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The concept of [[{{Topp}}adapt|adaptation]] (''adaptation'') is a biological concept (see [[biology]]); organisms are supposed to be driven to adapt themselves to fit the environment. Adaptation implies a harmonious relation between the ''Innenwelt'' (inner world) and ''Umwelt'' (surrounding world).{{Bottom}}

==Biological Concept==The [[Ego-Psychologyconcept]] of [[adaptation]] applies this is a [[biology|biological ]] [[:category:concepts|concept ]]; [[biology|organism]]s are supposed to be driven to [[adapt]] themselves to psychoanalysis, explaining neurotic symptoms in terms of maladaptive behaviour fit the [[biology|environment]]. [[Adaptation]] implies a [[harmonious]] relation between the ''[[Adaptation|Innenwelt]]'' (such as applying archaic defence mechanisms in contexts where they are no longer appropriateinner [[world]]), and arguing that the aim of psychoanalytic treatment is to help the patient adapt to reality''[[adaptation|Umwelt]]'' (surrounding world).

==Ego-Psychology==[[Ego-psychology]] applies the [[biological]] concept of [[adaptation]] to [[psychoanalysis]], explaining [[neurotic]] [[symptom]]s in [[terms]] of [[maladaptive]] [[behavior]] (such as applying archaic [[defense mechanism]]s in contexts where they are no longer appropriate) and arguing that the aim of [[psychoanalytic treatment]] is to [[help]] the [[patient]] [[adapt]] to [[reality]]. [[Ego-psychology]] explain [[neurotic]] [[symptom]]s in terms of maladaptive [[behaviour]]. [[Ego-psychology]] argues that the aim of [[psychoanalytic]] [[treatment]] is to help the [[patient]] adapt to [[reality]]. ==Jacques Lacan==From his early [[work ]] in the 1930s on, [[Lacan ]] opposes any attempt to explain human phenomena in terms of [[adaptation]].<ref>see Lacan, 1938: 24; {{Ec, }} p.158; {{Ec, }} p. 171-2</ref> This forms a constant theme in [[Lacan]]'s work; in 1955, for example, he states that "the [[dimension ]] discovered by [[analysis ]] is the opposite of anything which progresses through adaptation."<ref>({{S2, }} p. 86)</ref>

Lacan argues that the ===1. Reality===The stress put by ego-psychology on the [[adaptation |adaptive function]] of the patient to [[ego]] misses the [[ego]]'s [[alienation|alienating function]] and is based on a simplistic and unproblematic view of "[[reality reduces psychoanalysis to an instrument of social control and conformity]]". He sees this as [[Reality]] is not a complete betrayal of psychoanalysissimple, [[objective]] [[thing]] to which he regards as an essentially subversive practicethe [[ego]] must [[adapt]], but is itself a product of the [[ego]]'s [[fiction]]al [[mirror stage|misrepresentations]] and [[projection]]s.

Lacan regards <blockquote>"[Therefore] it as significant that the adaptation theme was developed by the European psychoanalysts who had emigrated is not a question of adapting to it [reality], but of showing it [the USA in the late 1930s; these analysts felt not ego] that it is only that they had to adapt to life too well adapted, since it assists in the USA, but also [[construction]] of that they had to adapt psychoanalysis to American tastesvery reality."<ref>{{E, l15}} p. 236</ref></blockquote>

==References=3. Gap===The [[idea]] of [[harmony]] between the [[biology|organism]] and its [[biology|environment]], implicit in the concept of [[adaptation]], is inapplicable to [[human]] [[being]]s because [[human|man]]'s inscription in the [[symbolic]] [[order]] [[nature|de-naturalises]] him and means that "in man the [[imaginary]] relation [to nature] has deviated". Whereas "all [[animal]] machines are strictly riveted to the [[conditions]] of the [[external]] [[environment]],"<ref>{{S2}} p. 322</ref> in the [[human]] [[being]] there is "a certain biological gap."<ref>{{S2}} p. 323<references/ref> Any attempt to regain [[harmony]] with [[nature]] overlooks the essentially excessive [[drive]] potential summed up in the [[death drive]]. [[Human]] [[being]]s are essentially [[maladaptive]].