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Psychoanalytic theory attempts to advance previous conceptualizations of its main ideas to improve our understanding of the human mind. By relying on clinical observations and the construction of hypotheses, crucial themes are questioned, discussed, and elaborated. Although things are changing, within psychoanalysis proper it is still relatively rare to see the inclusion of knowledge coming from fields different from psychoanalysis. Neuropsychoanalysis has always provided a space for integrating models and data from other disciplines. This issue presents several outstanding papers that take up that challenge, and cover important topics such as object relations theory, enactment and acting out, and the motivation/energization function of the mental apparatus.
Our Target Article in this issue is an important paper by Otto Kernberg (2021) entitled “Some Implications of New Developments in Neurobiology for Psychoanalytic Object Relations Theory.” This integrative article by one of the most esteemed and prominent psychoanalytic theoreticians sheds new light on the subject of object relations theory and its importance in the growing integration with neuropsychoanalysis. Dr. Kernberg has made major contributions to recent object-relations models and their relationship with ego-psychology, Kleinian theory, and self-psychology. He leads the team practicing the model of transference focused psychotherapy, which is contributing to the psychotherapy of borderline syndromes. In this Target Article he summarizes his well-known model of the three-stage development of the self from infancy, to an intermediate or borderline level, to the more adult neurotic level, and here he brings in the information from neuropsychoanalysis and many aspects from brain models. He sets the stage by summarizing the recent history of the ascendance of the model of affect theory as foundational in the understanding of mind and brain processes. And he extends this to an advanced theory of object relation