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==Jacques Lacan=====Paper===The [[mirror stage]] (also translated in [[English ]] as '"[[mirror stage|the looking-glass phase']]") was the subject of [[Lacan]]'s first official contribution to [[psychoanalytic theory]], when he propounded the concept to the [[mirror stage|Fourteenth International Psychoanalytical Congress ]] at [[mirror stage|Marienbad ]] in 1936 (the original 1936 paper was never published, but a rewritten version appeared in 1949).

From this point on, the [[mirror stage ]] forms a constant point of reference throughout [[Lacan]]'s [[Jacques Lacan:Bibliography|entire work]].

===Development===While aPRa!.ently apparently quite simple, the concept of the [[mirror stage ]] takes on an ever-increasing 'complexity during the course of [[Lacan]]'s [[Jacques Lacan:Bibliography|work]], as he takes it up and reworks it in various different contexts.

The 'mirror test' was first described by It refers to a particular experiment which can differentiate the French psychologist and friend of Lacan[[human]] [[infant]] from his closest [[animal]] relative, Henri Wall on, in 1931, although Lacan attributes its discovery to Baldwin (E, 1)the chimpanzee.

It refers to a particular experiment which can differentiate The six-­month-old child differs from the chimpanzee of the human infant from his closest animal relativesame age in that the former becomes fascinated with its reflection in the [[mirror]] and jubilantly assumes it as its own [[image]], whereas the chimpanzeequickly realizes that the [[image]] is illusory and loses interest in it.

The six­month-old child differs from the chimpanzee ===Structure of Subjectivity===Lacan's concept of the same age in that the former becomes fascinated with its reflection in the [[mirror and jubilantly assumes it stage]] (as its own image, whereas opposed to Wallon's "[[mirror stage|mirror test]]") is far more than a mere experiment: the chimpanzee quickly realises that [[mirror stage]] represents a fundamental aspect of the image is illusory and loses interest in it[[structure]] of [[subjectivity]].

Whereas in 1936---49, Lacan seems to see it is a [[development|stage]] which can be located at a specific [[time]] in the [[development]] of the [[child]] with a beginning (six months) and an end (eighteen months),<ref>{{E}} p.5</ref> by the end of this period there are already signs that he is broadening the concept.

By the early 1950s [[Lacan's concept ]] no longer regards it simply as a moment in the life of the [[infant]], but sees it as also representing a permanent [[structure]] of [[subjectivity]], the paradigm of the mirror stage [[imaginary]] [[order]]; it is a stadium (as opposed to Wallon's 'mirror teststade'') in which the [[subject]] is far more than a mere experimentpermanently [[captation|caught]] and [[captation|captivated]] by his own [[image]]: the mirror stage represents a fundamental aspect of the structure of subjectivity.

Whereas in 1936-49, Lacan seems to see it <blockquote>[the mirror stage is ] a stage phenomenon to which can be located at I assign a specific time twofold value. In the first place, it has historical value as it marks a decisive turning-point in the mental development of the child . In the second place, it typifies an essential libidinal relationship with a beginning (six months) and an end (eighteen months) (see E, 5), by the end body-image.<ref>{{L}} 1951b. "[[Works of this period there are already signs that he is broadening Jacques Lacan|Some Reflections on the conceptEgo]]," ''Int. J. Psycho-Anal.'', vol. 34, 1953: 14</ref></blockquote>

By the early 1950s ===Dual Relationship===As Lacan no longer regards it simply as a moment in further develops the life concept of the infant, but sees it as also representing a permanent structure of subjectivity[[mirror stage]], the paradigm of the IMAGINARY order; it is a stadium (stade) in which the subject is permanently caught and captivated by his own image; stress falls less on its "[[the mirror stage isdevelopment|historical value]] a phenomenon to which I assign a twofold " and ever more on its [[structure|structural value]].

