philip ringstrom | Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles (original) (raw)

Papers by philip ringstrom

Routledge eBooks, May 20, 2018

Aperturas psicoanalíticas: Revista de psicoanálisis, 2020

Este artículo coloca al psicoanálisis relacional dentro del panteón de modelos de psicoterapia de... more Este artículo coloca al psicoanálisis relacional dentro del panteón de modelos de psicoterapia de pareja en el psicoanálisis, que incluye la teoría freudiana, el modelo de relaciones objetales, la psicología del self, y la teoría de sistemas intersubjetivos Después de un breve recorrido por las ideas clave pertinentes al psicoanálisis relacional, el artículo aborda la versión de seis pasos del autor de un enfoque psicoanalítico relacional de la psicoterapia de pareja.

Psychoanalytic Dialogues, Apr 9, 2010

A human being is part of the whole, called by us, the "Universe," a part limited in time and spac... more A human being is part of the whole, called by us, the "Universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and foundation for inner security. 1

Psychoanalytic Dialogues, Sep 3, 2022

International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, Dec 14, 2010

International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, Jul 1, 2008

This article describes the author's experience of his own 10½-year psychoanalytic treatme... more This article describes the author's experience of his own 10½-year psychoanalytic treatment as an analysand. This undertaking employs two literary voices: the first, called MOMENTS, captures in the present tense certain experiences during the analysis, and the second, called NOTES, explicates these experiences. In this manner, the author examines such issues as: (1) the death of his analyst, (2) the

Psychoanalytic Dialogues, May 4, 2019

The first part of this article discusses Romanelli, Tishby, and Moran's qualitative research on t... more The first part of this article discusses Romanelli, Tishby, and Moran's qualitative research on the impact of training clinicians' "skill-sets" derived from improvisational theater. Categories of experience were discerned from the data, along with findings of the impressive positive effects from the training on the clinicians' ability to better respond to unpredictable "improvisational moments" in psychotherapy. The second part elaborates on how the authors' research represents a welcome addition to a larger conversation about how drama theory "puts" "flesh and blood" on the "bones" of Relational Metapsychology, which entails theories of process and change, rooted in an information theory based epistemology in contrast to Freud's archaic and deeply flawed Metapsychology ensconced in a psychic energy theory epistemology. Finally, the authors' lends to advocacy for clinical training in drama and improvisation being added to clinically based curriculums.

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, Apr 1, 1998

19:159–170. ——— (1927). Fetishism. Standard Edition 21:152–157. ——— (1940a). An outline of psycho... more 19:159–170. ——— (1927). Fetishism. Standard Edition 21:152–157. ——— (1940a). An outline of psycho-analysis. Standard Edition 23:144–207. ——— (1940b). Splitting of the ego in the process of defence. Standard Edition 23:275–278. GREENACRE, P. (1960). Regression and fixation. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association 7:707–723. GRUNBERGER, B. (1971). Narcissism. New York: International Universities Press, 1979. KOHUT, H. (1971). The Analysis of the Self. New York: International Universities Press. ——— (1979). The two analyses of Mr. Z. International Journal of PsychoAnalysis 60:3–28. MCDOUGALL. J. (1978). Plaidoyer pour une certaine anormalite. Paris: Gallimard. OPPENHEIMER. A. (1996). Kohut et la Psychologie du Self. Paris: P.U.F. STOLLER, R. (1975). Perversion: The Erotic Form of Hatred. Washington: American Psychiatric Press.

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, Apr 1, 2002

Psychoanalytic Dialogues, Jul 4, 2018

My reply to the discussants begins with discussion of a Relational Metapsychology in relation to ... more My reply to the discussants begins with discussion of a Relational Metapsychology in relation to its theory of change. Following this it proposes "architectural" information-processing elements of the 3D field, involving "modularity," "temporality," and "nothingness." This leads to the critical asymmetry of the information-processing functions of the right and left hemispheres of the brain, including their role in establishing the "fit" between our experience of the 3D field and the meaning we make of it. Finally, it discusses the aesthetics inherent in a dramaturgical approach in psychoanalysis. This embodies an emphasis on how dramatic repetition underscores 1st Order change, which keeps the field the same, in relationship to improvisation, which produces transformative, 2nd Order versions of change. RELATIONAL METAPSYCHOLOGY Quoting a passage from "Analysis Terminable and Interminable," Shlomit describes Freud "wring[ing] his hands" over his "'Witch Meta-psychology'" (p. 411). Regarding it as "'the

International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, 2012

Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of in... more Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden.

