The “Something More” than Interpretation Revisited: Sloppiness and Co-Creativity in the Psychoanalytic Encounter

Features of dynamical systems thinking can illuminate insufficiently recognized levels of psychoanalytic process. A central aspect of dynamical models is that changes in complex systems are unpredictable and arise out of the interaction of elements. Examination of the moment-by-moment micro-foregrou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association 2005, Vol.53 (3), p.693-729
Main Authors: HOUSE, Jonathan, PORTUGES, Stephen, MAYES, Linda C, LITOWITZ, Bonnie E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Communication
Creativity
Dreams
Dynamic models
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Intention
Interpretation
Intersubjectivity
Motivation
Physician-Patient Relations
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalytic cure
Psychoanalytic Interpretation
Psychoanalytic Therapy - methods
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Systems Theory
Tape Recording
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Summary:Features of dynamical systems thinking can illuminate insufficiently recognized levels of psychoanalytic process. A central aspect of dynamical models is that changes in complex systems are unpredictable and arise out of the interaction of elements. Examination of the moment-by-moment micro-foreground, or local level, of psychoanalytic sessions led to the conclusion that indeterminacy and surprise are inherent properties of intersubjective systems. This indeterminacy, or sloppiness, comprises several interrelated features of the dialogue: “fuzzy” intentionalizing, unpredictability, improvisation, variation, and redundancy. Audiotaped transcripts of two analytic sessions illustrate how these sloppy features generate unpredictable and potentially creative elements that contribute to psychotherapeutic change.
ISSN:0003-0651
1941-2460
DOI:10.1177/00030651050530030401