Metaphor-based psychoanalysis

The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Estimated number of publications in the

last three decades 40’000

The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Estimated number of publications in the

last three decades 40’000 Cognitive science fields involved in research,

publications, and conferences Linguistics Philosophy Computer sciences Psychology Psychoanalysis

The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Number of publications Cognitive science fields involved in

metaphor research, publications, and conferences Linguistics Philosophy increasingly Computer sciences conclude Psychology Psychoanalysis

The Brain functions

metaphorically

The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Number of publications Cognitive science fields involved in metaphor

research, publications, and conferences Linguistics Philosophy increasingly Computer sciences conclude Psychology Psychoanalysis

Reasons for increasing importance:

The Brain functions

metaphorically

The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Number of publications Cognitive science fields involved in metaphor

research, publications, and conferences Linguistics Philosophy increasingly Computer sciences conclude Psychology Psychoanalysis

Reasons for increasing importance: Increasing interdisciplinary work regarding the

understanding of the mind Driven by computer sciences’ attempts to emulate

the functioning of the mind : knowledge harvesting rather than data collecting

The Brain functions

metaphorically

Main task addressed in this presentation

Assuming that

1. Psychoanalysis is central to understanding the mind’s functioning

2. The mind works metaphorically

TASK

How do we revise psychoanalytic theory from a metaphoric point of view

without sacrificing its essential achievements ?

PSYCHODYNAMICS

CURRENTCENTRAL CONCEPTS

Transference Defense Interpretation

SUGGESTED CENTRAL CONCEPTS

Time Metaphor


organizing

In view of the importance of TIME

1) Recast from a temporal point of view

Metaphor to a

present/past

past/present



Metaphor to Temporal Metaphor

Interpretation Transference




2) Recast from a Temporal Metaphor point of view Interpretat

ion Transference




2) Recast from a Temporal Metaphor point of view

Interpretation into Transference into

Defense into






Interpretation into Temporal Metaphor = present/past

Transference into Temporal Metaphor = past/present

Defense into Temporal Metaphor =






Interpretation into Temporal Metaphor = present/past

Transference into Temporal Metaphor = past/present

Defense into Temporal Metaphor =


Explanation of terms used in this presentation

TERMS USED

‘The present’

‘The past’

TO EXPRESS

Present mentation or experience

Past mentation or experience


TERMS

= “Defense Complex”

REFERRING TO

Defending part of defense

Defended against part of defense


TERMS

= “Defense Complex”Or shortened:

REFERRING TO




TERMS

= “Defense”

REFERRING TO



How the terms are used in this presentation

TERM

‘Transference’

‘Interpretation’

TEMPORAL SENSE GIVEN HERE

Interpretation of the present by the past

Interpretation of the past by the present

The definition of metaphor

Metaphor is an equation of two ordinarily

not equatable entities (source and target)

located in different domains

The definition of metonymy


not equated entities (source and target)

located in the same domains

The definition of metaphor


not equatable entities (source and target)


“Juliet is the sun” (domains: humans + celestial bodies)

Metaphor = “ in terms of ”

Phrase indicating a metaphor :

“ in terms of ”

“Juliet is seen in terms of the sun”

“Life is seen in terms of a journey”

The definition and examples of metonymy

Metonymy is an equation of two entities

located in the same domain

“The liver goes to operating room 3” “All hands on board” “He drank the bottle”

Phrases indicating a metonymy: “stands for”, “belongs to”, “is part of”

Phrases connecting source and target indicating metaphor or metonymy

METAPHOR

“in terms of”

“Juliet seen in terms of the sun”

“Life understood in terms of a journey”

METONYMY

“stands for”, “belongs to”, “is part of”

