Trauma and the Zero Process: Theoretical Considerations

Abstract

The basic idea, developed in a previous paper, of post traumatic zero process memories as something that behave more like lived present or future experiences is further elaborated. The nature of the perceptual apparatus of the mind, and the way zero process memories come to partially invade the perceptual and action apparatuses rather than living in the memory systems, is described. This invasion means that the traumatized person comes to live in two worlds, with the zero process memories playing out in the present and influencing their thoughts, feelings, and actions. The characteristics of the zero process are compared to those of the primary process, which Freud discovered as the very different way in which the deeper emotional mind works. While they are often confused, it is argued that the nature of the timelessness, reality distortion, and basic drives that can be seen in these two forms of functioning are quite different. Borderline personality disorder is briefly described as dominated by characteristics of the primary process, and is contrasted with post traumatic states, dominated by the zero process. With a deeper and more accurate understanding of the zero process, it can be seen that many things can have a zero process form, and a number of these are described: zero process defenses, zero process objects (introjects), zero process mourning, and zero process symptoms. The use of the concept of the zero process to comprehend intergenerational transmission of trauma is described.