1. On becoming a thou: Discussion of Steven Stern's "Breathing together: Needed relationships and complex selfobjects" and Daniel Goldin's "Empathy on a continuum".
- Author
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Kottler, Amanda
- Subjects
EMPATHY ,DEVELOPMENTAL psychology ,PATIENTS' attitudes ,RESPIRATION ,APARTHEID ,DEHUMANIZATION ,PSYCHOANALYSTS - Abstract
This article discusses two papers by Steven Stern and Daniel Goldin that delve into the concepts of selfobject experience and empathy in psychoanalysis. The author highlights the need to explicitly articulate implicit theoretical concepts and acknowledges the influence of subjectivity and sociocultural positioning on understanding these concepts. Stern's paper explores the idea of a complex selfobject experience and introduces the notions of fittedness and specificity of connection. The author relates Stern's ideas to their own work on twinship experiences. The article also addresses the dangers of dehumanizing others through objectification and reductionism, both in clinical practice and in broader societal contexts. The concept of empathy and its role in therapy are also discussed. The author examines the ideas presented in two other papers, one by Stern and one by Goldin, and reflects on how these ideas relate to the issue of difference. The author suggests that empathy involves recognizing both similarities and differences between individuals, and that therapy can only be effective when these aspects are acknowledged and embraced. The author also advocates for a more self-aware and less ethnocentric approach to therapy in order to better address issues of difference. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024
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