The future orientation of constructive memory: An evolutionary perspective on therapeutic hypnosis and brief psychotherapy

We explore a new distinction between the future, prospective memory system being investigated in current neuroscience and the past, retrospective memory system, which was the original theoretical foundation of therapeutic hypnosis, classical psychoanalysis, and psychotherapy. We then generalize a current evolutionary theory of sleep and dreaming, which focuses on the future, prospective memory system, to conceptualize a new evolutionary perspective on therapeutic hypnosis and brief psychotherapy. The implication of current neuroscience research is that activity-dependent gene expression and brain plasticity are the psychobiological basis of adaptive behavior, consciousness, and creativity in everyday life as well as psychotherapy. We summarize a case illustrating how this evolutionary perspective can be used to quickly resolve problems with past obstructive procrastination in school to facilitate current and future academic success.

Onward: The future orientation of constructive memory

This is an extension of "The Future Orientation of Constructive Memory" published in 2008 (Rossi, Erickson-Klein & Rossi). In a context of neuroscience, questions were raised regarding retrospective functions of dreaming. This paper summarizes the ideas from the original article and provides updates relevant to studies that have been conducted in the interim. The 4-Stage Creative Process model is used to conceptualize the manner in which activity-dependent genomic stimulation contributes to future adaptive behaviors. Neurophysiological constructs are discussed with their relevance to clinical practice. Two case summaries illustrate the application of the 4-Stage Creative Process as a framework for therapeutic hypnosis and permissive suggestion. The collaboration between Ernest Rossi and Milton Erickson offers an increasingly relevant and nuanced understanding about the interface of behavior, genomic expression, and activity-dependent gene expression.