[Origins of dialogue: phenomenological theories of intersubjectivity in developmental perspectives and as a foundation of psychotherapeutic processes].
Recognizing the other with his/her psychic peculiarity is an important assumption for psychotherapy. But how is empathy possible? Answers are to be expected by phenomenological-philosophical approaches concerning intersubjectivity and infant research. They are described in a comprehensive way and related to each other in spite of their epistemological differences. As can be seen in the beginning of showing and reading maternal emotions (so-called "social referencing") an infant is able to show intersubjective behaviour from the age of nine months on. Research on the reflected image of the infant and the development of shame shows that consciousness of the ego is not built before the age of one and a half years. These empirically well established results contradict those phenomenological approaches claiming that the other cannot be experienced directly but via cognitive analogies of own emotions (Lipps, Husserl). They better fit an anthropology that states the human being as an innate dialogically structured one and therefore being capable of empathy. Therefore the base for a deeper understanding of the following results of psychotherapy-research is established: 1. Early infant's memories probably do not exist as isolated images but are embedded in interactional structures. 2. Strict therapeutical abstinence may be experienced as a denial of communication and may have a retraumatic effect. 3. Quality of therapeutical relationship is crucial for the success of psychotherapy.
Schmoll
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Psychiatrische Abteilung, Schlosspark-Klinik Berlin.
Haltenhof
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D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D011613:Psychotherapy