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The Development of the Unconscious Mind
An exploration of how the unconscious is formed and functions by one of our most renowned experts on emotion and the brain. This book traces the evolution of the concept of the unconscious from an intangible, metapsychological abstraction to a psychoneurobiological function of a tangible brain. An integration of current findings in the neurobiological and developmental sciences offers a deeper understanding of the dynamic mechanisms of the unconscious. The relevance of this reformulation to clinical work is a central theme of Schore's other new book, Right Brain Psychotherapy . 12 black and white illustrations
- GenresPsychologyNonfiction
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
20 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Allan N. Schore
34 books84 followersAllan N. Schore (/ʃɔr/; born February 20, 1943) is a leading researcher in the field of neuropsychology, whose contributions have influenced the fields of affective neuroscience, neuropsychiatry, trauma theory, developmental psychology, attachment theory, pediatrics, infant mental health, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and behavioral biology.
Schore is on the clinical faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, and at the UCLA Center for Culture, Brain, and Development. He is author of the seminal volume Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self, now in its 11th printing, and two recent books Affect Dysregulation and Disorders of the Self and Affect Regulation and the Repair of the Self, as well as numerous articles and chapters. Schore is Editor of the acclaimed Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology, and a reviewer or on the editorial staff of 27 journals.
Schore is on the clinical faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, and at the UCLA Center for Culture, Brain, and Development. He is author of the seminal volume Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self, now in its 11th printing, and two recent books Affect Dysregulation and Disorders of the Self and Affect Regulation and the Repair of the Self, as well as numerous articles and chapters. Schore is Editor of the acclaimed Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology, and a reviewer or on the editorial staff of 27 journals.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 7, 2022
Spectacular writing on the “new (relational) paradigm” (kind of old at this point, but still) in psychiatry, psychology and psychotherapy based on interpersonal neurobiology.
Schore posits a paradigm shift away from a single person psychology, toward a relational (two person) psychology.
The first theme of the paradigm shift is toward the centrality of emotion (as opposed to behavior and cognition) in the human experience, and within the fields of psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience and psychotherapy.
The second theme of the paradigm shift involves converging interests in self-regulation and emotional regulation in the same afore mentioned fields.
The third theme of the paradigm shift is reflected in the explosion of research in developmental affective neuroscience, particularly in reference to studies of prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal development occurring between the the last trimester of pregnancy through the second year.
The fourth theme of the new paradigm involves findings on early brain lateralization indicating that the right brain develops before the left in human infants, and that attachment interactions during the critical period of the early developing right brain effect social and emotional development and later functioning and wellbeing.
Schore asserts that this new paradigm makes it clear that emotional wellbeing is forged in attuned “right brain-to-right brain” attachment communications in the first 2 years of life. And that the primary focus of psychotherapy should be to promote development of more adaptive self and emotional regulation via “right brain-to-right brain” “somatically attuned” communications within the therapeutic dyad.
In essence, the “talking cure” is better conceived of as the deeply experienced, embodied and relational communication cure.
Essential (CRUCIAL) reading for any therapist.
5/5 ⭐️
Schore posits a paradigm shift away from a single person psychology, toward a relational (two person) psychology.
The first theme of the paradigm shift is toward the centrality of emotion (as opposed to behavior and cognition) in the human experience, and within the fields of psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience and psychotherapy.
The second theme of the paradigm shift involves converging interests in self-regulation and emotional regulation in the same afore mentioned fields.
The third theme of the paradigm shift is reflected in the explosion of research in developmental affective neuroscience, particularly in reference to studies of prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal development occurring between the the last trimester of pregnancy through the second year.
The fourth theme of the new paradigm involves findings on early brain lateralization indicating that the right brain develops before the left in human infants, and that attachment interactions during the critical period of the early developing right brain effect social and emotional development and later functioning and wellbeing.
Schore asserts that this new paradigm makes it clear that emotional wellbeing is forged in attuned “right brain-to-right brain” attachment communications in the first 2 years of life. And that the primary focus of psychotherapy should be to promote development of more adaptive self and emotional regulation via “right brain-to-right brain” “somatically attuned” communications within the therapeutic dyad.
In essence, the “talking cure” is better conceived of as the deeply experienced, embodied and relational communication cure.
Essential (CRUCIAL) reading for any therapist.
5/5 ⭐️
March 28, 2020
The work of Schore is amazing: attachment theory, neurobiology and research in neuroscience. Basically, this book talks about the importance of right hemisphere and it's relation with the concept of "unconscious" in the psychoanalitic literature. Is worth mention the importance Schore gives to human interaction - specially mother/child attachment relationship- as a necessary experience for right hemisphere development and its connection with other subcortical areas, system related to affect regulation. There are two chapters in wich he discusses the effects of not having a proper attachment relationship and its relationship with affect dysregulation.
One critic to the book: quite repetitive in some parts. Gives the sense each chapter does not have a continuity trough the book.
One critic to the book: quite repetitive in some parts. Gives the sense each chapter does not have a continuity trough the book.
December 27, 2025
I love Schore’s integration of modern psychoanalysis and attachment psychology with developmental psychology and neuroscience, his formulation of affect regulation theory. His interdisciplinary reach is impressive and innovative yet I find his writings have some flaws.
He is very repetitive and self-referential. Although signposting can make academic writing more palatable, I feel that he over uses it. Every new subsection seems to signpost what has been said and what will be read next. I think it weakens the flow of the book.
I appreciate his extensive referencing, but I feel that his method of directly quoting academics in different fields to show overlap of findings begs the question Has there been cherry picking or misrepresentation?
Finally, I read this book after ready Right Brain Psychotherapy (they are somewhat of companion books) and I felt that I basically learnt nothing new in this book.
Schore draws on a lot of interesting interdisciplinary research and some clinical experience, pushing forward the field of interpersonal neurobiology and our understanding of human relationships and emotions. It’s worth checking him out but it might be a wordy and repetitive read.
He is very repetitive and self-referential. Although signposting can make academic writing more palatable, I feel that he over uses it. Every new subsection seems to signpost what has been said and what will be read next. I think it weakens the flow of the book.
I appreciate his extensive referencing, but I feel that his method of directly quoting academics in different fields to show overlap of findings begs the question Has there been cherry picking or misrepresentation?
Finally, I read this book after ready Right Brain Psychotherapy (they are somewhat of companion books) and I felt that I basically learnt nothing new in this book.
Schore draws on a lot of interesting interdisciplinary research and some clinical experience, pushing forward the field of interpersonal neurobiology and our understanding of human relationships and emotions. It’s worth checking him out but it might be a wordy and repetitive read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews