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{{Topp}}agressivité{{Bottom}}
  
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==Jacques Lacan==
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[[Aggressivity]] is one of the central issues that [[Lacan]] deals with in his papers in the period 1936 to the early 1950s.
  
(agressivitÈ) Aggressivity is one of the central issues that
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==Ambivalence==
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[[Lacan]] draws a [[distinction]] between [[aggressivity]] and [[aggressivity|aggression]]: [[aggressivity|aggression]] refers only to [[violence|violent]] [[act]]s whereas [[aggressivity]] is a fundamental relation which underlies not only such [[acts]] but many [[other]] phenomena also.<ref>{{S1}} p. 177</ref> [[Lacan]] argues that [[aggressivity]] is just as [[present]] in apparently [[love|loving]] [[act]]s as in violent ones; it "underlies the [[activity]] of the philanthropist, the idealist, the pedagogue, and even the reformer.<ref>{{E}} p. 7</ref> [[Lacan]] is simply restating [[Freud]]'s [[concept]] of [[ambivalence]] -- the interdependence of [[love]] and [[hate]], which [[Lacan]] regards as one of the fundamental discoveries of [[psychoanalysis]].
  
  Lacan deals with in his papers in the period 1936 to the early 1950s. The first
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==Dual Relation==
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[[Lacan]] situates [[aggressivity]] in the [[dual relation]] between the [[ego]] and the [[counterpart]]. In the [[mirror stage]], the [[infant]] sees its [[reflection]] in the [[mirror]] as a [[wholeness]], in contrast with the uncoordination in the [[real]] [[body]]: this contrast is experienced as an [[aggressivity|aggressive tension]] between the [[specular image]] and the [[real]] [[body]], since the [[wholeness]] of the [[image]] seems to threaten the [[body]] with [[fragmented body|disintegration]] and [[fragmentation]].
  
point that should be noted is that Lacan draws a distinction between aggres-
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==Narcissism==
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The consequent [[identification]] with the [[specular image]] thus implies an [[ambivalence|ambivalent]] relation with the [[counterpart]], involving both [[eroticism]] and [[aggressivity|aggression]]. This "[[aggressivity|erotic aggression]]" continues as a fundamental [[ambivalence]] underlying all [[future]] forms of [[identification]], and is an essential characteristic of [[narcissism]]. [[Narcissism]] can thus easily veer from extreme [[love|self-love]] to the opposite extreme of "[[narcissism|narcissistic suicidal aggression]]" (''[[agression]] suicidaire narcissique'').<ref>{{Ec}} p. 187</ref>
  
sivity and aggression, in that the latter refers only to violent acts whereas the
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==Imaginary==
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By linking [[aggressivity]] to the [[imaginary]] [[order]] of [[eros]], [[Lacan]] seems to diverge significantly from [[Freud]], since [[Freud]] sees [[aggressivity]] as an outward manifestation of the [[death drive]] (which is, in [[Lacan]]ian [[terms]], situated not in the [[imaginary]] but in the [[symbolic]] [[order]]). [[Aggressivity]] is also related by [[Lacan]] to the [[Hegel]]ian concept of the [[fight to the death]], which is a [[stage]] in the [[dialectic]] of the [[master]] and the [[slave]].
  
  former is a fundamental relation which underlies not only such acts but many
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==Treatment==
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[[Lacan]] argues that it is important to bring the [[analysand]]'s [[aggressivity]] into play early in the [[treatment]] by causing it to emerge as [[negative]] [[transference]]. This [[aggressivity]] directed towards the [[analyst]] then becomes "the initial [[knot]] of the [[analytic]] drama."<ref>{{E}} p.14</ref> This [[phase]] of the [[treatment]] is very important since if the [[aggressivity]] is handled correctly by the [[analyst]], it will be accompanied by "a marked decrease in the [[patient]]'s deepest [[resistances]].<ref>{{L}} "[[Works of Jacques Lacan|Some Reflections on the Ego]]", ''Int. J. [[Psycho]]-[[Anal]]''., vol. 34, 1953: p. 13</ref>
  
  other phenomena also (see Sl, 177). Thus aggressivity is just as present, Lacan
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==See Also==
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{{See}}
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* [[Analysand]]
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* [[Analyst]]
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* [[Counterpart]]
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* [[Death drive]]
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* [[Dialectic]]
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* [[Fragmented body]]
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* [[Imaginary]]
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* [[Identification]]
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* [[Master]]
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||
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* [[Mirror stage]]
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* [[Narcissism]]
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* [[Psychoanalysis]]
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||
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* [[Specular image]]
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* [[Transference]]
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* [[Treatment]]
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{{Also}}
  
  argues, in apparently loving acts as in violent ones; it 'underlies the activity of
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==References==
 
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<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">
  the philanthropist, the idealist, the pedagogue, and even the reformer' (E, 7). In
 
 
 
taking this stance, Lacan is simply restating Freud's concept of ambivalence
 
 
 
(the interdependence of love and hate), which Lacan regards as one of the
 
 
 
  fundamental discoveries of psychoanalysis.
 
