Psychic equivalence

Psychic equivalence describes a mind-state where no distinction is drawn between the contents of the mind and the external world - where what is thought in the mind is assumed to be automatically true.

## Contents

* 1 Origins
* 2 In later life
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Origins

Psychic equivalence is a primitive mind-state which precedes in infancy the capacity for mentalization, that is, for reflection upon both inner and outer worlds. In psychic equivalence mode, if the child thinks there is a monster in the closet it believes there really is a monster in the closet;[1] if the inner world feels harmonious, the world outside is also harmonious.[2] Psychic equivalence is thus a form of concrete understanding of the world, self-convinced, that blocks all curiosity about alternative mind-views.[3]

## In later life

Psychic equivalence reappears in later life in the course of dreams, delusions, and traumatic flashbacks.[4] It involves a temporary loss of awareness of the difference between external reality and the contents of the mind:[5] thus in post traumatic stress disorder the individual is convinced (perhaps years later) they are actually back in the situation of the original trauma, a complete loss of perspective.[6]

Where a defensive false self has been built up since infancy to defend against the anxieties of psychic equivalence, subsequent collapse of the narcissistic structure can lead to the re-emergence of the terrifying impingement by reality of psychic equivalence.[7]

## See also

* Delirium
* Ego loss
* Limit-experience
* Magical thinking
* Oceanic feeling
* Symbolic equation
* Wish fulfillment

## References

1. ↑ J Allen, Mentalizing in Clinical Practice (2008) p. 90
2. ↑ S Fraiberg, The Magic Years (New York 1987) p. 7
3. ↑ P Robinson, Hunger (2018) p. 22 and p. 56
4. ↑ J Allen, Mentalizing in Clinical Practice (2008) p. 91-2
5. ↑ P Williams ed, The Psychoanalytic Therapy of Severe Disturbances (2010) p. 51-2
6. ↑ D Goleman, Emotional Intelligence (London 1996) p. 203
7. ↑ G Goodman Transforming the Internal World and Attachment 1 (2010) p. 182

## External links

* psychic equivalence

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