Difference between revisions of "Disavowal"
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{{Top}}déni{{Bottom}} | {{Top}}déni{{Bottom}} | ||
| − | --- | + | ==Sigmund Freud== |
| + | ==''Verleugnung''== | ||
| + | [[Freud]] uses the term ''[[Diavowal|Verleugnung]]'' to denote "a specific mode of defence which consists in the subject's refusing to recognize the reality of a traumatic perception."<ref>Laplanche, Jean and Pontalis, Jean-Bertrand. ''The Language of Psycho-Analysis'', trans. Donald Nicholson-Smith, London: Hogarth Press and the Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1973 [1967]. p. 118</ref> | ||
| − | + | ==Castration Complex== | |
| − | + | He introduces the term in 1923 in connection with the [[castration complex]], the traumatic perception being the sight of the [[female]] [[biology|genitalia]]; when [[child]]ren first discover the [[absence]] of the [[penis]] in the [[girl]], they "disavow the fact and believe that they do see a penis all the time."<ref>{{F}}. "[[Works of Sigmund Freud|The Infantile Genital Organization]]", 1923e. [[SE]] XIX. pp. 143-4</ref> | |
| − | He introduces the term 1923 in connection with the [[castration complex]], the traumatic perception being the sight of the female genitalia; when | ||
| + | ==Psychosis and Fetishism== | ||
[[Freud]] continues to employ the term throughout the rest of his work, linking it specifically both to [[psychosis]] and to [[fetishism]]. | [[Freud]] continues to employ the term throughout the rest of his work, linking it specifically both to [[psychosis]] and to [[fetishism]]. | ||
| − | In these clinical conditions, [[disavowal]] is always accompanied by the opposite attitude (acceptance of reality), since it is "rarely or perhaps never" possible for "the ego's detachment from reality to be carried through completely."<ref>Freud | + | =="Splitting of the Ego"== |
| + | In these [[treatment|clinical conditions]], [[disavowal]] is always accompanied by the opposite attitude (acceptance of [[reality]]), since it is "rarely or perhaps never" possible for "the ego's detachment from reality to be carried through completely."<ref>{{F}} ''[[Works of Sigmund Freud|An Outline of Psycho-Analysis]]'', 1940a. [[SE]] XXIII. p. 201</ref> | ||
The coexistence in the [[ego]] of these two contradictory attitudes to reality leads to what [[Freud]] terms "the splitting of the ego." | The coexistence in the [[ego]] of these two contradictory attitudes to reality leads to what [[Freud]] terms "the splitting of the ego." | ||
| − | + | ==Jacques Lacan== | |
| − | + | ==Repression and Foreclosure== | |
While [[Freud]]'s use of the term is quite consistent, he does not distinguish the term rigorously from the other related operations. | While [[Freud]]'s use of the term is quite consistent, he does not distinguish the term rigorously from the other related operations. | ||
[[Lacan]], however, works the term into a rigorous theory, relating it and constrasting it specifically with the operations of [[repression]] and [[foreclosure]]. | [[Lacan]], however, works the term into a rigorous theory, relating it and constrasting it specifically with the operations of [[repression]] and [[foreclosure]]. | ||
| + | ==Perversion== | ||
Whereas [[Freud]] had only linked [[disavowal]] to one form of [[perversion]], [[Lacan]] makes it the fundamental operation in all forms of [[perversion]]. | Whereas [[Freud]] had only linked [[disavowal]] to one form of [[perversion]], [[Lacan]] makes it the fundamental operation in all forms of [[perversion]]. | ||
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Thus, in [[Lacan]]'s account, [[disavowal]] is one way of responding to the [[castration]] of the [[Other]], whereas the [[neurotic]] [[repress]]es the realization of [[castration]], the [[pervert]] disavows it. | Thus, in [[Lacan]]'s account, [[disavowal]] is one way of responding to the [[castration]] of the [[Other]], whereas the [[neurotic]] [[repress]]es the realization of [[castration]], the [[pervert]] disavows it. | ||
| − | + | ==Knowledge== | |
| − | + | Like [[Freud]], [[Lacan]] asserts that [[disavowal]] is always accompanied by a simultaneously [[knowledge|acknowledgement]] of what is disavowed. | |
| − | Like [[Freud]], [[Lacan]] asserts that [[disavowal]] is always accompanied by a simultaneously acknowledgement of what is disavowed. | ||
| − | Thus the [[pervert]] is not simply ignorant of [[castration]]; he simultaneously knows it and | + | Thus the [[pervert]] is not simply [[knowledge|ignorant]] of [[castration]]; he simultaneously [[knowledge|knows]] it and denies it. |
| − | Whereas the term [[disavowal]] originally denotes, in [[Freud]]'s work, only one side of this operation (the side of denial), for [[Lacan]] the term comes to denote both sides, the simultaneous denial and recognition of [[castration]]. | + | Whereas the term [[disavowal]] originally denotes, in [[Freud]]'s work, only one side of this operation (the side of [[denial]]), for [[Lacan]] the term comes to denote both sides, the simultaneous [[denial]] and recognition of [[castration]]. |
| − | + | ==Lack and Desire== | |
