The document discusses revising psychoanalytic theory from a metaphoric perspective. It suggests recasting key concepts like transference, defense, and interpretation as temporal metaphors relating the present and past. This reframing could make psychoanalysis more applicable to general psychology by presenting these concepts as normal aspects of intrapsychic functioning rather than just phenomena in treatment. It aims to integrate the central role of time in a way that preserves psychoanalysis' essential insights.

1. The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Estimated number of publications in the last three decades 40’000

2. The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Estimated number of publications in the last three decades 40’000 Cognitive science fields involved in research, publications, and conferences Linguistics Philosophy Computer sciences Psychology Psychoanalysis

3. The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Number of publications Cognitive science fields involved in metaphor research, publications, and conferences Linguistics Philosophy increasingly Computer sciences conclude Psychology Psychoanalysis The Brain functions metaphorically

4. The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Number of publications Cognitive science fields involved in metaphor research, publications, and conferences Linguistics Philosophy increasingly Computer sciences conclude Psychology Psychoanalysis Reasons for increasing importance: The Brain functions metaphorically

5. The increasing importance of metaphor within the cognitive sciences Number of publications Cognitive science fields involved in metaphor research, publications, and conferences Linguistics Philosophy increasingly Computer sciences conclude Psychology Psychoanalysis Reasons for increasing importance: Increasing interdisciplinary work regarding the understanding of the mind Driven by computer sciences’ attempts to emulate the functioning of the mind : knowledge harvesting rather than data collecting The Brain functions metaphorically

6. Main task addressed in this presentation Assuming that Psychoanalysis is central to understanding the mind’s functioning The mind works metaphorically

7. TASK How do we revise psychoanalytic theory from a metaphoric point of view without sacrificing its essential achievements ?

8. PSYCHODYNAMICS current central concepts Transference Defense Interpretation Suggested central concepts Time Metaphor Transference Defense Interpretation organizing

9. In view of the importance of TIME 1) Recast from a temporal point of view Metaphor toa present/past past/present

10. In view of the importance of TIME 1) Recast from a temporal point of view Metaphor toTemporal Metaphor Interpretation Transference

11. In view of the importance of TIME 1) Recast from a temporal point of view Metaphor toTemporal Metaphor 2) Recast from a Temporal Metaphor point of view Interpretation Transference

12. In view of the importance of TIME 1) Recast from a temporal point of view Metaphor toTemporal Metaphor 2) Recast from a Temporal Metaphor point of view Interpretationinto Transference into Defenseinto Interpretation Transference

13. In view of the importance of TIME 1) Recast from a temporal point of view Metaphor toTemporal Metaphor 2) Recast from a Temporal Metaphor point of view Interpretation into Temporal Metaphor = present/past Transference intoTemporal Metaphor =past/present Defense into Temporal Metaphor = Interpretation Transference

14. In view of the importance of TIME 1) Recast from a temporal point of view Metaphor toTemporal Metaphor 2) Recast from a Temporal Metaphor point of view Interpretation into Temporal Metaphor = present/past Transference intoTemporal Metaphor =past/present Defense into Temporal Metaphor = Interpretation Transference

15. Explanation of terms used in this presentation Terms Used ‘The present’ ‘The past’ to express Present mentation or experience Past mentationorexperience

16. Explanation of terms used in this presentation Terms Referring to = “Defense Complex” Defending partof defense Defended against part of defense

17. Explanation of terms used in this presentation Terms Referring to = “Defense Complex” Or shortened: Defending part of defense Defended against part of defense

18. Explanation of terms used in this presentation Terms Referring to = “Defense” Defending part of defense Defended against part of defense

19. How the terms are used in this presentation term ‘Transference’ ‘Interpretation’ Temporal Sense given here Interpretation of the present by the past Interpretation of the past by the present

20. The definition of metaphor Metaphor is an equation of two ordinarily not equatable entities (source and target) located in different domains

21. The definition of metonymy Metaphor is an equation of two ordinarily not equated entities (source and target) located in the samedomains

22. The definition of metaphor Metaphor is an equation of two ordinarily not equatable entities (source and target) located in different domains “Juliet is the sun” (domains: humans+ celestial bodies)

