Movement as a psychophysical process : the interrelationships between the psyche and the body.

This thesis examines the interrelationships between the body and its
movement and psychic and emotional states by bringing together two
disciplines - movement analysis and psychoanalysis - for comparison and
synthesis.
The groundwork is laid by presenting theory from both disciplines -
Laban Movement Analysis, particularly Effort theory, is a key resource
and is brought into contact with relevant themes from psychoanalytic
object relations. A synthesis of the theoretical frameworks is applied to
the analysis of data from four psychoanalytic observational studies of
infants and young children, in order to recognize and describe emergent
themes over time. The potential benefits of this blending of languages is
further tested by applying It to clinical work with three adult patients in
Individual movement based and psychoanalytically Informed
psychotherapy. In exploring how this synthesis works in practice,
particular attention Is paid to the ways In which unconscious primitive
psychophysical patterns, of the kind described in the Infant and child
observations, are drawn out my work with adults.
The following questions are considered: What can relevant aspects of
psychoanalytic theory contribute to the perception and understanding of
emotional and psychological processes, which may help to underpin
dance movement therapists' theoretical understanding? Conversely, can
close attention to movement, supported by the analysis and experiential
practice of movement, offer an added dimension of insight into the
perception of emotional and psychic processes which could be of use to
psychotherapists?

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