Whereas [[Freud]] relates [[disavowal]] to the perception of the [[absence]] of the [[penis]] in [[women]], [[Lacan]] relates it to the realization of the [[absence]] of the [[phallus]] in the [[Other]]. | Whereas [[Freud]] relates [[disavowal]] to the perception of the [[absence]] of the [[penis]] in [[women]], [[Lacan]] relates it to the realization of the [[absence]] of the [[phallus]] in the [[Other]]. | ||
| − | The | + | The [[trauma]]tic perception is, in [[Lacan]]'s account, the realization that the [[cause]] of [[desire]] is always a [[lack]]. |
It is this realization that [[disavowal]] concerns; [[disavowal]] is the failure to accept that [[lack]] causes [[desire]], the belief that [[desire]] is caused by a [[presence]] (e.g. the [[fetish]]). | It is this realization that [[disavowal]] concerns; [[disavowal]] is the failure to accept that [[lack]] causes [[desire]], the belief that [[desire]] is caused by a [[presence]] (e.g. the [[fetish]]). | ||
| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | {{See}} | ||
| + | * [[Absence]] | ||
| + | * [[Castration complex|Castration]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Desire]] | ||
| + | * [[Fetishism]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Foreclosure]] | ||
| + | * [[Lack]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Neurosis]] | ||
| + | * [[Perversion]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Phallus]] | ||
| + | * [[Psychosis]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Repression]] | ||
| + | * [[Speech]] | ||
| + | {{Also}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Practice]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Treatment]] | ||
[[Category:Dictionary]] | [[Category:Dictionary]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Symbolic]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Concepts]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Terms]] | ||
| + | {{OK}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | __NOTOC__ | ||
Revision as of 12:06, 24 August 2006
| French: déni |
Sigmund Freud
Verleugnung
Freud uses the term Verleugnung to denote "a specific mode of defence which consists in the subject's refusing to recognize the reality of a traumatic perception."[1]
Castration Complex
He introduces the term in 1923 in connection with the castration complex, the traumatic perception being the sight of the female genitalia; when children first discover the absence of the penis in the girl, they "disavow the fact and believe that they do see a penis all the time."[2]
Psychosis and Fetishism
Freud continues to employ the term throughout the rest of his work, linking it specifically both to psychosis and to fetishism.
"Splitting of the Ego"
In these clinical conditions, disavowal is always accompanied by the opposite attitude (acceptance of reality), since it is "rarely or perhaps never" possible for "the ego's detachment from reality to be carried through completely."[3]
The coexistence in the ego of these two contradictory attitudes to reality leads to what Freud terms "the splitting of the ego."
Jacques Lacan
Repression and Foreclosure
While Freud's use of the term is quite consistent, he does not distinguish the term rigorously from the other related operations.
Lacan, however, works the term into a rigorous theory, relating it and constrasting it specifically with the operations of repression and foreclosure.
Perversion
Whereas Freud had only linked disavowal to one form of perversion, Lacan makes it the fundamental operation in all forms of perversion.
And whereas Freud had also linked disavowal with psychosis, Lacan limits disavowal exclusively to the structure of perversion.
Disavowal is the fundamental operation in perversion, just as repression and foreclosure are the fundamental operations in neurosis and psychosis.
Thus, in Lacan's account, disavowal is one way of responding to the castration of the Other, whereas the neurotic represses the realization of castration, the pervert disavows it.
Knowledge
Like Freud, Lacan asserts that disavowal is always accompanied by a simultaneously acknowledgement of what is disavowed.
Thus the pervert is not simply ignorant of castration; he simultaneously knows it and denies it.
Whereas the term disavowal originally denotes, in Freud's work, only one side of this operation (the side of denial), for Lacan the term comes to denote both sides, the simultaneous denial and recognition of castration.
Lack and Desire
Whereas Freud relates disavowal to the perception of the absence of the penis in women, Lacan relates it to the realization of the absence of the phallus in the Other.
The traumatic perception is, in Lacan's account, the realization that the cause of desire is always a lack.
It is this realization that disavowal concerns; disavowal is the failure to accept that lack causes desire, the belief that desire is caused by a presence (e.g. the fetish).
See Also
References
- ↑ Laplanche, Jean and Pontalis, Jean-Bertrand. The Language of Psycho-Analysis, trans. Donald Nicholson-Smith, London: Hogarth Press and the Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1973 [1967]. p. 118
- ↑ Freud, Sigmund.. "The Infantile Genital Organization", 1923e. SE XIX. pp. 143-4
- ↑ Freud, Sigmund. An Outline of Psycho-Analysis, 1940a. SE XXIII. p. 201