23. Metaphor = “ in terms of ” Phrase indicating a metaphor : “ in terms of ” “Juliet is seen in terms of the sun” “Life is seen in terms of a journey”

24. The definition and examples of metonymy Metonymy is an equation of two entities located in the same domain “The liver goes to operating room 3” “All hands on board” “He drank the bottle” Phrases indicating a metonymy: “stands for”, “belongs to”, “is part of”

25. Phrases connecting source and target indicating metaphor or metonymy METAPHOR “in terms of” “Juliet seen in terms of the sun” “Life understood in terms of a journey” Metonymy “stands for”, “belongs to”, “is part of” The liver belongs to patient going to operating room 3 All hands stands for sailors to go on board He drank the bottle = wine as part of the bottle

26. Linguistic, conceptual, and temporal concepts of metaphor

27. Linguistic, conceptual, and temporal concepts of metaphor Linguistics: Linguistic metaphor, BASED ON LANGUAGE Cognitive sciences: Conceptual metaphor, BASED ON THOUGHT Psychoanalysis: Temporal metaphor, BASED ON TIME

28. Linguistic, conceptual, and temporal concepts of metaphor Conceptual: Metaphor is an equation of thought entities rather than language entities. THOUGHT NOT LANGUAGE Example: “The New Testament relates metaphorically to the Old Testament: Christ’s death and resurrection relates metaphorically to the original sin and its forgiveness”

29. Linguistic, conceptual, and temporal concepts of metaphor Temporal: Regardless of content and use the quality of the temporal relationship isintrinsicallymetaphorical in the optimal functioning Mind: The present is the same and not the same as the past. We understand them in terms of each othe TIMENOTTHOUGHT NOR LANGUAGE Example: Today is informed by yesterday: it is the same and not the same; one can be understood (in an underdetermined way) in terms of the other.

30. Examples of linguistic, conceptual, and temporal concepts of metaphor Linguistic: LANGUAGE Conceptual: USE OF THOUGHT NOT LANGUAGE Temporal: TIME NOT LANGUAGE OR THOUGHT Life is a journey Christ’s death is metaphorically related to the original sin Adulthood understood in terms of childhood

31. Neurosis Trauma leads to a loss of metaphoricity. As a consequence past and present relaterigidly (metonymically) to each other rather than informing each other. Neurotic defense (the present) comes metonymically to stand for the defended against (the past). The past evokes a rigid defense, thus over-determining the present rather than just informing it

32. Phrases connecting source and target indicating metaphor or metonymy Metaphor = source/target interacting Metonymy= source/target not interacting Healthy Defense Neurotic Defense “stands for” past and present rigidly standing for each other “in terms of” past and present interact in terms of each other

33. Are psychodynamic concepts relevant forthe treatment setting? general psychology? treatment setting Transference Interpretation Defense general psychology Could these psychodynamic phenomena belong to the mind’s normal functioning ?

34. Are psychodynamic concepts relevant forthe treatment setting? general psychology? Treatment setting Transference from analysand to analyst as ongoing interpretation of the present by the past general psychology Transference intrapsychic as ongoing interpretation of the present by the past

35. Are psychodynamic concepts relevant forthe treatment setting? general psychology? treatment setting Interpretation by the analyst interpreting the past from and by the present general psychology Interpretation intrapsychic interpreting the past from and by the present

36. Psychodynamic concepts relevant inthe treatment setting in general psychology Treatment setting Defense: interpretation of intrapsychictransference Defense (as defending and defended against) Interpretation of transference general psychology

37. Psychodynamic concepts relevant forthe treatment setting ? general psychology ? treatment Transference Interpretation Defense general psychology Intrapsychic Transference Intrapsychic Interpretation Intrapsychic Defense O n g o i n g d y n a m i c s

38. Psychoanalytic Practice versus Theory Practice We understand the present transference in terms of the past we understand the pastin terms of the present transference Theory This central part of psychoanalytic practice Is not sufficiently integrated by its theory

39. Moving from content to time Language and Thought Content –centered domains Metaphor is a an equation of two conventionally not equatable entities (source and target) located in different domains Time-centered domains In psychoanalysis the intrinsically different domains of metaphor are temporal ones: e.g., past and present

