Infant crying and parent–infant interaction: Theory and measurement

Infant crying is frequently quantified as a primary dependent variable in studies where the goal is to understand and soothe infant crying within the context of the parent–infant relationship. Through a historical review and an examination of studies and measurement techniques, the utility of quantifying infant crying is discussed. Although duration and timing of infant crying may be a practical concern for families and health professionals, the effectiveness of soothing interventions may not be best examined by attempts to measure unit reductions in infant crying. Rather, developing an understanding of infant crying within the context of parent–infant relationships may have more utility. Understanding infant crying in context may provide direction to the selection of soothing interventions and to more appropriate measures of the effectiveness of such interventions. ©1999 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.     

Spiritual Bypass: A Preliminary Investigation

The phenomenon of spiritual bypass has received limited attention in the transpersonal psychology and counseling literature and has not been subjected to empirical inquiry. This study examines the phenomenon of spiritual bypass by considering how spirituality, mindfulness, alexithymia (emotional restrictiveness), and narcissism work together to influence depression and anxiety among college students. Results suggested that mindfulness and alexithymia accounted for variance in depression beyond what is accounted for by spirituality and that all 3 factors (mindfulness, alexithymia, and narcissism) accounted for variance in anxiety beyond what is accounted for by spirituality. Implications for counselors are provided.     

A.G.P.A. News

Clinical observations regarding themes and roles that are characteristic of short-term, psychoanalytically oriented therapy groups for loss patients are presented. They reflect aspects of both the therapy and the patients. Themes refer to the content of a recurrent conflict in the group. They include trust, survivor guilt, mortality, and termination. Roles refer to a set of patient behaviors that represent a shared conflict. They include the apparition, monk, professor, professional nurturer, emotional conductor, and cruise director. Challenges that the themes and roles present to the therapist and clinical guidelines for addressing them are offered. Awareness of characteristic themes and roles and possible therapist responses are regarded as important parts of the preparation and training of therapists who plan to conduct short-term loss groups.     

A Comparison of Selected Behaviors of Identical Twins,One Blind from Birth

The purpose of this study was to compare differences in mental-emotional, fine perceptual-motor and gross motor behaviors of a set of 13 year-old identical twins, one of whom was blind from birth. In general, the blind twin was superior in performances where total body involvements were minimal and fine manipulative movements of the hands and/or fingers were stressed. The blind twin also appeared to be more well-adjusted emotionally than the sighted twin.     

Introductory commentary

Abstract

Harriet Pappenheim. Einführender Kommentar.

Seit zwanzig Jahren führte die Postgraduate Psychoanalytic Society jedes Jahr eine Konferenz durch, zu der die Psychoanalytiker der Umgebung eingeladen wurden. Gut bekannte Gelehrte und Kliniker aus den Vereinigten Staaten wurden zum Vortragen ihrer Arbeiten eingeladen. Die Schwerpunkte waren auf neue, im Entstehen begriffene Aspekte der Psychoanalyse gerichtet, die nach unserer Meinung weiter studiert und beleuchtet werden sollten.

Harriet Pappenheim. Un Comentario introductorio

En cada uno de los últimos veinte años, la Postgraduate Psychoanalytic Society ha organizado la Conferencia Científica Anual en la ciudad de Nueva York a la cual la comunidad psicoanalítica del área ha sido invitada. Clínicos y colegiales prestigiados de todas partes de Estados Unidos han sido invitados a presentar trabajos y en todas las conferencias el foco ha sido las nuevas áreas que van emergiendo en psicoanalisis, que desde nuestro punto de vista, requirieron mayor elucidación y estudio.     

Sitting With Eros and Psyche on a Buddhist Psychoanalyst's Cushion

This paper's psychoanalytic view of love rests on the assumption that adult erotic life has its origins in the early mother/baby sensual/relational matrix. Under optimal conditions, erotic sensuality is enlivened by developing capacity for empathy so that passionate pleasure involves mutuality and intersubjective attunement compatible with Buddhist views of interbeing and compassion.     

Breakthroughs and Phallacies: Commentary on Paper by Dianne Elise

This is the third in a series of papers comparing the work of three contemporary theorists, each of whom is associated with the intersubjective turn in psychoanalysis: Jessica Benjamin (Gerhardt, Sweetnam, and Borton, 2000), Christopher Bollas (Gerhardt and Sweetnam 2001), and Darlene Ehrenberg. This paper describes aspects of the work of Ehrenberg and attempts to show how her trailblazing ideas of the therapeutic relationship and its nuanced particularities bear on issues in intersubjectivity theory. Ehrenberg's distinctive twist lies in her painstaking exploration of the processes of mutual influence in the ongoing therapeutic interaction and their bearing on the analytic process. The manner in which Ehrenberg attempts to integrate both interpersonal and intrapsychic perspectives and uses the interpersonal as a way of locating the intrapsychic is another focus of this inquiry. Moreover, the sense conveyed through Ehrenberg's voice—a voice both sensuous and strident, tender and provocative—in her attempt to make living, breathing contact in the moment with patients otherwise deadened to their own desire is also examined as bearing on issues associated with the intersubjective turn. While our own authorial positioning is never quite declared, our object relational biases exert their influence throughout our reading of her work, not surprising for a paper on intersubjectivity.