Difference between revisions of "Displacement"

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For [[Freud]], [[displacement]] (a [[primary process]]) means the [[transference]] of physical intensities (1900a, p. 306) along an "associative path," so that strongly cathected ideas have their charge displaced onto other, less strongly cathected ones.  
+
For [[Freud]], [[displacement]] (a [[primary process]]) means the [[transference]] of [[physical]] intensities (1900a, p. 306) along an "associative path," so that strongly cathected [[ideas]] have their charge displaced onto [[other]], less strongly cathected ones.  
  
This process is active in the formation of [[hysterical]] or [[obsessional]] [[symptom]]s, in the [[dream work]], in the production of [[joke]]s, and in the [[transference]].
+
This [[process]] is [[active]] in the [[formation]] of [[hysterical]] or [[obsessional]] [[symptom]]s, in the [[dream work]], in the production of [[joke]]s, and in the [[transference]].
  
Between 1887 and 1902 the concept of displacement appeared several times in [[Freud]]'s writings (in Drafts K and M in his correspondence with [[Wilhelm Fliess]], in the "Project for a Scientific Psychology" [1950c (1895)], and in [[The Interpretation of Dreams]] [1900a]).  
+
Between 1887 and 1902 the [[concept]] of displacement appeared several [[times]] in [[Freud]]'s writings (in Drafts K and M in his correspondence with [[Wilhelm Fliess]], in the "[[Project]] for a [[Scientific]] [[Psychology]]" [1950c (1895)], and in [[The Interpretation of Dreams]] [1900a]).  
  
It was introduced in connection with his clinical work, apropos of the [[analysis]] of [[neurotic]] [[symptom]]s and [[paranoia]].  
+
It was introduced in connection with his [[clinical]] [[work]], apropos of the [[analysis]] of [[neurotic]] [[symptom]]s and [[paranoia]].  
  
In Draft M (1950a), [[Freud]] described the types of displacement that result in compromise-formations.
+
In Draft M (1950a), [[Freud]] described the types of displacement that result in compromise-[[formations]].
  
<blockquote>"Displacement by association: hysteria. Displacement by (conceptual) similarity: obsessional neurosis (characteristic of the place at which the defence occurs, and perhaps also of the time).; Causal displacement: paranoia."<ref>p. 252</ref></blockquote>
+
<blockquote>"Displacement by association: hysteria. Displacement by ([[conceptual]]) similarity: obsessional [[neurosis]] (characteristic of the [[place]] at which the [[defence]] occurs, and perhaps also of the [[time]]).; Causal displacement: paranoia."<ref>p. 252</ref></blockquote>
  
In addition, in his search for a model of psychic functioning still informed by the scientific thinking and medical research of the time, [[Freud]] noted:  
+
In addition, in his [[search]] for a [[model]] of [[psychic]] functioning still informed by the scientific [[thinking]] and medical research of the time, [[Freud]] noted:  
  
<blockquote>"Hysterical repression evidently takes place with the help of symbol-formation, of displacements on to other neurones. We might think, then, that the riddle resides only in the mechanism of this displacement, and that there is nothing to be explained about repression itself" (1950c [1895], p. 352</blockquote>
+
<blockquote>"Hysterical [[repression]] evidently takes place with the [[help]] of [[symbol]]-formation, of displacements on to other neurones. We might [[think]], then, that the riddle resides only in the [[mechanism]] of this displacement, and that there is [[nothing]] to be explained [[about]] repression itself" (1950c [1895], p. 352</blockquote>
  
Displacement, at work to a pathological degree in hysteria, "is thus probably a primary process, since it can easily be demonstrated in dreams" (Ibid., p. 353).
+
Displacement, at work to a pathological degree in hysteria, "is thus probably a primary process, since it can easily be demonstrated in [[dreams]]" (Ibid., p. 353).
  
  
It was in fact Freud's analysis of the dream work that led him to discover the importance of displacement.  
+
It was in fact Freud's analysis of the [[Dream Work|dream work]] that led him to discover the importance of displacement.  
  
