Affect integration and reflexive function
Several therapy models place emphasise on the meaning of affect-regulation, modulation or integration of emotions for reflexive function and development in therapy. There exist however several ambiguities with regard to understanding and operationalizing of the phenomena affect integration, this especially concerns underlying mechanisms, the meaning of qualitatively different emotional conditions, together with the establishment of operationalized criteria for measurement of such a phenomena.
The term affect consciousness and mentalization is discussed and applied in an attempt to clarify which meaning affect integration on different levels can have for reflexive function and development in therapy.
See manuscript submitted with a view to publication nr.1
Solbakken,O.A., Hansen, R.S, Havik, O.E & Monsen, J.T. (2010).
Empirical validation of the term Affect Consciousness
Affect consciousness interviews, combined with observer and self-assessed mental-pathology scales from 155 patients were analysed.
A factor structure for affect consciousness became revealed which indicated higher dimensions for unpleasant feelings than for pleasant and where the 9 theoretic specified affects became identified as distinct factors.
The different levels of affect consciousness scores were consistent and robust related to general measurements of mental health, further the consciousness of particular emotions, systematically and predictably related to different specific types of interpersonal problems.
See publication nr 22.
Solbakken,O.A., Hansen, R.S, Havik, O.E & Monsen, J.T. (In press). Affect Integration: Validation of the Affect Consciousness Construct. Journal of Personality Assessment.