The liver belongs to patient going to operating room 3

All hands stands for sailors to go on board

He drank the bottle = wine as part of the bottle

Linguistic, conceptual, and temporal concepts of metaphor


Linguistics: Linguistic metaphor, BASED ON LANGUAGE

Cognitive sciences: Conceptual metaphor, BASED ON THOUGHT

Psychoanalysis: Temporal metaphor, BASED ON TIME


Conceptual:Metaphor is an equation of thought entities

rather than language entities. THOUGHT NOT

LANGUAGE

Example:“The New Testament relates metaphorically to

the Old Testament: Christ’s death and resurrection relates metaphorically to the original sin and its forgiveness”


Temporal: Regardless of content and use the quality of

the temporal relationship is intrinsically

metaphorical in the optimal functioning Mind: The present is the same and not the same as the past. We understand them in terms of each othe

TIMENOT THOUGHT NOR LANGUAGE

Example:Today is informed by yesterday: it is the same and not

the same; one can be understood (in an underdetermined way) in terms of the other.

Examples of linguistic, conceptual, and temporal concepts of metaphor Linguistic:

LANGUAGE

Conceptual: USE OF THOUGHT

NOT LANGUAGE

Temporal: TIME NOT

LANGUAGE OR THOUGHT

Life is a journey

Christ’s death is metaphorically related to the original sin

Adulthood understood in terms of childhood

Neurosis

Trauma leads to a loss of metaphoricity. As a consequence past and present relate rigidly (metonymically) to each other rather than informing each other.

Neurotic defense (the present) comes metonymically to stand for the defended against (the past). The past evokes a rigid defense, thus over-determining the present rather than just informing it

Phrases connecting source and target indicating metaphor or metonymy

METAPHOR = SOURCE/TARGET INTERACTING

METONYMY= SOURCE/TARGET NOT INTERACTING

Healthy Defense

“in terms of”

past and present interact

in terms ofeach other

Neurotic Defense

“stands for”

past and present rigidly

standing for each other

Are psychodynamic concepts relevant for

the treatment setting? general psychology?

TREATMENT SETTING

Transference

Interpretation

Defense

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

Could these

psychodynamic phenomena

belong to the mind’s

normal functioning ?

Are psychodynamic concepts relevant forthe treatment setting? general psychology?

TREATMENT SETTING

Transference from analysand to

analyst as ongoing

interpretation of the present by the past

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

Transference intrapsychic

as ongoing interpretation of the present by the past

Are psychodynamic concepts relevant forthe treatment setting? general psychology?

TREATMENT SETTING

Interpretation by the analyst interpreting the past

from and by the present

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

Interpretation intrapsychic interpreting the past

from and by the present

Psychodynamic concepts relevant inthe treatment setting in general psychologyTREATMENT SETTING

Defense (as defending and

defended against)

Interpretation of transference

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

Defense:

interpretation of intrapsychic transference

Psychodynamic concepts relevant forthe treatment setting ? general psychology ?

TREATMENT

Transference

Interpretation

Defense

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY Intrapsychic Transference

Intrapsychic Interpretation

Intrapsychic Defense

O n

g o

i n g

d y

n

a m

i c s

Psychoanalytic Practice versus Theory

PRACTICE

We understand the present transference in terms of the past

we understand the past in terms of the present transference

THEORY

This central part of psychoanalytic

practice

Is not sufficiently integrated by

its theory

Moving from content to time

Language and Thought Content –centered domains

Metaphor is a an equation of two conventionallynot equatable entities (source and target)


Time-centered domainsIn psychoanalysis the intrinsically different domains of metaphor are

temporal ones: e.g., past and present

Functions of linguistic and temporal metaphors

Influencing Informing Modeling and

Searching Interpreting Actualizing Changing Familiarizing

Forming new category

Keeping at bay (new category

organization from old category organization)

Psychoanalytic concepts viewed from a temporal point of view

PRESENT TO PAST


Interpreting

Insight (updating)

Curing

Repression

Remembering

Regressing

PAST TO PRESENT

Defended part of defense

Transference

Insight (actualizing)

Childhood neurosis

Return of the repressed

Memories

Fixation

Aspects of all temporal metaphors suggesting their synonymity

Influencing Informing Modeling and

Searching Interpreting Actualizing Changing Familiarizing

Forming new category

Keeping at bay (new category

organization from old category organization)

