Silence and Silencing in Psychoanalysis: Cultural, Clinical, and Research Perspectives

Description

This book is the first comprehensive treatment in recent decades of silence and silencing in psychoanalysis from clinical and research perspectives, as well as in philosophy, theology, linguistics, and musicology. The book approaches silence and silencing on three levels. First, it provides context for psychoanalytic approaches to silence through chapters about silence in phenomenology, theology, linguistics, musicology, and contemporary Western society. Its central part is devoted to the position of silence in psychoanalysis: its types and possible meanings (a form of resistance, in countertransference, the foundation for listening and further growth), based on both the work of the pioneers of psychoanalysis and on clinical case presentations. Finally, the book includes reports of conversation analytic research of silence in psychotherapeutic sessions and everyday communication. Not only are original techniques reported here for the first time, but research and clinical approaches fit together in significant ways. This book will be of interest to all psychologists, psychoanalysts, and social scientists, as well as applied researchers, program designers and evaluators, educators, leaders, and students. It will also provide valuable insight to anyone interested in the social practices of silence and silencing, and the roles these play in everyday social interactions. Cover Endorsement Page Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of figures List of contributors Editors’ introduction Acknowledgements Part I Cultural Part I Introduction to Part I Chapter 1 Silence in phenomenology: Dream or nightmare? Pregnant silence Threatening silences Trauma-frozen silences Silence in the phenomenology of Emmanuel Levinas Silence unfrozen Silence as complicity In conclusion Notes References Chapter 2 Encountering religious and spiritual silences The ineffable Folk rituals Egypt to Greece India Judaism Buddhism Christianity Conclusion References Chapter 3 Forms and functions of silence and silencing: An approach from linguistics and conversation analysis with reference to psychotherapy Silence and silencing in communicative exchanges Silence in non-dialogical situations (NDS) and in dialogical situations (DS) Interpreting silence Interpreting silence in the psychotherapeutic interaction Notes References Chapter 4 The many forms of silence in music Definitions of silence From effect to signifying symbol: the rest Music that falls silent Fermatas and reverberation: French “métamusique” The All-One of space and time in the work of Iannis Xenakis The fermata: dreaming spaces and sudden ecstasies in the work of Luigi Nono Silent music – the introduction of new forms of silence Abstract experience: Morton Feldman 4’33” – The buzzing of ambient sounds 4’33” – The pure experience The perennial question of existence Notes References Chapter 5 Silence in an age of distraction Notes References Part II Clinical Part II Introduction to Part II Chapter 6 Cultural function and psychological transformation of silence in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy Cross-cultural meanings of silence The cultural significance of silence in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy Silence as a psychoanalytic phenomenon Susan—A case of silence in the sixth year of treatment Childhood and adult history The first five years of treatment The phase of silence The transference–countertransference matrix Epilogue Conclusions Notes References Chapter 7 Varieties of silence in the analytic setting Structural silence Unmentalised silence Defensive silence Enactive silence Symbolic silence Contemplative silence Regenerative silence Blank silence Concluding remarks Notes References Chapter 8 Silence as a manifestation of resistance Silence as resistance in the patient Analytic silence as an intersubjective impasse Conclusion Notes References Chapter 9 Silence is golden (usually) Silence as resistance Silence as a pathway to a necessary therapeutic object relationship Silence as an element of interpersonal negotiation with the analyst Integrative: The roles played by silence in the process of symbolizing: The work of Norbert Freedman and his colleagues Conclusion Note References Chapter 10 Winnicott’s capacity for silence in understanding and healing human nature Silent communication The importance of silence for the individual patient Silence as a transitional object Silence between the analyst and patient Silent communication Silent self Conclusion: the rest is silence References Chapter 11 Silence as a condition for analytic listening: Site, situation and process I II III Notes References Chapter 12 Silence and silencing of the traumatized Trauma and silence Silencing the victims of attachment trauma Social trauma and the conspiracy of silence Silence in the psychoanalytic treatment as a form of silencing and re-traumatization Conclusion Notes References Part III Research Part III Introduction to Part III: Researching silence in (therapeutic) conversation Some philological flea cracking Observing “observables” deepens the understanding of understanding What is it that Conversation Analysts do? List of transcription symbols (diacritical signs) Transcription symbols Pauses and silences – an overview Note References Chapter 13 Measuring silence: The pausing inventory categorization system and a review of findings The generation and credibility of the Pausing Inventory Categorization System (PICS) Findings Conclusion References Chapter 14 Pauses are conversations: What they tell us when we listen Clinical experience – our point of departure Conclusion Appendix – original German transcripts Notes References Chapter 15 How to move on after silences: Addressing thought processes to restart conversation Introduction Data Method Analysis Results Discussion Appendix Notes References Chapter 16 The interaction order of silent moments in everyday life: Lapses as joint embodied achievements Introduction Background Data and method Entering into a lapse Navigating out of a lapse Conclusions and discussion Appendix: Original transcripts Notes References Chapter 17 Speaking that silences: A single case multi-method analysis of a couple’s interview Introduction Noticeable absence as silenced talk The accuse-and-defense scenario Invisible loyalties Conclusion – toward a typology of interactive silencing Appendix – German transcript versions Notes References Index