Difference between revisions of "Narcissism"
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| − | The term "[[narcissism]]" first appears in [[Freud]]'s [[Works of Sigmund Freud|work]] in 1910, but it is not until his work "[[Freud|On | + | ==Sigmund Freud== |
| − | + | ===Development of the Term=== | |
| − | + | The term "[[narcissism]]" first appears in [[Freud]]'s [[Works of Sigmund Freud|work]] in 1910, but it is not until his work "[[Freud|On Narcissism: An Introduction]]"<ref>Freud 1914c</ref> that the concept begins to play a central role in [[psychoanalytic theory]]. | |
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| + | From this point on, [[Freud]] defines [[narcissism]] as the investment of [[libido]] in the [[ego]], and opposes it to [[object]]-[[love]], in which [[libido]] is invested in [[object]]s. | ||
| + | ===Investment of the Libido in the Ego=== | ||
[[Lacan]] attributes great importance to this phase in [[Freud]]'s work, since it clearly inscribes the [[ego]] as an [[object]] of the [[libido|libidinal economy]], and links the birth of the [[ego]] to the [[narcissism|narcissistic stage]] of [[development]]. | [[Lacan]] attributes great importance to this phase in [[Freud]]'s work, since it clearly inscribes the [[ego]] as an [[object]] of the [[libido|libidinal economy]], and links the birth of the [[ego]] to the [[narcissism|narcissistic stage]] of [[development]]. | ||
[[Narcissism]] is different from the prior stage of [[autoeroticism]] (in which the [[ego]] does not exist as a unity), and only comes about when "a new psychical action" gives birth ot the [[ego]]. | [[Narcissism]] is different from the prior stage of [[autoeroticism]] (in which the [[ego]] does not exist as a unity), and only comes about when "a new psychical action" gives birth ot the [[ego]]. | ||
| − | + | ==Jacques Lacan== | |
| − | + | ===Myth of Narcissus=== | |
[[Lacan]] develops [[Freud]]'s concept by linking it more explicitly with its namesake, the myth of [[Narcissus]]. | [[Lacan]] develops [[Freud]]'s concept by linking it more explicitly with its namesake, the myth of [[Narcissus]]. | ||
| + | ===Identification with the Specular Image=== | ||
[[Lacan]] thus defines [[narcissism]] as the erotic attraction to the [[specular image]]; this erotic relation underlies the primary [[identification]] by which the [[ego]] is formed in the [[mirror stage]]. | [[Lacan]] thus defines [[narcissism]] as the erotic attraction to the [[specular image]]; this erotic relation underlies the primary [[identification]] by which the [[ego]] is formed in the [[mirror stage]]. | ||
| + | ===Erotic-Aggressive Character of Narcissism=== | ||
[[Narcissism]] has both an erotic character and an [[aggressive]] character. | [[Narcissism]] has both an erotic character and an [[aggressive]] character. | ||
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It is [[aggressive]], since the wholeness of the [[specular image]] contrasts with the uncoordinated disunity of the [[subject]]'s real [[body]], and thus seems to threaten the [[subject]] with disintegration. | It is [[aggressive]], since the wholeness of the [[specular image]] contrasts with the uncoordinated disunity of the [[subject]]'s real [[body]], and thus seems to threaten the [[subject]] with disintegration. | ||
| + | ===="Narcissistic Suicidal Aggression"==== | ||
In "[[Lacan|Remarks on psychic causality]],"<ref>Lacan. 1946</ref>[[Lacan]] coins the term "[[narcissism|Narcissistic suicidal aggression]]" (''[[narcissism|aggression suicidaire narcissique]]'') to express the fact that the erotic-aggressive character of the [[narcissistic]] infautation with the [[specular image]] can lead the [[subject]] to self-destruction (as the myth of [[Narcissus]] also illustrates.<ref>{{Ec}} p.187; {{Ec}} p.174</ref> | In "[[Lacan|Remarks on psychic causality]],"<ref>Lacan. 1946</ref>[[Lacan]] coins the term "[[narcissism|Narcissistic suicidal aggression]]" (''[[narcissism|aggression suicidaire narcissique]]'') to express the fact that the erotic-aggressive character of the [[narcissistic]] infautation with the [[specular image]] can lead the [[subject]] to self-destruction (as the myth of [[Narcissus]] also illustrates.<ref>{{Ec}} p.187; {{Ec}} p.174</ref> | ||
| + | ===Imaginary Dimension of Human Relationships=== | ||
The [[narcissistic]] relation constitutes the [[imaginary]] dimension of human relationships.<ref>{{S3}} p.92</ref> | The [[narcissistic]] relation constitutes the [[imaginary]] dimension of human relationships.<ref>{{S3}} p.92</ref> | ||
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==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 12:10, 21 August 2006
| French: narcissisme |
Sigmund Freud
Development of the Term
The term "narcissism" first appears in Freud's work in 1910, but it is not until his work "On Narcissism: An Introduction"[1] that the concept begins to play a central role in psychoanalytic theory.
From this point on, Freud defines narcissism as the investment of libido in the ego, and opposes it to object-love, in which libido is invested in objects.
Investment of the Libido in the Ego
Lacan attributes great importance to this phase in Freud's work, since it clearly inscribes the ego as an object of the libidinal economy, and links the birth of the ego to the narcissistic stage of development.
Narcissism is different from the prior stage of autoeroticism (in which the ego does not exist as a unity), and only comes about when "a new psychical action" gives birth ot the ego.
Jacques Lacan
Myth of Narcissus
Lacan develops Freud's concept by linking it more explicitly with its namesake, the myth of Narcissus.
Identification with the Specular Image
Lacan thus defines narcissism as the erotic attraction to the specular image; this erotic relation underlies the primary identification by which the ego is formed in the mirror stage.
Erotic-Aggressive Character of Narcissism
Narcissism has both an erotic character and an aggressive character.
It is erotic, as the myth of Narcissus shows, since the subject is strongly attracted to the gestalt that is his image.
It is aggressive, since the wholeness of the specular image contrasts with the uncoordinated disunity of the subject's real body, and thus seems to threaten the subject with disintegration.
"Narcissistic Suicidal Aggression"
In "Remarks on psychic causality,"[2]Lacan coins the term "Narcissistic suicidal aggression" (aggression suicidaire narcissique) to express the fact that the erotic-aggressive character of the narcissistic infautation with the specular image can lead the subject to self-destruction (as the myth of Narcissus also illustrates.[3]
Imaginary Dimension of Human Relationships
The narcissistic relation constitutes the imaginary dimension of human relationships.[4]
See Also
References
- ↑ Freud 1914c
- ↑ Lacan. 1946
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.187; Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.174
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.92
