Das Entdecken von Realität und das Spielen mit Realität in der sozialen Entwicklung des Kindes

Abstract

Summary This paper outlines a psychoanalytic theory of self development, and how the experience of thoughts and feelings is supported and made meaningful through interaction with trusted others. A fundamental assumption of the theory of mentalisation is that social awareness and understanding grow from birth, and that cognition, representation and expression are »embodied«, that is they unconsciously continue to express early affective exchanges in later social interaction. As well as drawing together divergent theoretical traditions, and clinical observations from adult and child analysis and infant observation, the theory has been strongly informed by research on infant and adult attachment, and on the development of very early social cognition. The paper attempts to show the relevance of this integrative approach for the understanding of early development as well as for clinical work, by suggesting its role in transference and countertransference experience and in the processes of therapeutic action