PINC and NPSA present:

Mentalizing Homeostasis: The Intersubjective Origins of the Self

Dr. Aikaterini Fotopoulou, Discussant Dr. Maggie Zellner

Saturday Mar 5, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Pacific Time

In this lecture, Dr. Fotopoulou will explain that the feeling qualities associated with being an embodied subject, a “self,” are fundamentally shaped by embodied interactions with other people in early infancy and beyond. Out of these interactions, infants learn to “mentalize” their own emotional and physiological experience, as well as those of their caregivers. Awareness of our own body extends beyond mental or brain processes within the individual. The self is also a social and intersubjective experience. This is the 2nd person view on the development of the self that Dr. Fotopoulou will describe. It falls between the views of those who would describe the sense of self as deriving only from the physiological experience of the infant and those who would assign the development of the self solely to social interactions. Her 2nd person view recognizes that the emotional and physiological “self” experience of infants is co-created by their caregivers. She will also discuss the vital role of affective touch in this co-creation of the sense of self. In the second half of the program, Dr. Fotopoulou will address the application of this theoretical framework to the treatment of pathologies such as anorexia nervosa, borderline personality disorder, self-harm, and somatization. She will share findings from her research that have direct clinical implications. During this part of her lecture, Dr. Fotopoulou will invite relevant clinical vignettes. Dr. Margaret Zellner will lead our discussions of the presentation.

CE Credits offered: 3

Course Objectives

After completing this course participants will be able to:

1. Will be able to identify the 2nd person view on Affect and Cognition.
2. Will be able to apply this framework in a clinical setting.
3. Will be able to discuss the research on Affective Touch as it relates to disorders of the self.

pincsf.org/events – 415-288-4050 — 530 Bush St, Suite 700, SF CA USA — pincsf@gmail.com

The Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California (PINC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PINC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Visit pincsf.org/policies for policies and disclaimers.