40. Functions of linguistic and temporal metaphors Influencing Informing Modeling and Searching Interpreting Actualizing Changing Familiarizing Forming new category Keeping at bay (new category organization from old category organization)

41. Psychoanalytic concepts viewed from a temporal point of view Present to past Defending part of defense Interpreting Insight (updating) Curing Repression Remembering Regressing Past to present Defended part of defense Transference Insight (actualizing) Childhood neurosis Return of the repressed Memories Fixation

42. Aspects of all temporal metaphors suggesting their synonymity Influencing Informing Modeling and Searching Interpreting Actualizing Changing Familiarizing Forming new category Keeping at bay (new category organization from old category organization)

43. Psychoanalytic terms viewed as potential synonyms regarding their temporal function Potential synonyms (Present to past) Defending part of defense Interpreting Insight (updating) Curing Repression Remembering Regressing Potential synonyms (past to present) Defended part of defense Transference Insight (actualizing) Childhood neurosis Return of the repressed Memories Fixation

44. Corresponding aspects between linguistic and temporal metaphors Linguistic Interpretingof one domain by another domain.( Life is a journey) Transferringaspects of the source to the target Maintaining tension, holding source at bay from the target while still relating to it Temporal Interpretingof one temporal domain by another temporal domain. Transferring: aspects of the past (source) transferred to the present (target) Maintaining tension, holding past as source at bay from the present as target while remembering the former

45. Aspects of temporal metaphors as used by psychoanalytic terms Temporal Metaphors Psychoanalytic TERM Interpretingof one temporal domain by another temporal domain. Transferring: aspects of the past (source) transferred to the present (target) Maintaining tension, holding past at bay from the present while remembering it ‘INTERPRETATION’. Interpretationof past by present. ‘TRANSFERENCE’ Interpretation of present by past . ‘DEFENSE’ (as the defending part of defense) The holding at bay of previous organizations of issues while remembering them.

46. Synonymous functions of psychodynamic concepts regarding their functioning in time Highlight synonymous functions of our psychodynamic concepts even though differing in temporal direction of influence InterpretationTemporal Metaphor =present/past Transference Temporal Metaphor = past/present DefenseTemporal Metaphor = present/past + past/present

47. Aspects of temporal metaphors Therefore Interpreting Transferring Defending Are all functions of all temporal metaphors. This establishes the basic synonymity between the psychodynamic concepts transference, interpretation, and defense

48. Healthy and neurotic forms of temporal metaphors HALTHY = METAPHOR Neurotic = metonymy Past and Present INFORM each other like source and target of a metaphor Past and present DETERMINE each other like source and target of a metonymy

49. Healthy and neurotic forms of temporal metaphors Metaphor informs Metonymy stands for = determines INTERPRETATION informs past TRANSFERENCE informs present DEFENSE Defending and defended against inform each other INTERPRETATION Does not inform past thus determines it as immutable TRANSFERENCE Does not inform but determines present as repetition DEFENSE Defending and defended against can not inform but determine each other by standing for each other

50. Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic psychology ? Symptom – centered view Transference Defense Interpretation No generalization to dynamic psychology of the mind outside treatment setting Psychoanalysis has little standing in academia Temporal Metaphor-centered view Transference Defense Interpretation Generalization from treatment to general psychology becomes possible Chance to improve academic standing

51. Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic psychology ? symptom - centered Psychodynamic terms centered on treatment setting Transference and interpretation are phenomena, in the main, reserved for the treatment setting Centered – on General psychological functioning Psychodynamic terms centered on general psychological functioning Transference and interpretation seen as part of general psychological functioning, including in the treatment setting

52. Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic psychology ? Conventional view Transference Defense Interpretation Time implicitly and not centrally integrated in theory Temporal Metaphor-centered view Transference Defense Interpretation Time explicitly and centrally integrated in theory

53. Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic psychology ? Conventional view Transference Defense Interpretation Not primarily defined in terms of relations between the present and the past Temporal Metaphor-centered view Transference Defense Interpretation Primarily defined in terms of relations between the present and the past

