Synthesis

The formation of an integrated whole from its component parts, synthesis refers to the integration of all the factors of which the personality comprises, to the intactness of the personality and to the ability of the psyche to keep its component parts from dissociating. It thus denotes a condition of health as opposed to neurosis. Synthesis may also refer to the ability to comprehend a situation as a whole. It covers the range of simplification, generalization and harmonization and, ultimately, of understanding. Distributive synthesis involves the consideration of the factors necessary to achieve security, reviewed after each session of psychotherapy. Creative synthesis is a principle by which the psychic structure represents more than the sum of its elements, conceived to include not only feelings, sensations and objective circumstances but also subjective values and goals. Syllabic synthesis refers to the condensing of two or more words into one new word, such as occurs in dreams and schizophrenic fantasies.