Psychoanalysis and Motivational Systems

"The motivational systems theory advanced by Lichtenberg, Lachmann, and Fosshage has provided clinicians with invaluable tools for tracking the unfolding of affects, intentions, goals, and mental states within the therapeutic relationship. The present volume offers a welcome new look at this theory and its clinical implications from the perspective of nonlinear dynamic systems theory. Complex psychological phenomena---such as love and hatred, selfhood and identity, and creativity---are shown to emerge from the fluidly shifting interplay of multiple motivational systems, always complexly embedded in a nexus of relational contexts. Psychoanalytic therapists at all levels of experience will find this guiding framework to be immensely helpful in their clinical work."---Robert D. Stolorow, Ph.D., author, Trauma and Human Existence (Routledge, 2007)

"As psychoanalysis moved from an exclusively one-person model to that of an irreducible intersubjective relational mode, it became necessary to construct a new metatheory to encompass this change and replace that of the former. The formulations put forward in this new work by Lichtenberg, Lachmann, and Fosshage convincingly fill that void. The metatheory they propose centers around the newer concept of intention replacing need as first cause and as the activation of a motivational system. Their invocation of the concept of "fractals" to comprehend the experience of continuity of identity along different scales of the mind is both innovative and exciting. The authors have constructed a metatheory within a larger and smaller theory---like Russian dolls---all regulated spontaneously from within and under the influence of an overarching metatheory, all based on human experience. I found the authors' work to be exciting, innovative yet pragmatic, and refreshing---a most welcome advance to the psychoanalytic literature and holding great promise for the future."---James S. Grotstein, M.D., Psychoanalytic Center of California

Lichtenberg, Lachmann, and Fosshage's latest book takes a new look at motivational systems theory, which aims to identify the components and organization of mental states and the process by which affects, intentions, and goals unfold. Opening by placing motivational systems theory within a contemporary dynamic systems theory, the authors respond to critics of motivational systems theory before presenting revisions to their approach to the original five motivational systems theory before presenting revisions to their approach to the original five motivational systems, adding two more: an affiliative and a caregiving mtivational system. The authors go on to suggest, using ideas garnered from complexity theory and fractals, that motivational systems theory can help us understand how a continuity of self can be maintained despite near-constant fluctuations in interpersonal relations. Next, they describe a two-stage process by which implicit and explicit inferences are made. They apply their theory to an actual human experience---love---to demonstrate the interplay of multiple shifting motivations within an individual, Last, they present new looks at the clinical applicability of their ongoing research.