Vitality Forms

Abstract This chapter provides a detailed review of the forms, defined as vitality forms by Daniel Stern, that characterize the dynamics of an action or an emotional reaction. This concept has twofold relevance for the purposes of this book: firstly, no action or emotion expression exists without being qualified by a vitality form and the differences between the various vitality forms cannot be interpreted in terms of difference of content; secondly, the capacity of representing our own vitality forms and those of others plays a key role in the appearance and development of various forms of intersubjectivity. Although research in the field of vitality forms is still in the early stages, there is data to support the proposition that the mirror property for action-related vitality forms is present in certain brain structures, such as the dorso-central portion of the insula.