 
He noted in [[The Interpretation of Dreams]] that:  
 
He noted in [[The Interpretation of Dreams]] that:  
  
a) <blockquote>"The consequence of the displacement is that the dream-content no longer resembles the core of the dream-thoughts and . . . the dream gives no more than a distortion of the dream-wish which exists in the unconscious" (p. 308);</blockquote>
+
a) <blockquote>"The consequence of the displacement is that the dream-[[content]] no longer resembles the core of the dream-[[thoughts]] and . . . the dream gives no more than a [[distortion]] of the dream-[[wish]] which [[exists]] in the unconscious" (p. 308);</blockquote>
  
  
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[[Dream]] distortion can be  
 
[[Dream]] distortion can be  
  
<blockquote>"traced . . . back to the censorship which is exercised by one psychical agency in the mind over another.... dream-displacement comes about through the influence of the same censorship" (p. 308); and </blockquote>
+
<blockquote>"traced . . . back to the censorship which is exercised by one [[psychical]] [[agency]] in the [[mind]] over [[another]].... dream-displacement comes about through the influence of the same censorship" (p. 308); and </blockquote>
  
 
c)  
 
c)  
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The notion of [[displacement]] did not see much further development.  
+
The [[notion]] of [[displacement]] did not see much further [[development]].  
  
In his various revisions to his theories on [[dream]]s, [[Freud]] focused more on the separation of [[image]]s from the [[affect]]s that had been attached to them, on the vicissitudes of these affects ([[displacement]], conservation, metamorphosis), and on the fate of images (stripped of [[affect]]) in relation to the "sensory intensity of the image presented."<ref>1900a, p. 306, n. 1</ref>  
+
In his various revisions to his theories on [[dream]]s, [[Freud]] focused more on the [[separation]] of [[image]]s from the [[affect]]s that had been attached to [[them]], on the vicissitudes of these affects ([[displacement]], conservation, metamorphosis), and on the fate of [[images]] (stripped of [[affect]]) in relation to the "sensory intensity of the image presented."<ref>1900a, p. 306, n. 1</ref>  
  
But it was above all in the process of refining the analysis of the transference during treatment and its different manifestations—lateral, indirect, and direct transference<ref>Freud, 1915a; Sandór Ferenczi, 1909/1994; Michel Neyraut, 1974</ref> — that the notion of [[displacement]] was expanded.  
+
But it was above all in the process of refining the analysis of [[The Transference|the transference]] during [[treatment]] and its different manifestations—lateral, indirect, and direct transference<ref>Freud, 1915a; Sandór Ferenczi, 1909/1994; Michel Neyraut, 1974</ref> — that the notion of [[displacement]] was expanded.  
  
It was further explored, too, by such authors as [[Jacques Lacan]] (1957/2002; 1958/2002) and Guy Rosolato (1969) who took as their starting point the work of linguists (Ullmann, 1952; Jakobson and Halle, 1956) on the relationship between [[signifier]] and [[signified]], and on [[metonymy]] ([[displacement]] by [[contiguity]]) and [[metaphor]] ([[displacement]] by [[substitution]]).
+
It was further explored, too, by such authors as [[Jacques Lacan]] (1957/2002; 1958/2002) and Guy Rosolato (1969) who took as their starting point the work of [[linguists]] (Ullmann, 1952; Jakobson and Halle, 1956) on the [[relationship]] between [[signifier]] and [[signified]], and on [[metonymy]] ([[displacement]] by [[contiguity]]) and [[metaphor]] ([[displacement]] by [[substitution]]).
  
 
[[Displacement]] is often linked to [[substitution]].  
 
[[Displacement]] is often linked to [[substitution]].  
  
