Hoffnung als psychische Entwicklungsdynamik

Based on the myth of Pandora, hope can be understood as a central psychological development factor that favors the temporal experience, the internalization of differentiation and the emergence of symbolization processes as well as helping to preserve a playful and creative possibility for change processes. A positive dynamic of hope is essential, especially in the emotionally vulnerable period of adolescence. The work illustrates this with the film “Life of Pi”. The film, rich in symbolism, metaphorically depicts the seemingly hopeless struggle for survival of an adolescent on the ocean. The film touches on overarching themes, not least man’s exposure to the forces of nature. In a subsequent clinical example, the treatment of a patient is used to illustrate how important it was for his further development to have a fundamental hope projectively shared with the analyst in order to overcome stagnation in the treatment. The experience of hope presupposes the recognition of temporality and limitations. Being able to hold on to good object introjects in uncertain times increases confidence in the future. In analytic work, the experience of hope is related to “not knowing” and an ability of the analyst to endure uncertainty in a “position of patience”.