Electrocaloric Cooler and Heat Pump

System and methods are disclosed for controlled thermal energy energy transfer. The system includes a thermal energy source, a thermal energy sink, spaced apart from the thermal energy source, an electrocaloric structure carried by a suspension and configured for alternating physical movement between thermal communication with the thermal energy source and thermal communication with the thermal energy sink, and a control signal source simultaneously providing both a temperature control signal for controlling the temperature of the electrocaloric structure and a movement control signal for controlling the alternating physical movement of the electrocaloric structure between thermal communication with the thermal energy source and thermal communication with the heat sink. Heating or cooling of a desired element may be provided. Movement control may be electrostatic, magnetic, mechanical, etc., and is self-synchronizing with the field employed for temperature control in the electrocaloric structure.