Once we have weathered childhood, we continue to live and evolve. How we do so, is largely a function of the adaptations we acquired early on. But we are not necessarily locked into fixed patterns, we can change to meet the circumstances that we encounter. This class will be about the challenges that the progressively independent human faces, and the ways in which one copes with them. .
Using the concepts of the sinthome, of inner working models and organizing principles, and of self-objects as fundamental explanatory concepts we will delve into our adult lives in all their many levels of psycho-biological complexity. Establishing ourselves as viable, productive and satisfied beings, that is our goal. How do we work towards that, and help our patients do the same?
In the first developmental class we talked about trauma, and how it shapes our brain/minds, here we will examine its aftermaths, and all the many ways we continuously work with it, trying to maximize our pleasure and decrease our pain. Using the most recent findings of neuroscience, philosophy, and all the other life sciences, we will tackle the many and diverse challenges that confront human existence.
We will learn about the continuously changing demands on our psyches, from taking charge of our lives to dealing with our ending. And how we cope with them given on our history and our inclinations. We constantly develop complex strategies to manage stimulation, which are often based on fear, rather than a rational decision. Our work as analysts consists in part to help patients navigate their developmental milestones successfully, always with an eye on the trauma caused psychic adaptations.