Negotiation Journal, Oct 1, 2005

Negotiators must improvise. As the negotiations process unfolds, they work with new information, ... more Negotiators must improvise. As the negotiations process unfolds, they work with new information, continually making decisions along the way to achieve favorable results. Skilled improvisational jazz musicians and actors perform in similar ways: they repeatedly practice song chord progressions and notes or scene guidelines before a performance; then, during the performance, they work with the information or the music they hear in order to react and respond, making decisions along the way to produce dazzling music or a compelling scene. In this article, two experts in negotiation, a jazz-improvisation scholar, a former member of an improvisational theater troupe, and

Routledge eBooks, Mar 26, 2014

Psychoanalytic Dialogues, May 11, 2007

Psychoanalytic concepts, in general, are sorely lacking in addressing the present moment phenomen... more Psychoanalytic concepts, in general, are sorely lacking in addressing the present moment phenomenon of the psychoanalytic encounter. The relational perspective has comparably suffered from not addressing the issue of temporality. This paper addresses this lack by focusing on the present moment of the analytic encounter with special appreciation for what is referred to as improvisational moments. Although such moments arise

Psychoanalytic Dialogues, Oct 25, 2001

This article juxtaposes two orientations to psychoanalytic theory and clinical action—the prescri... more This article juxtaposes two orientations to psychoanalytic theory and clinical action—the prescriptive, embodied in the metaphor of classical theater, and the improvisational, embodied in the metaphor of improvisational theater. The metaphor of classical theater is analogous to how the theoretical predilections of each school of psychoanalysis has its own set of prescriptions (“sets,” “roles,” and “scripts”) for how an analyst

Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Apr 2, 2016

Psychoanalytic Inquiry, Jul 4, 2018

This places Relational Psychoanalysis within the pantheon of models of couples psychotherapy in p... more This places Relational Psychoanalysis within the pantheon of models of couples psychotherapy in psychoanalysis including those from Freudian, Object Relational, Self Psychology, and Intersubjective Systems Theory. Following a brief overview of key ideas pertinent to Relational Psychoanalysis, the article discusses the author's Six-Step version of a relational psychoanalytic approach to couples psychotherapy. "A Systematic Review of 50 Years of Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy" traced the history of psychoanalytic thinking and practice in couples psychotherapy, identifying, depending on how you parse them, four schools of thought: the classical (Freudian), the Object Relations, the Self Psychology/Intersubjective Systems, and, finally, the Relational Psychoanalytic School, the last of which it is my job to illuminate in this edition of Psychoanalytic Inquiry. As I have often been known to say, "I feel like the Will Rogers of Psychoanalysis, insofar as I have never met a theory I didn't like." So although the differences among the four schools are noteworthy, and oftentimes (regrettably) territorial, there is something in each that I value, although I understand that in each case the horizons of their key concepts eventually constrain them as is true with all theoretical formulations. Nevertheless, as noted in the 50-year review, the Classical tradition lays out the critical importance of dreams (depending on how they are used with couples-they certainly are relevant at times in my practice), as well as the understanding of the couples vulnerability to mutual projection, to the primacy of their defenses constraining all forms of connection and intimacy, as well as the foundational ideas picked up by ensuing theories of projection and introjection. And this, above everything else, is the grasp of the primacy of conflict in both intrapsychic and interpersonal relations. Perhaps the virtue in all of these ideas is also their vice. That is, they tend to address the primacy of the intrapsychic with much less regard for the complexity of mutual influence, mutual regulation and mutual recognition. Although the Classical tradition is less noted in the history of couple psychoanalysis, the Object Relations tradition looms large, as would be expected. Relationships (real and fantasized) are embedded in every aspect of this tradition. The version of drive theory in it is far less about the Freudian theory of discharge of instinctual drives such as sex and aggression. Instead, it is supplanted with the centrality of the drive to connect, that is, to relate to the object (the other). It is based on this drive that all things both good and bad arise in human relationships. Accordingly, ideas key to Object Relations involve relational ones. Phantasy is not a skin encapsulated phenomena, it is often shared, albeit unwittingly, in ways that involve collusions that do not simply defend each individual partner but protect them both from unbearable anxieties. Still, these phantasies involve an uncanny unconscious collaborative narrative, not unlike George and Martha's in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe regarding their dead son. To cement the narrative involves ideas such as splitting, projection, and, perhaps this above all, projective identification in which that which is experienced as undesirable, if not downright unbearable, is projected upon one's partner. That is, through inducing the other to actually identify with the unwanted, split off, and projected part of self largely through communication that remains unconscious to both parties until revealed in therapy.

Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 1998

... With this realization there is a restoration of the possibility of both interdependence and .... more ... With this realization there is a restoration of the possibility of both interdependence and ... D. (1992), The Adaptive Design of the Human Psyche: Psychoanalysis, Evolutionary Biology, and the ... The Pursuit of Authenticity and the Plight of Self-Deception: Commentary on Paper by ...