Not infrequently, this link is made without an adequate distinction being drawn in temporal terms between [[substitution]] where there is an immediate exchange based on the [[disavowal]] of one of the two poles involved (perceptual, hallucinatory, or conceptual substitutions), and [[substitution]] where deferred action comes into play.
+
Not infrequently, this link is made without an adequate [[distinction]] [[being]] drawn in [[temporal]] [[terms]] between [[substitution]] where there is an immediate [[exchange]] based on the [[disavowal]] of one of the two poles involved (perceptual, [[hallucinatory]], or conceptual substitutions), and [[substitution]] where deferred [[action]] comes into play.
  
  
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Like [[condensation]]  an essential feature of the workings of the unconscious and of [[dream-work]] as described by [[psychoanalysis]].
 
Like [[condensation]]  an essential feature of the workings of the unconscious and of [[dream-work]] as described by [[psychoanalysis]].
  
The mechanism of [[displacement]] detaches the [affect]] or emotional charge of an [[unconscious]] idea and ransfers it to a less intense idea which is linked to the first by a [[chain]] of [[association]]s.
+
The mechanism of [[displacement]] detaches the [affect]] or emotional charge of an [[unconscious]] [[idea]] and ransfers it to a less intense idea which is linked to the first by a [[chain]] of [[association]]s.
  
 
Both [[condensation]] and [[displacement]] can also be observed in other [[unconscious]] formations sch as [[symptom]]s; they are also an important feature of [[joke]]s.
 
Both [[condensation]] and [[displacement]] can also be observed in other [[unconscious]] formations sch as [[symptom]]s; they are also an important feature of [[joke]]s.
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[[Displacement]] is one of the methods by which the [[repressed]] returns in hidden ways.  
 
[[Displacement]] is one of the methods by which the [[repressed]] returns in hidden ways.  
  
For example, in [[dream]]s the [[affect]] (emotions) associated with threatening impulses are often transferred elsewhere (displaced), so that, for example, apparently trivial elements in the manifest dream seem to cause extraordinary distress while "what was the essence of the dream-thoughts finds only passing and indistinct representation in the dream."<ref>"New Introductory Lectures" 22.21</ref>  
+
For example, in [[dream]]s the [[affect]] (emotions) associated with threatening impulses are often transferred elsewhere (displaced), so that, for example, apparently trivial elements in the [[manifest]] dream seem to [[cause]] extraordinary distress while "what was the [[essence]] of the dream-thoughts finds only passing and indistinct [[representation]] in the dream."<ref>"New Introductory Lectures" 22.21</ref>  
  
For [[Freud]], "[[Displacement]] is the principle means used in the dream-distortion to which the dream-thoughts must submit under the influence of the [[censorship]]."<ref>"New Introductory Lectures" 22.21</ref>
+
For [[Freud]], "[[Displacement]] is the [[principle]] means used in the dream-distortion to which the dream-thoughts must submit under the influence of the [[censorship]]."<ref>"New Introductory Lectures" 22.21</ref>
  
 
The same sort of [[displacement]] can occur in [[symptom-formation]].  
 
The same sort of [[displacement]] can occur in [[symptom-formation]].  
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* [[Phobias in children]]
 
* [[Phobias in children]]
 
* [[Primary process/secondary process]]
 
* [[Primary process/secondary process]]
* "[[A Project for a Scientific Psychology]]" * [[Signifier/signified]]
+
* "[[A Project for a Scientific Psychology]]"  
 +
* [[Signifier]]/[[signified]]
 
* "[[The Splitting of the Ego in the Processes of Defence]]"
 
* "[[The Splitting of the Ego in the Processes of Defence]]"
 
* [[Substitutive formation]]
 
* [[Substitutive formation]]
Line 103: Line 104:
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
* Freud, Sigmund. (1900a). The interpretation of dreams. Part 1, SE, 4: 1-338; Part 2, SE, 5: 339-625.
+
* [[Freud, Sigmund]]. (1900a). The [[interpretation]] of dreams. Part 1, SE, 4: 1-338; Part 2, SE, 5: 339-625.
* ——. (1915a). Observations on transference love (Further recommendations on the technique of psychoanalysis III). SE, 12: 157-71.
+
* ——. (1915a). Observations on transference [[love]] (Further recommendations on the [[technique]] of psychoanalysis III). SE, 12: 157-71.
* ——. (1950a [1887-1902]), Extracts from the Fliess papers. SE, 1: 173-280.
+
* ——. (1950a [1887-1902]), Extracts from the [[Fliess]] papers. SE, 1: 173-280.
 