In the second place, it typifies an essential libidinal relationship with the body-image. (Lacan, 1951b: 14) ---As Lacan further develops the concept of the mirror stage, the stress falls less on its 'historical value' and ever more on its structural value. Thus by 1956 Lacan can say: '<blockquote>The mirror stage is far from a mere phenomenon which occurs l in the development of the child. It illustrates the conflictual nature of the dual relationship' (.<ref>{{S4, }} p. 17). ---The mirror stage describes the formation of the EGO via the process of identification; the ego is the result of identifying with one's own SPECULAR IMAGE. </ref></blockquote>

===Ego Formation===The key to this phenomenon lies in [[mirror stage]] describes the prematurity formation of the human baby: at six months, [[ego]] via the baby still lacks coordinationprocess of [[identification]]; the [[ego]] is the result of [[identifying]] with one's own [[specular image]].

However===Prematurity of Infant===The key to this phenomenon lies in the [[helplessness|prematurity]] of the [[human]] [[infant|baby]]: at six months, its visual system is relatively advanoed, which means that it can recognise itself in the mirror before attaining control over its bodily movementsbaby still lacks coordination.

The baby sees However, its own image as whole (see GESTALT), and the synthesis of this image produces a sense of contrast with the uncoordination of the bodyvisual system is relatively advanoed, which is experienced as a FRAGMENTED BODY; this contrast is first felt by means that it can recognize itself in the infant as a rivalry with mirror before attaining control over its own image, because the wholeness of the image threatens the subject with fragmentation, and the mirror stage thereby gives rise to an aggressive tension between the subject and the image (see AGGRESSIVITY)bodily movements.

In order to resolve this aggressive tensionThe [[baby]] sees its own [[image]] as [[gestalt|whole]], and the subject identifies [[dialectic|synthesis]] of this [[image]] produces a sense of contrast with the imageuncoordination of the body, which is experienced as a [[fragmented body]]; this primary identi­fication with the counterpart contrast is,w.)1at forms first felt by the e.,go. The moment of identifica­tion, when the subject assumes its image [[infant]] as a rivalry with its own[[image]], is described by Lacan as a moment because the [[gestalt|wholeness]] of jubilation (Ethe [[image]] threatens the subject with [[fragmentation]], 1), since it leads and the [[mirror stage]] thereby gives rise to an imaginary sense of mastery; '[[aggressivity|aggressive tension]] between the child's[[subject]] and the [[image]] joy is due to his imaginary triumph in anticipating a degree of muscular co-ordination which he has not yet actually achieved' (Lacan, 1951 b: 15; see Sl, 79).

In order to resolve this [[aggressivity|aggressive tension]], the [[subject]] [[identifies]] with the [[image]]; this [[identification|primary identi­fication]] with the [[ounterpart]] is what forms the [[ego]].  The moment of [[identifica­tion]], when the subject assumes its image as its own, is described by Lacan as a moment of jubilation (E, 1), since it leads to an imaginary sense of mastery: <blockquote>[the child's] joy is due to his imaginary triumph in anticipating a degree of muscular co-ordination which he has not yet actually achieved<ref>{{L}} 1951b. "[[Works of Jacques Lacan|Some Reflections on the Ego]]," ''Int. J. Psycho-Anal.'', Vol. 34, 1953: 15; {{S1}} p. 79</ref></blockquote>  However, this jubilation may also be accompanied by a depressive reaction, when the child compares his own precarious sense of mastery with the omnipotence of the mother (.<ref>{{Ec, }} p. 345; {{S4, }} p. 186)</ref>  This identi­fication also involves the [[ideal ego]] which functions as a promise of future wholeness which sustains the e~ in anticipation.

However, Ithe the [[mirror stage ]] also has an important symbolic dimensioE The symbolic otcrer is present in the figure of the adult who is carrying or supporting the [[infant]].

The moment after the [[subject ]] has jubilantly assumed his [[image ]] as his own, he turns his head round towards this adult, who represents the [[big Other]], as if to call on him to ratify this [[image ]] (Lacan, 1962-3: seminar of 28 November 1962).

===Narcissism===The [[mirror stage ]] is also closely related to [[narcissism]], as the story of [[Narcissus ]] clearly shows (in the Greek myth, [[Narcissus ]] falls in [[love ]] with his own reflection).