Psychoanalytic terms viewed as potential synonyms regarding

their temporal function

POTENTIAL SYNONYMS (PRESENT TO PAST)


Interpreting

Insight (updating)

Curing

Repression

Remembering

Regressing

POTENTIAL SYNONYMS(PAST TO PRESENT)

Defended part of defense

Transference

Insight (actualizing)

Childhood neurosis

Return of the repressed

Memories

Fixation

Corresponding aspects between linguistic and temporal metaphors

LINGUISTIC

Interpreting of one domain by another domain.( Life is a journey)

Transferring aspects of the source to the target

Maintaining tension, holding source at bay from the target while still relating to it

TEMPORAL

Interpreting of one temporal domain by another temporal domain.

Transferring: aspects of the past (source) transferred to the present (target)

Maintaining tension, holding past as source at bay from the present as target while remembering the former

Aspects of temporal metaphors as used by psychoanalytic terms

TEMPORAL METAPHORS

Interpreting of one temporal domain by another temporal domain.

Transferring: aspects of the past (source) transferred to the present (target)

Maintaining tension, holding past at bay from the present while remembering it

PSYCHOANALYTIC TERM

‘INTERPRETATION’. Interpretation of past by

present.

‘TRANSFERENCE’ Interpretation of present by past .

‘DEFENSE’ (as the defending part of defense)

The holding at bay of previous organizations of issues while remembering them.

Synonymous functions of psychodynamic concepts regarding their functioning in time

Highlight synonymous functions of our psychodynamic concepts even though differing in temporal direction of influence

Interpretation Temporal Metaphor =present/past Transference Temporal Metaphor =

past/present

Defense Temporal Metaphor = present/past + past/present

Aspects of temporal metaphors

Therefore Interpreting TransferringDefendingAre all functions of all temporal

metaphors.

This establishes the basic synonymity between the psychodynamic concepts transference, interpretation, and defense

Healthy and neurotic forms of temporal metaphors

HALTHY = METAPHOR

Past and Present INFORM

each other like source and target of a

metaphor

NEUROTIC = METONYMY

Past and present DETERMINE

each other like source and target of

a

metonymy

Healthy and neurotic forms of temporal metaphors

METAPHOR INFORMS

INTERPRETATION informs past

TRANSFERENCE informs present

DEFENSE Defending and

defended against inform each other

METONYMY STANDS FOR = DETERMINES

INTERPRETATION Does not inform past thus

determines it as immutable

TRANSFERENCE Does not inform but

determines present as repetition

DEFENSE Defending and defended

against can not inform but determine each other by standing for each other

Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic psychology ?

SYMPTOM – CENTERED VIEW


No generalization to dynamic psychology of the mind outside treatment setting

Psychoanalysis has little standing in academia

TEMPORAL METAPHOR-CENTERED VIEW


Generalization from treatment to general psychology becomes possible

Chance to improve academic standing

Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic

psychology ?

SYMPTOM - CENTERED Psychodynamic terms

centered on treatment setting

Transference and interpretation are phenomena, in the main, reserved for the treatment setting

CENTERED – ON GENERAL PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING

Psychodynamic terms centered on general psychological functioning

Transference and interpretation seen as part of general psychological functioning, including in the treatment setting


CONVENTIONAL VIEW


Time implicitly and not centrally integrated in theory



Time explicitly and centrally integrated in theory


CONVENTIONAL VIEW


Not primarily defined in terms of relations between the present and the past



Primarily defined in terms of relations between the present and the past

The three main psychodynamic concepts transference, defense, interpretation

CONVENTIONAL VIEW

Transference Interpretation

Not extended beyond treatment setting


Transference Interpretation

Extended beyond treatment setting as

Intrapsychic transference

Intrapsychic interpretation

The three main psychodynamic concepts transference, defense, interpretation

CONVENTIONAL VIEW

Transference

Neurotic enactment of past unconscious conflicts transferred to the analyst and experienced in terms of a now relevant relationship


