Analysand
Revision as of 05:45, 26 April 2006 by 64.252.132.65 (talk)
analysand/psychoanalysand (analysant/psychanalysant)
Before 1967, Lacan refers to the one who is 'in' psychoanalytic treatment
as the 'patient' (Fr. patient) or the 'subject', or uses the technical
term (psych)analysÈ. However, in 1967 Lacan introduces the term
(psych)analysant, based on the English term '(psycho)analysand' (Lacan,
1967: 18). Lacan prefers this term because, being derived from the gerund,
it indicates that the one who lies on the couch is the one who does most of the
work. This contrasts with the old term (psych)analysÈ which, being derived
from the passive participle, suggests either a less active participation in the
analytic process, or that the analytic process has finished. In Lacan's view, the
analysand is not 'analysed' by the analyst; it is the analysand who analyses,
and the task of the analyst is to help him to analyse well.