Nonlinear concepts from chaos theory, complexity studies, and fractal geometry have transformed the way we think about the mind. Nonlinear Psychoanalysis shows how nonlinear dynamics can be integrated with psychoanalytic thinking to shed new light on psychological development, therapeutic processes, and fundamental psychoanalytic concepts. Starting with a personal history of the author’s engagement with nonlinear dynamics and psychoanalysis, this book describes how his approach applies to diagnosis of psychological conditions, concepts of normal and pathological development, gender, research methods, and finally the theory and practice of psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy. This book is full of new ideas about the basic nonlinear processes of human development, nonlinear views of gender and fundamental psychoanalytic process like working through, and the nature of the therapeutic process as conceptualized in terms of the theory of coupled oscillators. Galatzer-Levy questions many standard psychoanalytic formulations and points to a freer practice of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic thinking. His new approach opens the reader’s eyes to ways in which development and treatment can occur through processes not now included in standard psychoanalytic theory. The book not only provides useful theories but also helps readers take note of commonly passed over phenomena that were unseen for lack of a theory to explain them. Galatzer-Levy brings an unusual combination of training in psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and mathematics to this unique study, which summarizes his forty years of exploration of nonlinearity and psychoanalysis. Nonlinear Psychoanalysis will appeal to psychoanalysts and psychotherapists as well as students of nonlinear dynamics systems.

Nonlinear concepts from chaos theory, complexity studies, and fractal geometry have transformed the way we think about the mind. Nonlinear Psychoanalysis shows how nonlinear dynamics can be integrated with psychoanalytic thinking to shed new light on psychological development, therapeutic processes, and fundamental psychoanalytic concepts. Starting with a personal history of the author’s engagement with nonlinear dynamics and psychoanalysis, this book describes how his approach applies to diagnosis of psychological conditions, concepts of normal and pathological development, gender, research methods, and finally the theory and practice of psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy. This book is full of new ideas about the basic nonlinear processes of human development, nonlinear views of gender and fundamental psychoanalytic process like working through, and the nature of the therapeutic process as conceptualized in terms of the theory of coupled oscillators. Galatzer-Levy questions many standard psychoanalytic formulations and points to a freer practice of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic thinking. His new approach opens the reader’s eyes to ways in which development and treatment can occur through processes not now included in standard psychoanalytic theory. The book not only provides useful theories but also helps readers take note of commonly passed over phenomena that were unseen for lack of a theory to explain them. Galatzer-Levy brings an unusual combination of training in psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and mathematics to this unique study, which summarizes his forty years of exploration of nonlinearity and psychoanalysis. Nonlinear Psychoanalysis will appeal to psychoanalysts and psychotherapists as well as students of nonlinear dynamics systems.

This volume focuses on the modeling of cognition, and brings together contributions from psychologists and researchers in the field of cognitive science. The shared platform of this work is to advocate a dynamical systems approach to cognition. Several aspects of this approach are considered here: chaos theory, artificial intelligence and Alfie models, catastrophe theory and, most importantly, self-organization theory or synergetics. The application of nonlinear systems theory to cognitive science in general, and to cognitive psychology in particular, is a growing field that has gained further momentum thanks to new contributions from the science of robotics. The recent development in cognitive science towards an account of embodiment, together with the general approach of complexity theory and dynamics, will have a major impact on our psychological understanding of reasoning, thinking and behavior. Contents: Theory and Concepts:Synergetics and Some Applications to Psychology (H Haken)Defending the Dynamical Hypothesis (T van Gelder)From Continuous Dynamics to Symbols (H Jaeger)On Measures for Order and Its Relation to Complexity (J Shiner et al.)Synergetics of Human Creativity (H Knyazeva & H Haken)Dynamical Concepts in Cognitive Psychology:Situated Cognition, Ecological Perception, and Synergetics: A Novel Perspective for Cognitive Psychology? (W Tschacher & J-P Dauwalder)Attitudes and the Self as Self-Organising Systems (R Eiser)An Affect-Centered Model of the Psyche and Its Consequences for a New Understanding of Nonlinear Psychodynamics (L Ciompi)Formation and Adaptation of Schemata (T Bröcker & J Kriz)Simulations of Stagewise Development with a Symbolic Architecture (F Gobet)Autonomous Agents:The Embodied Cognitive Science Approach (C Scheier & R Pfeifer)A Computational Model of Spatial Development (K Hiraki et al.)Societies of Autonomous Agents and Their Reorganization (N Glaser & P Morignot)Investigations into Internal and External Aspects of Dynamic Agent-Environment Couplings (K Dautenhahn)A Formal Theory of Collective Intelligence (W Sulis)Empirical Studies:The Detection of Catastrophe Flags in Personally Relevant Decisions (M Coulson & S Nunn)Synergetic Organization in Speech Rhythm (F Cummins)Exploring the Dynamics of Personality Change with Time Series Models (F Keller et al.)Hierarchical Dynamics Affecting Work Performance in Organizations (S J Guastello) Readership: Psychologists, cognitive scientists, computer scientists, philosophers and biologists. Keywords:Artificial Intelligence (AI);Autonomous Agents;(Embodied) Cognition;(Situated) Cognition;Dynamical Systems;Dynamics;Embodiment;Psychology;Robot;Self-Organization;Synergetics

