The significance of infant research for psychoanalysis

Abstract

Abstract Psychoanalysis and infant research have strengthened cooperation in the current interdisciplinary dialog. The theoretical significance of infant research for psychoanalysis includes the consideration of individual “sociality” from birth, as opposed to the traditional psychoanalytic hypothesis of the “autistic” infant; such research creates openness in existing psychoanalytic mental models. It can also provide reliable evidence for the early development of various abilities and childhood amnesia, support psychoanalysis beyond linear causality, and create a framework for the theoretical integration of psychoanalysis. Infant research for psychoanalysis may present evidence of the healing effect of analyst–client relationships, encourage analysts to prioritize nonverbal information during treatment, and create opportunities for new psychoanalytic therapy technologies.