* ——. (1950c [1895]). Project for a scientific psychology. SE, 1: 295-391.
 
* ——. (1950c [1895]). Project for a scientific psychology. SE, 1: 295-391.
* ——. (1985c [1887-1904]). The complete letters of Sigmund Freud to Wilhelm Fliess 1887-1904( Jeffrey M. Masson, Ed. and Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Belknap/Harvard University Press.
+
* ——. (1985c [1887-1904]). The [[complete]] letters of [[Sigmund Freud]] to Wilhelm Fliess 1887-1904( Jeffrey M. Masson, Ed. and Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Belknap/Harvard [[University]] Press.
* Jakobson, Roman, and Halle, Morris. (1956). Fundamentals of language (4th ed.). The Hague, New York: Mouton.
+
* Jakobson, Roman, and Halle, Morris. (1956). Fundamentals of [[language]] (4th ed.). The [[Hague]], New York: Mouton.
* Lacan, Jacques. (2002). The agency of the letter in the unconscious or reason since Freud. InÉcrits: A selection (Bruce Fink, Trans.). New York: W. W. Norton. (Original work published 1957)
+
* [[Lacan, Jacques]]. (2002). The agency of the [[letter]] in the unconscious or [[reason]] since Freud. InÉcrits: A selection ([[Bruce Fink]], Trans.). New York: W. W. Norton. (Original work published 1957)
* ——. (2002). The signification of the phallus. In Écrits: A selection (Bruce Fink, Trans.). New York: W. W. Norton. (Original work published 1958
+
* ——. (2002). The [[signification]] of the [[phallus]]. In [[Écrits]]: A selection (Bruce Fink, Trans.). New York: W. W. Norton. (Original work published 1958
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
+
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
[[Category:Sigmund Freud]]
 
 
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 +
[[Category:Linguistics]]
 +
[[Category:Dictionary]]
 +
[[Category:Language]]
 +
[[Category:Symbolic]]
 +
[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 

Latest revision as of 22:18, 27 May 2019

For Freud, displacement (a primary process) means the transference of physical intensities (1900a, p. 306) along an "associative path," so that strongly cathected ideas have their charge displaced onto other, less strongly cathected ones.

This process is active in the formation of hysterical or obsessional symptoms, in the dream work, in the production of jokes, and in the transference.

Between 1887 and 1902 the concept of displacement appeared several times in Freud's writings (in Drafts K and M in his correspondence with Wilhelm Fliess, in the "Project for a Scientific Psychology" [1950c (1895)], and in The Interpretation of Dreams [1900a]).

It was introduced in connection with his clinical work, apropos of the analysis of neurotic symptoms and paranoia.

In Draft M (1950a), Freud described the types of displacement that result in compromise-formations.

"Displacement by association: hysteria. Displacement by (conceptual) similarity: obsessional neurosis (characteristic of the place at which the defence occurs, and perhaps also of the time).; Causal displacement: paranoia."[1]

In addition, in his search for a model of psychic functioning still informed by the scientific thinking and medical research of the time, Freud noted:

"Hysterical repression evidently takes place with the help of symbol-formation, of displacements on to other neurones. We might think, then, that the riddle resides only in the mechanism of this displacement, and that there is nothing to be explained about repression itself" (1950c [1895], p. 352

Displacement, at work to a pathological degree in hysteria, "is thus probably a primary process, since it can easily be demonstrated in dreams" (Ibid., p. 353).


It was in fact Freud's analysis of the dream work that led him to discover the importance of displacement.

