A neuro-psychoanalytic perspective on pain

Authors

  • Mark Solms

Abstract

In this little paper I set out the essential conceptual distinction between physical and mental pain. My conclusion is that pain, in the colloquial sense that we normally use the word, is in fact always a mental phenomenon. The physical aspect of pain is merely a submodality of general somatic sensation, no more unpleasant in itself than touch, temperature, or vibration sense. Pain is an exteroceptive sensation which signifies a property of the object, whereas unpleasure is an interoceptive feeling which conveys a state of the subject.

Keywords:
Neuro-psychoanalytic perspective; Pain; Unpleasure; Exteroceptive sensation; Interoceptive feeling; Mind-body relationship; Mental apparatus

Author Biography

Mark Solms

Prof. Mark Solms ist zur Zeit u.a. Professor für Neuro-Psychologie an der Universität von Kapstadt, Gastprofessor für Neurochirurgie an der St. Bartholomew's und der
Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Lehrbeauftragter für Psychologie am University College London, Direktor des International Neuro-Psychoanalysis Centre in London. Er hat zahlreiche Artikel und Bücher geschrieben, u.a. (zusammen mit Oliver Turnbull) „Das Gehirn und seine innere Welt“ und (zusammen mit Karen Kaplan-Solms) „Neuro-Psychoanalyse: eine Einführung mit Fallstudien“.

Korrespondenz: Prof. Mark Solms,
The International Neuro-Psychoanalysis Centre, 21 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SD, Großbritannien

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Published

2005-10-01

How to Cite

Solms, M. (2005). A neuro-psychoanalytic perspective on pain. Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, (4), 143–145. Retrieved from https://psychotherapie-wissenschaft.info/article/view/348

Issue

No. 4 (2005): Psychotherapie Forum 13/4 (veröffentlicht bei Springer Wien New York)

Section

Special Issue

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