Difference between revisions of "Disavowal"
(The LinkTitles extension automatically added links to existing pages (https://github.com/bovender/LinkTitles).) |
|||
| (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
==Sigmund Freud== | ==Sigmund Freud== | ||
==''Verleugnung''== | ==''Verleugnung''== | ||
| − | [[Freud]] uses the term ''[[Disavowal|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> | + | [[Freud]] uses the term ''[[Disavowal|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== | ==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 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> |
==Psychosis and Fetishism== | ==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]]. |
=="Splitting of the Ego"== | =="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> | 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== | ==Jacques Lacan== | ||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
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== | ==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]]. |
And whereas [[Freud]] had also linked [[disavowal]] with [[psychosis]], [[Lacan]] limits [[disavowal]] exclusively to the [[structure]] of [[perversion]]. | And whereas [[Freud]] had also linked [[disavowal]] with [[psychosis]], [[Lacan]] limits [[disavowal]] exclusively to the [[structure]] of [[perversion]]. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
Thus the [[pervert]] is not simply [[knowledge|ignorant]] of [[castration]]; he simultaneously [[knowledge|knows]] it and denies it. | 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== | ==Lack and Desire== | ||
| Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
The [[trauma]]tic perception is, in [[Lacan]]'s account, the realization that the [[cause]] of [[desire]] is always a [[lack]]. | 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 Also== | ||
| Line 68: | Line 68: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| + | <div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small"> | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | + | </div> | |
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | [[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | ||
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | [[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | ||
Revision as of 05:44, 24 May 2019
| 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
