Difference between revisions of "Narcissism"
(→"Narcissistic Suicidal Aggression") |
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==Sigmund Freud== | ==Sigmund Freud== | ||
===Development of the Term=== | ===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>{{F}} "[[Works of Sigmund Freud|On Narcissism: An Introduction]]," 1914c. [[SE]] XIV, 69.</ref> that the concept begins to play a central role in [[psychoanalytic theory]]. | + | 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>{{F}} "[[Works of Sigmund Freud|On Narcissism: An Introduction]]," 1914c. [[SE]] XIV, 69.</ref> that the [[concept]] begins to play a central [[role]] in [[psychoanalytic theory]]. |
===Investment of the Libido in the Ego=== | ===Investment of the Libido in the Ego=== | ||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
===Birth of the Ego=== | ===Birth of 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]]. |
===Narcissistic Stage of Development=== | ===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 to 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 to the [[ego]]. |
==Jacques Lacan== | ==Jacques Lacan== | ||
===Myth of Narcissus=== | ===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=== | ===Identification with the Specular Image=== | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
===Erotic-Aggressive Character of Narcissism=== | ===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 [[fragmented body|disintegration]]. | + | [[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 [[fragmented body|disintegration]]. |
===="Narcissistic Suicidal Aggression"==== | ===="Narcissistic Suicidal Aggression"==== | ||
| − | In "[[Lacan|Remarks on Psychic Sausality]],"<ref>{{L}} "[[Work of Jacques Lacan|Propos sur la causalité psychique]]", in {{E}} [1946]. pp. 151-93</ref> [[Lacan]] coins the term "[[narcissism|narcissistic suicidal aggression]]" (''[[narcissism|aggression suicidaire narcissique]]'') to express the fact that the [[eroticism|erotic]]-[[aggressive]] character of the [[narcissistic]] infatuation 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 Sausality]],"<ref>{{L}} "[[Work of Jacques Lacan|Propos sur la causalité psychique]]", in {{E}} [1946]. pp. 151-93</ref> [[Lacan]] coins the term "[[narcissism|narcissistic suicidal aggression]]" (''[[narcissism|aggression suicidaire narcissique]]'') to express the fact that the [[eroticism|erotic]]-[[aggressive]] character of the [[narcissistic]] infatuation 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=== | ===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> |
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Latest revision as of 19:47, 20 May 2019
| 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.
Investment of the Libido in the Ego
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.
Birth of 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.
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 to 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 Sausality,"[2] Lacan coins the term "narcissistic suicidal aggression" (aggression suicidaire narcissique) to express the fact that the erotic-aggressive character of the narcissistic infatuation 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, Sigmund. "On Narcissism: An Introduction," 1914c. SE XIV, 69.
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. "Propos sur la causalité psychique", in Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. [1946]. pp. 151-93
- ↑ 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
