Struggles with empathy and optimal responsiveness : an intersubjective view

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dc.contributor.advisorKottler, Amanda ; Faber, Phillipen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorStern, Mickyen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-14T08:55:34Z
dc.date.available2015-07-14T08:55:34Z
dc.date.issued1993en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliography.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation reviews the psychotherapeutic techniques of empathy and optimal responsiveness from within a Self Psychology framework. Self Psychologists view these techniques as essential for the activation of the selfobject experience, the core requirement for the restoration of a cohesive sense of self. However, numerous factors arising in the therapeutic situation mitigate against empathic listening, and there is no real consensus amongst Self Psychologists about what constitutes an optimal response. This presents a particular difficulty for trainee therapists who seek guidelines in how to use these techniques. This dissertation aims to demonstrate that empathy and optimal responsiveness are inextricably bound up with the intersubjective field, an inclusive system of which each individual is a part. A psychoanalytically informed clinical study of the intersubjective field is used to illustrate this notion. Through analysis of the patient's responses and the therapist's countertransference responses, it is shown that empathy and optimal responsiveness arise from the interface between the subjective experiences of both therapist and patient and thus include the dynamics of both. Retrospective analysis which has enabled the author to grow as a psychotherapist, is highlighted, with the hope that this may be useful to future trainee therapists.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationStern, M. (1993). <i>Struggles with empathy and optimal responsiveness : an intersubjective view</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13453en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationStern, Micky. <i>"Struggles with empathy and optimal responsiveness : an intersubjective view."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13453en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationStern, M. 1993. Struggles with empathy and optimal responsiveness : an intersubjective view. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Stern, Micky AB - This dissertation reviews the psychotherapeutic techniques of empathy and optimal responsiveness from within a Self Psychology framework. Self Psychologists view these techniques as essential for the activation of the selfobject experience, the core requirement for the restoration of a cohesive sense of self. However, numerous factors arising in the therapeutic situation mitigate against empathic listening, and there is no real consensus amongst Self Psychologists about what constitutes an optimal response. This presents a particular difficulty for trainee therapists who seek guidelines in how to use these techniques. This dissertation aims to demonstrate that empathy and optimal responsiveness are inextricably bound up with the intersubjective field, an inclusive system of which each individual is a part. A psychoanalytically informed clinical study of the intersubjective field is used to illustrate this notion. Through analysis of the patient's responses and the therapist's countertransference responses, it is shown that empathy and optimal responsiveness arise from the interface between the subjective experiences of both therapist and patient and thus include the dynamics of both. Retrospective analysis which has enabled the author to grow as a psychotherapist, is highlighted, with the hope that this may be useful to future trainee therapists. DA - 1993 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1993 T1 - Struggles with empathy and optimal responsiveness : an intersubjective view TI - Struggles with empathy and optimal responsiveness : an intersubjective view UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13453 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13453
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationStern M. Struggles with empathy and optimal responsiveness : an intersubjective view. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 1993 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13453en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherClinical Psychologyen_ZA
dc.titleStruggles with empathy and optimal responsiveness : an intersubjective viewen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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