 
 
      Lacan situates aggressivity in the dual relation between the ego and the
 
 
 
counterpart. In the MIRROR STAGE, the infant sees its reflection in the mirror as a
 
 
 
wholeness, in contrast with the uncoordination in the real body: this contrast is
 
 
 
experienced as an aggressive tension between the specular image and the real
 
 
 
body, since the wholeness of the image            seems to threaten the body with
 
 
 
disintegration and fragmentation (see FRAGMENTED BODY).
 
 
 
      The consequent identification with the specular image thus implies              an
 
 
 
  ambivalent relation with the counterpart, involving both eroticism and aggres-
 
 
 
  sion. This 'erotic aggression' continues as a fundamental ambivalence under-
 
 
 
lying all future forms of identification, and is an essential characteristic of
 
 
 
  narcissism. Narcissism can thus easily        veer from extreme self-love to the
 
 
 
opposite extreme of 'narcissistic suicidal aggression' (agression suicidaire
 
 
 
narcissique) (Ec, 187).
 
 
 
      By linking aggressivity to the imaginary order of eros, Lacan seems to
 
 
 
diverge significantly from Freud, since Freud sees aggressivity as an outward
 
 
 
  manifestation of the death drive (which is, in Lacanian terms, situated not in
 
 
 
the imaginary but in the symbolic order). Aggressivity is also related by Lacan
 
 
 
  to the Hegelian concept of the fight to the death, which is a stage in the
 
 
 
dialectic of the master and the slave.
 
 
 
      Lacan argues that it is important to bring the analysand's aggressivity into
 
 
 
play early in the treatment by causing it to emerge as negative transference.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    This aggressivity directed towards the analyst then becomes 'the initial knot of
 
 
 
    the analytic drama' (E, 14). This phase of the treatment is very important since
 
 
 
    if the aggressivity is handled correctly by the analyst, it will be accompanied
 
 
 
    by 'a marked decrease in the patient's deepest resistances' (Lacan, 1951b: 13).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
== References ==
 
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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</div>
  
[[Category:Lacan]]
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[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
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[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
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[[Category:Imaginary]]
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[[Category:Dictionary]]
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[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Concepts]]
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{{OK}}
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
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Latest revision as of 01:10, 24 May 2019

French: agressivité

Jacques Lacan

Aggressivity is one of the central issues that Lacan deals with in his papers in the period 1936 to the early 1950s.

Ambivalence

Lacan draws a distinction between aggressivity and aggression: aggression refers only to violent acts whereas aggressivity is a fundamental relation which underlies not only such acts but many other phenomena also.[1] Lacan argues that aggressivity is just as present in apparently loving acts as in violent ones; it "underlies the activity of the philanthropist, the idealist, the pedagogue, and even the reformer.[2] Lacan is simply restating Freud's concept of ambivalence -- the interdependence of love and hate, which Lacan regards as one of the fundamental discoveries of psychoanalysis.

Dual Relation

Lacan situates aggressivity in the dual relation between the ego and the counterpart. In the mirror stage, the infant sees its reflection in the mirror as a wholeness, in contrast with the uncoordination in the real body: this contrast is experienced as an aggressive tension between the specular image and the real body, since the wholeness of the image seems to threaten the body with disintegration and fragmentation.

Narcissism

The consequent identification with the specular image thus implies an ambivalent relation with the counterpart, involving both eroticism and aggression. This "erotic aggression" continues as a fundamental ambivalence underlying all future forms of identification, and is an essential characteristic of narcissism. Narcissism can thus easily veer from extreme self-love to the opposite extreme of "narcissistic suicidal aggression" (agression suicidaire narcissique).[3]

Imaginary

By linking aggressivity to the imaginary order of eros, Lacan seems to diverge significantly from Freud, since Freud sees aggressivity as an outward manifestation of the death drive (which is, in Lacanian terms, situated not in the imaginary but in the symbolic order). Aggressivity is also related by Lacan to the Hegelian concept of the fight to the death, which is a stage in the dialectic of the master and the slave.

Treatment

Lacan argues that it is important to bring the analysand's aggressivity into play early in the treatment by causing it to emerge as negative transference. This aggressivity directed towards the analyst then becomes "the initial knot of the analytic drama."[4] This phase of the treatment is very important since if the aggressivity is handled correctly by the analyst, it will be accompanied by "a marked decrease in the patient's deepest resistances.[5]

See Also

References

  1. Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book I. Freud's Papers on Technique, 1953-54. Trans. John Forrester. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 177
  2. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 7
  3. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p. 187
  4. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.14
  5. Lacan, Jacques. "Some Reflections on the Ego", Int. J. Psycho-Anal., vol. 34, 1953: p. 13