or prior environmental experience
Challenge to studies aiming to find direct relationships between psychosocial adversity and psychopathology

11. VI. Strengths of Psychoanalytic Models
Generativity
1. inspiration for many theories of psychopathology
2. richest set of ideas as elements for describing mental functioning
B. Unifying explanations, similar symptoms
diverse symptoms and behavior can reflect a single hidden problem (multifinality)
diverse explanations can be used for similar symptoms (equifinality)

12. Continued… C. Psychoanalytic approach D. Mind as an instrument
development viewed as a series of compromise formations
depth, texture, and complexity in line with neuroscience and developmental psychopathology
D. Mind as an instrument
psychoanalytic listening and processing make sense of disturbing interactions
consequently, deeper, more comprehensive understanding than other “omnibus” theories of human behavior

13. VII. Future Tasks of Psychoanalytic Theories
Use alternative data-gathering methods from social and biological sciences
Define psychoanalytic constructs and techniques more tightly
operational definitions
specification of predictions
a. proximal variables
b. distal variables
c. interaction effects (moderating variables)
d. indirect effects (mediating variables)

14. Continued… C. Comparative psychoanalytic studies
within psychoanalysis
outside psychoanalysis
D. Sophistication of genetic-environmental interactions and processes of risk and trauma (epigenetics)
E. Social and cultural context within which object relations develop
F. Relevance of psychoanalytic theory and treatment to the community at large

15. Continued…
G. Focus on essential components of psychological propositions
H. Shift from self-report to narrative data (e.g., AAI)
I. Focus on narrative process rather than narrative content
J. Technique and theory loosely related

16. VIII. Psychoanalytic Theories as Reifications of Consumerism (Cushman)
The Self of Winnicott and Kohut
dependent on development
independent of history
independent of culture
B. Features of self
masterful and bounded (autonomous)
emotionally expressive
attention-seeking
entitled
self-centered

17. Continued… C. Deficit model of self
developmental arrest
incomplete internalization
empty self
D. Empty self targeted to be filled up or fulfilled by appealing to special, unique qualities (true self)
consuming equated with becoming full
unleashing of unactualized potential

18. Continued…
E. Psychoanalytic theories support prevailing social and economic trends
reification of bourgeois, Western values
perpetuation of status quo
introjection and projection are symbolic of consumption and disposal
universality of the development of the self implies the Western self is ahistorical, acultural, and normative
deficits in self are created by parental failures, not consequences of political and economic structures
commodification of self-structures--consumption of empathic selfobject to fill up the emptiness

19. Continued… F. Flaws with Cushman’s argument
Psychoanalytic theories are depicting symptoms of an empty culture, not prescribing them
Individual differences exist in spite of having a consumer culture in common