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Psychotherapy and the Embodiment of the Neuronal Identity: A Hermeneutic Study of Louis Cozolino's (2010) The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy: Healing the Social Brain

Natinsky, Ari Simon
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1399924216

Abstract Details

2014, Psy. D., Antioch University, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology.
In recent years, there have been several ways in which researchers have attempted to integrate psychotherapy and neuroscience research. Neuroscience has been proposed as a method of addressing lingering questions about how best to integrate psychotherapy theories and explain their efficacy. For example, some psychotherapy outcome studies have included neuroimaging of participants in order to propose neurobiological bases of effective psychological interventions (e.g., Paquette et al., 2003). Other theorists have used cognitive neuroscience research to suggest neurobiological correlates of various psychotherapy theories and concepts (e.g., Schore, 2012). These efforts seem to embody broader historical trends, including the hope that neuroscience can resolve philosophical questions about the relationship between mind and body, as well as the popular appeal of contemporary brain research. In this hermeneutic dissertation I examined a popular neuropsychotherapy text in order to explore the historical fit between neuroscience and psychotherapy. The study identifies the possible understandings of the self (i.e., what it means to be human) that could arise from Western therapy discourses that are based on neuroscientific interpretations of psychotherapy theories. The methodology of this dissertation consisted of a critical textual analysis of Louis Cozolino's (2010) The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy: Healing the Social Brain. The primary content, rhetorical strategies, and recurring themes in Cozolino's book were outlined and interpreted from a hermeneutic perspective. This included a historical critique of Cozolino's claims about the origins, purpose, and efficacy of psychotherapy, his assertions about the relationship between self and brain, and examples of his psychotherapy case vignettes. Rhetorical strategies in his writing included analogy, ambiguity, speculative language, and figures of speech such as metaphor and personification. A discussion of these findings addressed the implications of Cozolino's efforts with regards to patient care, psychotherapy theory integration, and the possible effects that these efforts may have on the profession of psychology. The electronic version of this dissertation is at OhioLink ETD Center, www.ohiolink.edu/etd .
Philip Cushman, PhD (Committee Chair)
Alejandra Suarez , PhD (Committee Member)
Gary Walls, PhD (Committee Member)
328 p.
Clinical Psychology; Mental Health; Modern History; Neurosciences; Philosophy; Philosophy of Science; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Science History; Therapy
hermeneutics; neuroscience; interpersonal neurobiology; neuropsychotherapy; brain-based psychotherapy; neuroimaging; biomedicine; self; selfhood; psychotherapy; clinical psychology; theoretical and philosophical psychology; textual analysis; rhetoric

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Natinsky, A. S. (2014). Psychotherapy and the Embodiment of the Neuronal Identity: A Hermeneutic Study of Louis Cozolino's (2010) The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy: Healing the Social Brain [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1399924216

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Natinsky, Ari. Psychotherapy and the Embodiment of the Neuronal Identity: A Hermeneutic Study of Louis Cozolino's (2010) The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy: Healing the Social Brain . 2014. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1399924216.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Natinsky, Ari. "Psychotherapy and the Embodiment of the Neuronal Identity: A Hermeneutic Study of Louis Cozolino's (2010) The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy: Healing the Social Brain ." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1399924216

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1399924216
949
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This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.