Deutsche Gesellschaft
für phänomenologische Forschung

Buch | Kapitel

183073

The phenomenological psychosomatic theory

Jennifer Bullington

pp. 59-79

Abstrakt

In this chapter, the phenomenological theory of psychosomatics is presented. The solution to the mind–body problematic is shown to be found in the concept of the lived body and the relationship between body—world as flesh. The psychosomatic condition is understood as a disarticulation of self and world, which is the result of a collapsed meaning-constitution at the higher (psychosocial) levels. The body takes over the task of expression (meaning-constitution at the level of the body), attempting to manage a life situation by using bodily structures which are not adapted to this level of meaning. Merleau-Pontian concepts are used in order to understand psychosomatics as a specific way of being-in-the-world. The consequences of this understanding of psychosomatics for the clinical encounter are drawn out. Teaching psychosomatics and supervision of psychosomatic case work is also discussed from this perspective. The theory is illustrated with patient examples.

Publication details

Published in:

Bullington Jennifer (2013) The expression of the psychosomatic body from a phenomenological perspective. Dordrecht, Springer.

Seiten: 59-79

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-6498-9_5

Referenz:

Bullington Jennifer (2013) The phenomenological psychosomatic theory, In: The expression of the psychosomatic body from a phenomenological perspective, Dordrecht, Springer, 59–79.