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The Idea of Projective Identification-Metatheory and Treatment Technique

Received: 26 July 2022     Accepted: 4 November 2022     Published: 16 November 2022
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Abstract

Background: Projective identification is a term widely used in the psychoanalytic literature to describe primary and unconscious communication, usually between two individuals. The process is of high clinical relevance, especially in the therapy of borderline conditions, although the individual mechanisms are unclear. An important aspect of projective identification is a bodily experience. Current questions are how this bodily experience arising from the countertransference can be used therapeutically. Methods: The research is based on experience with supervisions, results of scientific research and psychodynamic literature. Results: We are aware that the term projective identification is quite commonly used to support the impression, the bodily feelings of the therapist are induced by the patient. In the following, based on Ogden's concept we will try to determine the model much finer than the three-phasic one and give it a general experimental empirical psychological basis. This will be undermined with two clinical case vignettes. A further clarification of its general psychological foundations that goes back to Freud will be tried. It will be shown that the use of the concept of mirror neurons as an explanation poses equal questions. Conclusion: Projective identification is a complex transdisciplinary concept that should be further explored from both a psychodynamic and neurobiological point of view. Bodily experiences certainly form the basis of projective projection. This should be taken into account in further scientific investigations.

Published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 10, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12
Page(s) 169-175
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Affect Exchange, Facial Affect, Clinical Case Studies, Projective Identification, Metaanalytic Theories

References
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  • APA Style

    Krause Rainer, Goetzmann Lutz, Ruettner Barbara. (2022). The Idea of Projective Identification-Metatheory and Treatment Technique. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 10(4), 169-175. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12

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    ACS Style

    Krause Rainer; Goetzmann Lutz; Ruettner Barbara. The Idea of Projective Identification-Metatheory and Treatment Technique. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2022, 10(4), 169-175. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12

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    AMA Style

    Krause Rainer, Goetzmann Lutz, Ruettner Barbara. The Idea of Projective Identification-Metatheory and Treatment Technique. Am J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2022;10(4):169-175. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12,
      author = {Krause Rainer and Goetzmann Lutz and Ruettner Barbara},
      title = {The Idea of Projective Identification-Metatheory and Treatment Technique},
      journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
      volume = {10},
      number = {4},
      pages = {169-175},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20221004.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20221004.12},
      abstract = {Background: Projective identification is a term widely used in the psychoanalytic literature to describe primary and unconscious communication, usually between two individuals. The process is of high clinical relevance, especially in the therapy of borderline conditions, although the individual mechanisms are unclear. An important aspect of projective identification is a bodily experience. Current questions are how this bodily experience arising from the countertransference can be used therapeutically. Methods: The research is based on experience with supervisions, results of scientific research and psychodynamic literature. Results: We are aware that the term projective identification is quite commonly used to support the impression, the bodily feelings of the therapist are induced by the patient. In the following, based on Ogden's concept we will try to determine the model much finer than the three-phasic one and give it a general experimental empirical psychological basis. This will be undermined with two clinical case vignettes. A further clarification of its general psychological foundations that goes back to Freud will be tried. It will be shown that the use of the concept of mirror neurons as an explanation poses equal questions. Conclusion: Projective identification is a complex transdisciplinary concept that should be further explored from both a psychodynamic and neurobiological point of view. Bodily experiences certainly form the basis of projective projection. This should be taken into account in further scientific investigations.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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    T2  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JF  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JO  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
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    AB  - Background: Projective identification is a term widely used in the psychoanalytic literature to describe primary and unconscious communication, usually between two individuals. The process is of high clinical relevance, especially in the therapy of borderline conditions, although the individual mechanisms are unclear. An important aspect of projective identification is a bodily experience. Current questions are how this bodily experience arising from the countertransference can be used therapeutically. Methods: The research is based on experience with supervisions, results of scientific research and psychodynamic literature. Results: We are aware that the term projective identification is quite commonly used to support the impression, the bodily feelings of the therapist are induced by the patient. In the following, based on Ogden's concept we will try to determine the model much finer than the three-phasic one and give it a general experimental empirical psychological basis. This will be undermined with two clinical case vignettes. A further clarification of its general psychological foundations that goes back to Freud will be tried. It will be shown that the use of the concept of mirror neurons as an explanation poses equal questions. Conclusion: Projective identification is a complex transdisciplinary concept that should be further explored from both a psychodynamic and neurobiological point of view. Bodily experiences certainly form the basis of projective projection. This should be taken into account in further scientific investigations.
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Author Information
  • Saarland Institute of Psychoanalysis, German Psychoanalytic Society, Saarbrucken, Germany

  • Institute of Philosophy, Psychoanalysis and Cultural Studies, Berlin and University of Luebeck, Germany

  • Department of Clinical Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

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