Paper Session C
2. Toward a Model of Contemporary
Child Psychoanalysis
Presenter:
Sally Howard, PhD, PsyD
Chair and Discussant:
Estelle Shane, PhD
Self Psychology Page | 20th Conference Program
This paper presents an application of developmental nonlinear systems self psychology (Shane, Shane, and Gales, in press) to child psychoanalysis. The model blends important notions of nonlinear dynamic systems theory, neurobiology, attachment theory and self psychology. I begin with a historical overview of early child analysis. Using Freud's (1909) little Hans case, I posit that Hans' father's treatment of Hans through Freud's instruction, constituted a systems analysis. I further postulate that the success of the analysis was due to Hans' development of a more secure attachment to his father, which allowed for integration and articulation of unconscious material. This section includes a brief overview of Edelman's (1992) neurobiological theory of consciousness and the unconscious as an alternative to Freud's theory of instinct. I then provide a brief summary of the child analytic theories of Melanie Klein and Anna Freud, as examples of early Kleinian and early classical work, respectively. I argue that Anna Freud anticipates a more contemporary model of child analysis.
The second section of my paper discusses nonlinear dynamic systems theory (Thelan and Smith, 1993) as applied to human development and child analysis. The idea of a systems self emerges from this theory. The analyst's relationship with the child is unique to the two systems selves interacting in the dyed at that moment. The analyst's goal is to facilitate optimal development within the analytic hour, but might also include addressing other components in the child's state space, such as family. I follow this with a review of attachment theory, the neurobiology of attachment, and intergenerational transmission of attachment patterns.
Lastly, I apply these ideas to a child analytic case, who insisted her mother come into treatment with her. I formulate that she is an insecurely attached child, evidenced by affective and behavioral dysregulation and that this attachment pattern reflects an intergenerational transmission of attachment pattern through the affect interchange of the family. In addition to the analysis with the child, which was characterized by alter ego transference, I provided selfobject functions to the parents. This experience allowed them to develop their capacity to attune to Amy, creating in her, a more secure attachment.