The Birth of Intersubjectivity: Psychodynamics, Neurobiology, and the Self (The Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology)
“In [this book], Massimo Ammaniti and Vittorio Gallese, both high-profile researchers, offer a tour de force overview of the current understanding of intersubjectivity: how an individual relates to and understands others.” (PsychCentral)“The masterful collaboration of a creative clinician and a leading investigator of the brain’s relationally programmed motor neuron mirroring system. Intersubjectivity, or shared meaning, is at the forefront of discourse in psychoanalysis and the neurosciences. The authors’ engaging review of emerging scientific knowledge, ongoing work, and new integrated thinking about the prospect of early preventive intervention will benefit a wide readership.” (Robert N. Emde, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado; Honorary President, World Association for Infant Mental Health)“Exploring new science that proves the sympathetic transfer of intentions and feelings between bodies and brains, Gallese and Ammaniti deepen psychoanalytic insights on how an expectant mother’s love for her infant supports the growth of intimate trust and joyful companionship after birth. Clinical accounts argue that the anxieties of mothers and fathers may harm these vital intersubjective bonds and undermine the developing self-confidence of a child.  Defining principles of care for the growth of individuals in relationships with knowledge and insight, the authors offer important guidelines for protective and therapeutic practices of all kinds to aid new families.” (Colwyn Trevarthen, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Child Psychology and Psychobiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh)“The Birth of Intersubjectivityis the most sophisticated, comprehensive, and ambitious book on the subject. With rigor and grace, Ammaniti and Gallese integrate knowledge from cognitive neuroscience, infant mental health, psychoanalysis, genetics, neonatology, and the arts to propose a rich vision of what makes us distinctly human. Bringing a contemporary European perspective to North Americans, this book is indispensable for both clinicians and researchers alike.” (Stephen Seligman, DMH, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Infant-Parent Program, University of California, San Francisco; Joint Editor-in-Chief, Psychoanalytic Dialogues)