Intrapsychic transference

Ongoing interpretation of the present by the past, in and outside the treatment setting – neurotic or healthy, conscious or unconscious

Psychodynamic concepts relevant for

TREATMENT SETTING

Transference

(from analysand to analyst)

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

Intrapsychic - Transference

as ongoing interpretation of present by the past

Summary

TREATMENT SETTING

Transference Observed in the

treatment setting Interpretation Carried out by the analyst

Defense Healthy : “Sublimation”

Neurotic: Mentation used to bar unconscious conflicts from becoming conscious

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

Transference Ubiquitous phenomenon in

and outside the treatment setting

Interpretation Carried out by the mind in an

ongoing way as a reinterpretation of the past

Defense Healthy: Present and past

interpret each other Neurotic: When the

present can not interpret the past the analysts interpretation is needed

Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic psychology

?

CONVENTIONAL VIEW


These concepts are only functionally

related to each other



These concepts are related not only

functionally but more closely as aspects of each other

The quality of the temporal relationship

HEALTHY PAST PRESENT RELATIONSHIPS ARE OF METAPHORICAL QUALITY

Transference

Informing present

Defense

The defending part and the defended against part

inform each other in an ongoing way

Interpretation The present updates and thus

changes the narrative influence the past has on the present

NEUROTIC PAST PRESENT RELATIONSHIPS ARE OF METONYMICAL QUALITY

Transference

Determining present

Defense

The defending part stands for the defended-against part. No mutual informing

possible.

Interpretation intrapsychic interpretation can

not reach the unknown (repressed) past. The analyst’s interpretation is needed

Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic psychology

?

TEMPORAL METAPHOR-CENTERED TREATMENT

Analyst’s interpretation

Interpretation is metaphorizing lost metaphoricity

TEMPORAL METAPHOR-CENTERED GENERAL FUNCTIONING

Intrapsychic interpretation

Interpretation is metaphorizing lost metaphoricity

Structure of healthy defenseWe are using the interpreting aspect of metaphor

which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in terms of

past experience; the past is understood in terms of present

transference experience.

SUMMARY:

1. Present interprets metaphorically the past2. = Interpretation3. The past interprets metaphorically the

present4. =Transference

Structure of healthy defense

We are using the interpreting aspect of metaphor which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in

terms of past experience; the past is understood in terms of present


SUMMARY:

1. = Interpretation

2. =Transference


which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in



SUMMARY:

1. = Interpretation2. of3. =Transference


SUMMARY:

= Interpretation of

Transference





SUMMARY:

1. Present interpretation of the past2. The past interprets metaphorically the

present





SUMMARY:

1. Present interpretation of the past2. The past interprets metaphorically the

present


which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in terms of

past experience; the past is understood in terms of present


SUMMARY:

1. Present interprets metaphorically the past2. = Interpretation3. The past interprets metaphorically the

present4. =Transference


The past informs metaphorically the presentThe present interprets metaphorically the past

Defense is Interpretation of Transference

1. Metaphor and Metonymy

2. Defense, Interpretation, and Transference are all Temporal Metaphors (when functioning optimally) or Temporal Metonymies (when functioning sub-optimally)

3. Suggested Theoretical Integration

4. Summary and Outlook

Interpretation

Articulates present +

past

Transference

Articulates past + present

DefenseArticulates

interpretation + transference

First order

First order

Second order

First and second order temporal metaphors

Second order metaphor defense

First order metaphor

transference past – present

experiences

First order metaphor

interpretation present –

past experiences

Scaling of fractal hierarchy of temporal metaphors

Narrative Defense

Defending Interpretation

Present experiences interpret

Past experiences

Defended against interpretation = transference

Past experiences interpret

Present experiences

Second order articulation

First order articulation

Superego + Ego

ID Received view

Superego+Ego +Id

Superego+Ego + Id

Suggested view

Defending part Defended against part

PRESENT

PAST

AGENCIES AT WAR

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Metaphor-based psychoanalysis