The Healing Power of Emotion: Affective Neuroscience, Development & Clinical Practice (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology) by Daniel J. Siegel & Marion Solomon & Diana Fosha

Author:Daniel J. Siegel & Marion Solomon & Diana Fosha [Siegel, Daniel J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Norton
Published: 2011-04-04T00:00:00+00:00

Transformation is fundamental to our natures. Deep in our brains, there for the awakening and activation in facilitating environments, lodge wired-in dispositions for self-healing and self-righting (Doidge, 2007; Emde, 1983; Gendlin, 1996; Sander, 2002; Siegel, 2007) and for resuming impeded growth (Ghent, 1990; Grotstein, 2004; Winnicott, 1960/1965). Transformance is my term for the overarching motivational force that strives toward maximal vitality, authenticity, adaptation, and coherence, and thus leads to growth and transformation (Fosha, 2008). Naturally occurring affective change processes, such as emotion, dyadic affect regulation, and the empathic recognition of the self (Fosha, 2002), are manifestations of transformance-driven processes.

Transformance is the motivational counterpart of resistance. Whereas resistance is fueled by dread and the desire to avoid bad feelings, transformance is driven by hope and the search for the vitalizing positive experience. Resistance drives processes that achieve safety in the short run but eventuate in languishing, deterioration, and immobility; transformance drives processes that involve risk taking in the short run but eventuate in flourishing, resilience, health, and longevity (Fredrickson & Losada, 2005; Loizzo, in press). Wired for transformance, we naturally seek contexts in which we can surrender to our transformance strivings.

Key to the notion of transformance is its appetitive nature. “The brain…is not an inanimate vessel that we fill; rather it is more like a living creature with an appetite, one that can grow and change itself with proper nourishment and exercise” (Doidge, 2007, p. 47). We fulfill transformance strivings because we are wired to do so. When we do so, it feels good. And because it feels good, we want to do so more. The brain, motivated to learn from experience, responds plastically, for plasticity and motivation are linked (Doidge, 2007). Positive affects—that is, the reward aspect of enacting transformance strivings—light up the way. Whether we are talking about the secretion of dopamine and acetylcholine, or of oxytocin, or about the down-regulation of the amygdala as states of fear are replaced with exploratory states (Schore, personal communication, July 23, 2008), the brain registers and marks the positive nature of the experience and seeks to reengage it. In the process, we change and grow.

Finally, crisis and intense emotional suffering, when experienced in conditions of safety, can be a great boon to transformance strivings: The alchemy of transformance strivings together with the drive to relieve distress is an unbeatable mix for change.

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