54. The three main psychodynamic concepts transference, defense, interpretation Conventional view Transference Interpretation Not extended beyond treatment setting Temporal Metaphor-centered view Transference Interpretation Extended beyond treatment setting as Intrapsychic transference Intrapsychic interpretation

55. The three main psychodynamic concepts transference, defense, interpretation Conventional view Transference Neurotic enactment of past unconscious conflicts transferred to the analyst and experienced in terms of a now relevant relationship Temporal Metaphor-centered view Intrapsychic transference Ongoing interpretation of the present by the past, in and outside the treatment setting – neurotic or healthy, conscious or unconscious

56. Psychodynamic concepts relevant for general psychology treatment setting Transference (from analysand to analyst) Intrapsychic - Transference as ongoing interpretation of present by the past

57. Summary Transference Observed in the treatment setting Interpretation Carried out by the analyst Defense Healthy: “Sublimation” Neurotic: Mentation used to bar unconscious conflicts from becoming conscious general psychology treatment setting Transference Ubiquitous phenomenon in and outside the treatment setting Interpretation Carried out by the mind in an ongoing way as a reinterpretation of the past Defense Healthy: Present and past interpret each other Neurotic: When the present can not interpret the past the analysts interpretation is needed

58. Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic psychology ? Conventional view Temporal Metaphor- centered view Transference Defense Interpretation These concepts are related not only functionally but more closely as aspects of each other Transference Defense Interpretation These concepts are only functionally related to each other

59. The quality of the temporal relationship Healthy past present relationships are of metaphorical quality Neurotic past present relationships are of metonymical quality Transference Determining present Defense The defending part stands for the defended-against part. No mutual informing possible. Interpretation intrapsychic interpretation can not reach the unknown (repressed) past. The analyst’s interpretation is needed Transference Informing present Defense The defending part and the defended against part inform each other in an ongoing way Interpretation The present updates and thus changes the narrative influence the past has on the present

60. Is psychoanalysis generalizable to become the basis for a psychodynamic psychology ? Temporal Metaphor-centered treatment Analyst’s interpretation Interpretation is metaphorizing lost metaphoricity Temporal Metaphor-centered general functioning Intrapsychic interpretation Interpretation is metaphorizing lost metaphoricity

61. Structure of healthy defense We are using the interpreting aspect of metaphor which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in terms ofpast experience; the past is understood in terms of present transference experience. SUMMARY: Present interpretsmetaphorically the past = Interpretation The past interprets metaphorically the present =Transference

62. Structure of healthy defense We are using the interpreting aspect of metaphor which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in terms ofpast experience; the past is understood in terms of present transference experience. SUMMARY: = Interpretation =Transference

63. Structure of healthy defense We are using the interpreting aspect of metaphor which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in terms ofpast experience; the past is understood in terms of present transference experience. SUMMARY: = Interpretation of =Transference

64. Structure of healthy defense SUMMARY: = Interpretation of Transference

65. Structure of healthy defense We are using the interpreting aspect of metaphor which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in terms ofpast experience; the past is understood in terms of present transference experience. SUMMARY: Present interpretation of thepast The past interprets metaphorically the present

66. Structure of healthy defense We are using the interpreting aspect of metaphor which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in terms ofpast experience; the past is understood in terms of present transference experience. SUMMARY: Present interpretation of thepast The past interprets metaphorically the present

67. Structure of healthy defense We are using the interpreting aspect of metaphor which is already used in psychoanalytic practice. The present transference is understood in terms ofpast experience; the past is understood in terms of present transference experience. SUMMARY: Present interpretsmetaphorically the past = Interpretation The past interprets metaphorically the present =Transference

68. Structure of healthy defense The past informs metaphorically the present The present interprets metaphorically the past

69. Defense is Interpretation of Transference Metaphor and Metonymy Defense, Interpretation, and Transference are all Temporal Metaphors (when functioning optimally) or Temporal Metonymies (when functioning sub-optimally) Suggested Theoretical Integration Summary and Outlook

70. First and second order temporal metaphors First order First order Second order

71. Scaling of fractal hierarchy of temporal metaphors

73. Defending part Defended against part PRESENT AGENCIES AT WAR PAST