The Symbolic Object

Abstract

The term “symbolic object” is introduced as a way to understand the moments between analyst and patient where “something” new and dynamic emerges within the dyadic relationship. The symbolic object is the bridge between the idealized, all-good object and symbolization proper. The intrapsychic atmosphere between self and object representations is in a relatively non-conflicted state during this process. By reformulating the Nirvana principle and the principle of constancy as ways in which the organism economically strives for the most organized and homoeostatic state possible, the infant or adult can be seen to be searching for the position of lowest unpleasure possible. This is the optimum balance between the libidinal and aggressive forces in the self and object representational field. These moments of “truce” between often highly conflicted phantasies usher in a more refined use of projective identification as a form of intrapsychic/interpersonal communication. This is a particular atmosphere from which both parties, within the projective/introjective, back-and-forth dyadic world, can begin to co-create and rediscover assorted amalgams of self and object functioning. This newly awakened psychic entity is the symbolic object. This outgrowth of something fresh to the dyadic orbit is a mutative moment that propels the relationship into a different direction. Within the pairing of minds, a novel and mutual understanding is produced. Both parties share this new symbolic object and each is shaped by it.     

Foot Position Tends to be Sensed as More Medial Than the Actual Foot Position

ABSTRACT

Participants placed different parts of their foot as close as possible to a target line without stepping onto it while wearing modified goggles that obscured their view of their feet. Once they felt that their foot was appropriately placed, the distance between their foot and the target line was measured. Participants tended to step 20–30 mm over the target line when asked to place the most lateral part of their foot near the target line and tended to place their foot 20–30 mm away from the target line when asked to place the most medial part of their foot near the target line. These results indicate that the placed feet shifted more laterally than sensed, which may explain unexpected tripping during walking.     

Origins of the ethical attitude

This paper seeks to explore the genesis of the capacity for an ethical attitude, personally and professionally. As analysts working in intimate clinical settings, ethics is at the foundation of our professional lives, as it is at the foundation of our humanity and what it is we struggle towards in our own personal development. The ethical attitude presupposes special responsibilities that we choose to adopt in relation to another. Thus, a parallel situation pertains between caregiver and child and between analyst and patient: they are not equal partners, but nevertheless are in a situation of mutuality, shared subjectivity, and reciprocal influence. The basic premise of this paper is that the analytic attitude is an ethical attitude, and that the ethical attitude is a developmental achievement, and as such it may reach beyond the depressive position.     

Effects of barbiturates and other sedative hypnotics in pigeons trained to discriminate phencyclidine from saline.

Pigeons were trained to peck the center key (lighted white) of three response keys to turn off the center keylight and to light one of the side keys with a red keylight and the other side key with a green keylight. Five responses (fixed-ratio component) on either side key relighted the center key. Food was delivered following 10 fixed-ratio components on the red key if 1.5 mg/kg phencyclidine had been given before the session. The position of the red and green keylights on the side keys varied randomly each time they were lighted by a peck on the center key. Subsequently, increasing doses of phencyclidine, barbital, amobarbital, phenobarbital, methaqualone, methyprylon, diazepam, oxazepam, and d-amphetamine were substituted for the training dose of phencyclidine, using a cumulative dosing procedure. At low doses of the sedative hypnotics, birds pecked the keylight color associated with saline. At higher doses, birds pecked both key colors. At the highest doses of pentobarbital and amobarbital, some birds responded almost exclusively On he color associated with phencyclidine. When responding on keys of both colors occurred following administration of phencyclidine or other sedative hypnotics, this responding was controlled by key position rather than by key color.     

Archetypal defenses in the clinical situation: a vignette

Critical moments along the path of an analysis are presented in order to illustrate how dreams portray archaic and typical (archetypal) defenses against the re-experience of unbearable affect as it emerges. Inner defensive 'objects' functioning as a 'self-care system' threaten to uproot, kill or destroy the connections between the dream ego and various images of vulnerability as these emerge in response to healing life events or transference feelings. Over a series of dreams, transformations within this self-care system are observed, ending in a final healing dream which marks the patient's achievement of a 'depressive position' in relation to her otherwise persecutory anxieties.     

定量运动负荷和个性特征对动觉准确性和动作稳定性的影响

目的在于了解个性特征和定量运动负荷与同射箭运动员技术水平密切相关的肘关节动觉方位准确性和手动作稳定性的关系。研究结果表明：个性特征对肘关节动觉方位准确性和手动作稳定性的影响不显著;定量运动负荷可以使肘关节动觉方位准确性明显提高,而手动作稳定性变化不显著。本研究初步证明了韩国射箭训练中利用跑步等手段使运动员处于较高心率之下进行射准练习的方法是实用有效的。     

大学生智能手机成瘾与抑制控制能力的关系:手机位置和认知负荷的调节作用

本研究以66名大学生为被试,采用Flanker效应和工作记忆的双任务设计来探讨手机位置、认知负荷在智能手机成瘾与抑制控制能力之间的调节作用。结果发现：（1）在低认知负荷下,无论是否智能手机成瘾,手机存在视线之外比手机在视线之内时抑制控制能力更差;（2）在高认知负荷下,智能手机成瘾与手机位置交互作用显著：当手机在视线之内时,智能手机成瘾者的抑制控制能力显著差于非成瘾者;而当手机在视线之外时,两者没有显著差异。结果表明,智能手机成瘾大学生的抑制控制能力不仅会受到手机位置的影响,还会受到任务本身所带来的认知负荷的调节。     

Does late preterm birth impact trunk control and early reaching behavior?

The aims of the study were to 1) verify the level of trunk control longitudinally and reaching behavior while sitting in two positions in late preterm (LPT) and full-term (FT) infants, 2) determine whether the level of trunk control relates to reaching outcomes. Twenty LPT infants and 36 infants born FT were assessed via three in-lab visits: at 6, 7, and 8 months. At each visit, the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo) and reaching assessment were performed, where the infants were positioned sitting in the ring and at 90° of flexion of hips, knees, and ankles. Accurate manual support to the trunk was provided in each visit. LPT infants presented a lower level of trunk control over time. LPT infants presented a higher percentage of unimanual reaches and successful grasping at 7 months' visit, and a higher number of reaches at 8 months' visit compared to FT infants. The sitting positions did not influence reaching performance. The level of trunk control relates to functional reaching strategies only in FT infants. This study might provide insights for clinicians for understanding the level of trunk control, the importance of reaching behaviors for exploration, and considering these behaviors as strategies for intervention.     

阅读成语时最佳注视位置的实验研究

本研究以大学生为被试,探讨阅读成语时最佳注视位置的问题。按成语的结构,将其分为四种类型,实验一用DMDX系统完成,通过操纵被试首次注视成语的位置．要求他们完成语义判断任务。实验二用EyelinkⅡ眼动仪完成,要求被试阅读句子,分析他们再注视成语的次数和时间。两个实验的结果表明,在阅读成语时存在最佳注视位置,这个位置因成语结构的不同而变化。     

权力概念的垂直方位空间隐喻对权力判断的影响

通过两个反应时实验,探讨权力的垂直方位表征对权力判断的影响。实验1发现,当权力词汇出现的位置(电脑屏幕上方或下方)与权力的空间隐喻一致时(高权力词在低权力词上方),相比于隐喻相反时(高权力词在低权力词下方),被试的反应时更短;实验2重复了这一结果,并进一步发现,隐喻一致促进被试的反应,隐喻相反抑制被试的反应。这表明权力的空间隐喻具有心理现实性,会影响权力信息的认知加工。