Clinique des expériences exceptionnelles : du trauma à la solution paranormale

Abstract

After a brief description of phenomenological aspects of subjective paranormal experiences, also called exceptional experiences, several arguments will be proposed to demonstrate their interest from both theoretical and clinical points of view. A general literature review concerning our current knowledge about these experiences precedes the presentation of two clinical cases of “magnetism” and “extra-sensory perception” experiences. Several psychodynamic hypotheses are then proposed. They first deal with trauma and suppose that an early and very close relationship, but also different forms of abuse during childhood, can induce a “paranormal solution” that will be used during adulthood when negative life events occur. Then, the authors analyse more precisely unconscious psychological transmission and suppose these experiences represent a sharpened form of projective identification that can become pathological. Finally, we address the question of what is “transferred” in these experiences and study the process of their intrapsychic metabolisation. These analyses demonstrate for which reasons exceptional experiences can be considered as an original and current clinical domain.