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The "adualistic" representation of trauma: on malignant internalization
1Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Australia.
American Journal of Psychotherapy
|December 10, 1999
Summary
Traumatic memories differ from normal memories due to a dissociation of consciousness. This leads to non-episodic, unconscious recall and impaired interpretation of traumatic events.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Theories of selfhood from Hughlings Jackson and William James propose a dual consciousness involving mental life and reflection.
- Traumatic experiences may disrupt this dual self-concept, leading to a dedoubling of consciousness.
Observation:
- Trauma alters consciousness, focusing it on the present and immediate stimuli.
- The subject-object distinction in psychic life is diminished.
- Traumatic memories are recorded in a non-episodic, unconscious format, lacking reflective components.
Findings:
- Trauma results in an 'uncoupled' state of consciousness.
- The traumatized-traumatizer dyad is represented as a fused monad, sequestered from the self.
- This sequestration leads to unstable, oscillating relational patterns termed 'reversals.'
- Interpretation of traumatic events is impaired, with meaning primarily driven by affect.
Implications:
- Understanding the unique representation of traumatic memories is crucial for therapeutic interventions.
- The concept of a dedoubled consciousness offers a new framework for studying trauma's psychological impact.
- Further research can explore the neural mechanisms underlying this dissociation and its impact on self-perception.