This book is concerned with whether we can develop our understanding of the mind through the application of new approaches to the study of complex systems. It is divided into two sections. The first is concerned with the application of non-linear systems theory to the psychoanalytic study of the mind. The second is concerned with the technical application of the ideas of chaos theory to the understanding of therapeutic action and psychic change. It concludes with a consideration of the research and clinical implications of considering the mind as a non-linear system.

This compelling collection illuminates new models and metaphors taken from the contemporary sciences and philosophical thought to revitalize and recontextualize psychoanalysis for the 21st century. The exploration of quantum mechanics, chaos and complexity theory, epigenetics, and neuropsychoanalysis provides the reader with new layers of meaning and understanding that in turn lead to an enriching of psychoanalytic theory and a deepening of experience in the consulting office. The intersection of psychoanalysis, contemporary sciences, and philosophy leads the reader to new worlds that can transform the lens from which one views the psychoanalytic process. Written for psychoanalysts and psychotherapists, as well as scholars of psychoanalysis that are interested in the intersection of psychoanalysis, contemporary science, and philosophy, Enriching Psychoanalysis: Integrating Concepts from Contemporary Science and Philosophy expands the focus and meaning of current psychoanalytic theory and practice.

Psychoanalysis in an Age of Accelerating Cultural Change: Spiritual Globalization addresses the current status of mental health work in the public and private sectors. The careful, thorough, approach to the individual person characteristic of psychoanalysis is mostly the province of an affluent few. Meanwhile, community-based mental health treatment, given shrinking budgets, tends to emphasize medication and short-term therapies. In an increasingly diverse society, considerations of culture in mental health treatment are given short shrift, despite obligatory nods to cultural competence. The field of mental health has suffered from the mutual isolation of psychoanalysis, community-based clinical work, and cultural studies. Here, Neil Altman shows how these areas of study and practice require and enrich each other - the field of psychoanalysis benefits by engaging marginalized communities; community-based clinical work benefits from psychoanalytic concepts, while all forms of clinical work benefit from awareness of culture. Including reports of clinical experiences and programmatic developments from around the world, its international scope explores the operation of culture and cultural differences in conceptions of mental health. In addition the book addresses the origin and treatment of mental illness, from notions of spirit possession treated by shamans, to conceptions of psychic trauma, to biological understandings and pharmacological treatments. In the background of this discussion is globalization, the impact of which is tracked in terms of its psychological effects on people, as well as on the resources and programs available to provide psychological care around the world. As a unique examination of current mental health work, this book will appeal to psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, community-based mental health workers, and students in Cultural Studies. Neil Altman is a psychoanalytic psychologist, Visiting Professor at Ambedkar University of Delhi, India, and faculty and supervisor at the William Alanson White Institute. He is an Honorary Member of the William Alanson White Society and Editor Emeritus of Psychoanalytic Dialogues. Author of The Analyst in the Inner City: Race, Class, and Culture through a Psychoanalytic Lens (Routledge, 2nd edition, 2010)

Psychoanalysis, Neuroscience and Adolescent Development: Non-Linear Perspectives on the Regulation of the Self explores how psychoanalysis can combine its theoretical perspectives with more recent discoveries about neurological and non-linear developmental processes that unfold during the period of puberty to young adulthood, to help inform understanding of contemporary adolescent behaviours and mental health issues. With the powerful impact of neuroscience research findings, opportunities emerge to create a new paradigm to attempt to organize specific psychoanalytic theories. Neurobiological regulation offers such an opportunity. By combining elements of domains of compatible knowledge into a flexible explanatory synergy, the potential for an intellectually satisfying theoretical framework can be created. In this work, Harold Bendicsen formulates a multi-disciplinary theoretical approach involving current research and drawing on neuroscience to consider the behaviour regulation processes of the mind/brain and the capacities and potential it brings to understanding the development of adolescents and young adults. Psychoanalysis, Neuroscience and Adolescent Development advances Bendicsen’s study of adolescence and the transition to young adulthood, begun in The Transformational Self. It will be of great interest to psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists, as well as psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatrists and counsellors.