Self‐disorder explained: Yasunaga's “Phantom Space Theory” on schizophrenia
Abstract The present article revisits the theoretical model of schizophrenia by Hiroshi YASUNAGA (1929–2011). Yasunaga restated ego disturbance in schizophrenia as the “Pattern Reversal” between selfhood and otherness, based on British philosopher Wauchope's concept of “pattern.” This concept i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-06-01
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| Series: | PCN Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.90 |
| _version_ | 1797795008049315840 |
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| author | Tsutomu Kumazaki Naoki Hayashi |
| author_facet | Tsutomu Kumazaki Naoki Hayashi |
| author_sort | Tsutomu Kumazaki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The present article revisits the theoretical model of schizophrenia by Hiroshi YASUNAGA (1929–2011). Yasunaga restated ego disturbance in schizophrenia as the “Pattern Reversal” between selfhood and otherness, based on British philosopher Wauchope's concept of “pattern.” This concept is meant as asymmetrical relatedness (A/B) within a pair of concepts, such as life and death, quality and quantity, and self and other, prioritizing the former (A side) over the latter (B side). When applied to the pair of self and other, the pattern is vital for human experiences, and its disruption fundamentally alters every lived experience. Subsequently, Yasunaga extended the theory of pattern and invented his original “Phantom Space Theory,” in which he postulated “Phantom Space,” an experiential space that constitutes system a (A‐side‐led and consciously determined distance) and system a' (B‐side‐dominated and extra‐consciously given distance). He then constructed a kind of neural system model composed of systems a and a', and thereby schematically presented a novel viewpoint on experiences of self and the outside world. The theory further illustrated how the hypothesized imbalance (Phantom Space shrinkage or diminished elasticity of system a') causes symptoms of schizophrenia, such as ego disturbances, auditory hallucinations, and other unspecific symptoms. This article then examines the clinical and theoretical implications of Yasunaga's psychiatric works. Phantom Space Theory is a non‐stigmatizing account of schizophrenia because it does not presuppose personal or existential causes of psychosis. The relationship between Phantom Space Theory and dual‐process theory is also explored. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:11:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc4e60f21a944285970d51f7e35c3f63 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2769-2558 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:11:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PCN Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc4e60f21a944285970d51f7e35c3f632023-06-26T13:14:28ZengWileyPCN Reports2769-25582023-06-0122n/an/a10.1002/pcn5.90Self‐disorder explained: Yasunaga's “Phantom Space Theory” on schizophreniaTsutomu Kumazaki0Naoki Hayashi1Health Service Center Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Tokyo JapanDepartment of Psychiatry Nishigahara Hospital Tokyo JapanAbstract The present article revisits the theoretical model of schizophrenia by Hiroshi YASUNAGA (1929–2011). Yasunaga restated ego disturbance in schizophrenia as the “Pattern Reversal” between selfhood and otherness, based on British philosopher Wauchope's concept of “pattern.” This concept is meant as asymmetrical relatedness (A/B) within a pair of concepts, such as life and death, quality and quantity, and self and other, prioritizing the former (A side) over the latter (B side). When applied to the pair of self and other, the pattern is vital for human experiences, and its disruption fundamentally alters every lived experience. Subsequently, Yasunaga extended the theory of pattern and invented his original “Phantom Space Theory,” in which he postulated “Phantom Space,” an experiential space that constitutes system a (A‐side‐led and consciously determined distance) and system a' (B‐side‐dominated and extra‐consciously given distance). He then constructed a kind of neural system model composed of systems a and a', and thereby schematically presented a novel viewpoint on experiences of self and the outside world. The theory further illustrated how the hypothesized imbalance (Phantom Space shrinkage or diminished elasticity of system a') causes symptoms of schizophrenia, such as ego disturbances, auditory hallucinations, and other unspecific symptoms. This article then examines the clinical and theoretical implications of Yasunaga's psychiatric works. Phantom Space Theory is a non‐stigmatizing account of schizophrenia because it does not presuppose personal or existential causes of psychosis. The relationship between Phantom Space Theory and dual‐process theory is also explored.https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.90delusiondual‐process theoryego disturbancepsychopathologyschizophrenia |
| spellingShingle | Tsutomu Kumazaki Naoki Hayashi Self‐disorder explained: Yasunaga's “Phantom Space Theory” on schizophrenia PCN Reports delusion dual‐process theory ego disturbance psychopathology schizophrenia |
| title | Self‐disorder explained: Yasunaga's “Phantom Space Theory” on schizophrenia |
| title_full | Self‐disorder explained: Yasunaga's “Phantom Space Theory” on schizophrenia |
| title_fullStr | Self‐disorder explained: Yasunaga's “Phantom Space Theory” on schizophrenia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self‐disorder explained: Yasunaga's “Phantom Space Theory” on schizophrenia |
| title_short | Self‐disorder explained: Yasunaga's “Phantom Space Theory” on schizophrenia |
| title_sort | self disorder explained yasunaga s phantom space theory on schizophrenia |
| topic | delusion dual‐process theory ego disturbance psychopathology schizophrenia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.90 |
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