He noted in The Interpretation of Dreams that:

a)

"The consequence of the displacement is that the dream-content no longer resembles the core of the dream-thoughts and . . . the dream gives no more than a distortion of the dream-wish which exists in the unconscious" (p. 308);


b)

Dream distortion can be

"traced . . . back to the censorship which is exercised by one psychical agency in the mind over another.... dream-displacement comes about through the influence of the same censorship" (p. 308); and

c)

"[A] transference and displacement of psychical intensities occurs in the process of dream-formation" (pp. 307-308).


The notion of displacement did not see much further development.

In his various revisions to his theories on dreams, Freud focused more on the separation of images from the affects that had been attached to them, on the vicissitudes of these affects (displacement, conservation, metamorphosis), and on the fate of images (stripped of affect) in relation to the "sensory intensity of the image presented."[2]

But it was above all in the process of refining the analysis of the transference during treatment and its different manifestations—lateral, indirect, and direct transference[3] — that the notion of displacement was expanded.

It was further explored, too, by such authors as Jacques Lacan (1957/2002; 1958/2002) and Guy Rosolato (1969) who took as their starting point the work of linguists (Ullmann, 1952; Jakobson and Halle, 1956) on the relationship between signifier and signified, and on metonymy (displacement by contiguity) and metaphor (displacement by substitution).

Displacement is often linked to substitution.

Not infrequently, this link is made without an adequate distinction being drawn in temporal terms between substitution where there is an immediate exchange based on the disavowal of one of the two poles involved (perceptual, hallucinatory, or conceptual substitutions), and substitution where deferred action comes into play.


More

Like condensation an essential feature of the workings of the unconscious and of dream-work as described by psychoanalysis.

The mechanism of displacement detaches the [affect]] or emotional charge of an unconscious idea and ransfers it to a less intense idea which is linked to the first by a chain of associations.

Both condensation and displacement can also be observed in other unconscious formations sch as symptoms; they are also an important feature of jokes.

Following Jakobson Lacan likens condensatin and displacement to the linguistic mechanisms of metaphor and metonymy.

def

Displacement is one of the methods by which the repressed returns in hidden ways.

For example, in dreams the affect (emotions) associated with threatening impulses are often transferred elsewhere (displaced), so that, for example, apparently trivial elements in the manifest dream seem to cause extraordinary distress while "what was the essence of the dream-thoughts finds only passing and indistinct representation in the dream."[4]

For Freud, "Displacement is the principle means used in the dream-distortion to which the dream-thoughts must submit under the influence of the censorship."[5]

The same sort of displacement can occur in symptom-formation.

The other method whereby the repressed hides itself is condensation.

See Also

References

  1. p. 252
  2. 1900a, p. 306, n. 1
  3. Freud, 1915a; Sandór Ferenczi, 1909/1994; Michel Neyraut, 1974
  4. "New Introductory Lectures" 22.21
  5. "New Introductory Lectures" 22.21
  • Freud, Sigmund. (1900a). The interpretation of dreams. Part 1, SE, 4: 1-338; Part 2, SE, 5: 339-625.
  • ——. (1915a). Observations on transference love (Further recommendations on the technique of psychoanalysis III). SE, 12: 157-71.
  • ——. (1950a [1887-1902]), Extracts from the Fliess papers. SE, 1: 173-280.
  • ——. (1950c [1895]). Project for a scientific psychology. SE, 1: 295-391.
  • ——. (1985c [1887-1904]). The complete letters of Sigmund Freud to Wilhelm Fliess 1887-1904( Jeffrey M. Masson, Ed. and Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Belknap/Harvard University Press.
  • Jakobson, Roman, and Halle, Morris. (1956). Fundamentals of language (4th ed.). The Hague, New York: Mouton.
  • Lacan, Jacques. (2002). The agency of the letter in the unconscious or reason since Freud. InÉcrits: A selection (Bruce Fink, Trans.). New York: W. W. Norton. (Original work published 1957)
  • ——. (2002). The signification of the phallus. In Écrits: A selection (Bruce Fink, Trans.). New York: W. W. Norton. (Original work published 1958

References