Divine space: contemplating the object behind a religious patient's spatial metaphor

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychoanalysis
• Philosophy of Self

Background:

• The concept of psychic space is explored, drawing on Winnicott's idea of 'having somewhere to put what we find'.
• Charles Taylor's philosophy on the self existing within moral topography is integrated.
• Christopher Bollas's concept of 'makom' as the 'place of the complex self' is introduced.

Observation:

• Patients' awareness and utilization of metaphors indicate the availability of psychic space for creative use.
• The complex self achieves detachment, enabling it to question and redefine its relationship with external objects.
• Both Moses and the patient sought a sense of internal dimensionality by engaging with the 'Other'.

Findings:

• The development of psychic space involves relinquishing concrete object comforts and embracing existential loneliness.
• Internalizing the 'Other's' sense of loneliness and alterity adds complexity to the internal domain.
• The 'makom' is identified as a sacred space created through internalization, essential for psychological relevance.

Implications:

• Understanding psychic space is key to comprehending the development of the complex self.
• The internalization of the 'Other' and existential loneliness are vital components of psychological maturation.
• This research highlights the significance of solitary internal space in forming individual identity and expression.