Aliaskari F.
(2026). Differentiation of Self Through Dialogue: A Psychoanalytic Analysis of Identity Development in the Context of the Third Space. Rooyesh. 15(4), 309-318.
URL: http://frooyesh.ir/article-1-7119-en.html
M A. in Positive Psychology, Department of Islamic Sciences and Psychology, University of Quran and Hadith, Qom, Iran. , fa.aliaskari@gmail.com
Abstract: (41 Views)
This study elucidates self-differentiation as a dynamic achievement within intersubjective dialogue and the "Third Space". It argues that self-differentiation, as a developmental telos, is achieved not through rigid fixation, but through dialogical engagement with differences, manifesting as flexibility in encountering diverse experiences. Adopting a theoretical-analytical approach, the research examines key concepts from object relations (Klein, Winnicott, Benjamin) and dialogical philosophy (Buber). Concepts such as the “depressive position,” “potential space,” “intersubjective thirdness,” and “I–Thou” are analyzed to articulate the mechanism of differentiation through dialogue. Findings indicate that self-differentiation emerges from the self’s capacity to remain in dialogue and tolerate the anxiety of difference within the intersubjective field. A differentiated self maintains a state of suspension and openness—beyond reflexive agreement or disagreement—to integrate multiple experiences into a coherent structure. Within this framework, identity flexibility is conceptualized as a transition from binary “either/or” logic toward a “both/and” horizon, expanding the self-structure through dialogue. Conversely, identity rigidity results from the foreclosure of dialogue and fixation in primary identifications, where an inability to metabolize alterity prevents transformation within the relational field. Ultimately, identity maturity depends on mutual recognition within the intersubjective space, enabling the transcendence of premature identities and the emergence of a dialogically constituted subjectivity capable of relating to intrapsychic and interpersonal differences without losing self-integration.
Type of Article:
Analysis |
Subject:
Psychoanalysis- Analytical psychology Received: 2026/05/13 | Accepted: 2026/05/23 | ePublished: 2026/07/1