Difference between revisions of "Neurosis"

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==Sigmund Freud==
 
==Sigmund Freud==
 
===Mental Disorder===
 
===Mental Disorder===
"[[Neurosis]]" is originally a [[psychiatric]] term which came to denote, in the eighteenth-century, a whole range of [[treatment|nervous disorders]] defined by a wide variety of [[symptom]]s.  [[Freud]] uses the term in a number of ways, sometimes as a general term for all [[treatment|mental disorders]] in [[Works of Sigmund Freud|his early work]], and sometimes to denote a specific class of [[treatment|mental disorders]] (i.e. in opposiiton to [[psychosis]]).
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"[[Neurosis]]" is originally a [[psychiatric]] term which came to denote, in the eighteenth-century, a [[whole]] range of [[treatment|nervous disorders]] defined by a wide variety of [[symptom]]s.  [[Freud]] uses the term in a [[number]] of ways, sometimes as a general term for all [[treatment|mental disorders]] in [[Works of Sigmund Freud|his early work]], and sometimes to denote a specific [[class]] of [[treatment|mental disorders]] (i.e. in opposiiton to [[psychosis]]).
  
It is a pathological mental condition in which there are no observable lesions in the neuropsychological system.  The patient is normally aware of the morbidity of his or her condition and a neurosis can, unlike a psychosis, be treated with the patient's consent.  Neurosis is normally understood as a condition such as hysteria in which somatic symptoms are an expression of a psychical conflict originating in childhood.  Modern psychoanalysis describes patients presenting obsessional, phobic or hysterical symptoms as neurotic.
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It is a pathological [[mental]] condition in which there are no observable lesions in the neuropsychological [[system]].  The [[patient]] is normally aware of the morbidity of his or her condition and a neurosis can, unlike a psychosis, be treated with the patient's consent.  Neurosis is normally [[understood]] as a condition such as hysteria in which somatic [[symptoms]] are an expression of a [[psychical]] [[conflict]] originating in [[childhood]].  Modern [[psychoanalysis]] describes [[patients]] presenting obsessional, [[phobic]] or [[hysterical]] symptoms as neurotic.
  
 
==Jacques Lacan==
 
==Jacques Lacan==
 
===Clinical Structure===
 
===Clinical Structure===
In [[Lacan]]'s work, the term [[neurosis]] always figures in opposition to [[psychosis]] and [[perversion]], and refers not to a set of [[symptom]]s but to a particular [[clinical structure]].  This use of the term to designate a [[structure]] problematizes [[Freud]]'s distinction between [[neurosis]] and normality.
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In [[Lacan]]'s [[work]], the term [[neurosis]] always [[figures]] in opposition to [[psychosis]] and [[perversion]], and refers not to a set of [[symptom]]s but to a [[particular]] [[clinical structure]].  This use of the term to designate a [[structure]] problematizes [[Freud]]'s [[distinction]] between [[neurosis]] and normality.
  
 
===Neurosis and Normality===
 
===Neurosis and Normality===
[[Freud]] bases this distinction purely on a quantitative factors ("psychoanalytic research finds no fundamental but only quantitative distinction between normal and neurotic life"<ref>{{F}} ''[[The Interpretation of Dreams]]'', 1990a: [[SE]] V: 373</ref>) which is not a [[structural]] distinction.  In [[structural]] terms, therefore, there is no distinction between the "normal" [[subject]] and the [[neurotic]].
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[[Freud]] bases this distinction purely on a quantitative factors ("[[psychoanalytic]] research finds no fundamental but only quantitative distinction between normal and neurotic [[life]]"<ref>{{F}} ''[[The Interpretation of Dreams]]'', 1990a: [[SE]] V: 373</ref>) which is not a [[structural]] distinction.  In [[structural]] [[terms]], therefore, there is no distinction between the "normal" [[subject]] and the [[neurotic]].
  
 
===Psychosis and Perversion===
 
===Psychosis and Perversion===
This [[Lacanian]] nosology identifies three [[clinical structures]]: [[neurosis]], [[psychosis]] and [[perversion]], in which there is no position of "mental health" which could be called "normal"<ref>{{S8}} p. 374-5; {{E}} p. 163</ref>. The normal [[structure]], in the sense of that which is found in the statistical majority of the population, is [[neurosis]], and "mental health" is an illusory ideal of [[split|wholeness]] which can never be attained because the [[subject]] is essentially [[split]].  Thus whereas [[Freud]] sees [[neurosis]] as an illness that can be [[cure]]d, [[Lacan]] sees [[neurosis]] as a [[structure]] that cannot be altered.  The aim of [[psychoanalytic treatment]] is therefore not the eradication of the [[neurosis]] but the modification of the [[subject]]'s position ''vis-à-vis'' the [[neurosis]].
+
This [[Lacanian]] nosology [[identifies]] [[three]] [[clinical structures]]: [[neurosis]], [[psychosis]] and [[perversion]], in which there is no [[position]] of "mental health" which could be called "normal"<ref>{{S8}} p. 374-5; {{E}} p. 163</ref>. The normal [[structure]], in the [[sense]] of that which is found in the statistical majority of the population, is [[neurosis]], and "mental health" is an [[illusory]] [[ideal]] of [[split|wholeness]] which can never be attained because the [[subject]] is essentially [[split]].  Thus whereas [[Freud]] sees [[neurosis]] as an [[illness]] that can be [[cure]]d, [[Lacan]] sees [[neurosis]] as a [[structure]] that cannot be altered.  The aim of [[psychoanalytic treatment]] is therefore not the eradication of the [[neurosis]] but the modification of the [[subject]]'s position ''vis-à-vis'' the [[neurosis]].
  
 
===Hysteria and Obsessional Neurosis===
 
===Hysteria and Obsessional Neurosis===
 
According to [[Lacan]], "the structure of a neurosis is essentially a question."<ref>{{S3}} p.174</ref>
 
According to [[Lacan]], "the structure of a neurosis is essentially a question."<ref>{{S3}} p.174</ref>
  
<blockquote>"[[Neurosis]] is a question that being poses for the subject."<ref>{{E}} p.168</ref></blockquote>
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<blockquote>"[[Neurosis]] is a question that [[being]] poses for the subject."<ref>{{E}} p.168</ref></blockquote>
  
The two forms of [[neurosis]] -- [[hysteria]] and [[obsessional neurosis]] -- are distinguished by the content of the question.  The question of the [[hysteric]] ("[[hysteria|Am I a man or a woman?]]") relates to one's [[sex]], whereas the question of the [[obsessional neurosis]] ("[[obsessional neurosis|To be or not to be?]]") relates to the [[time|contingency]] of one's own [[existence]].  These two questions (the [[hysteria|hysterical]] question about [[sexuality|sexual identity]], and the [[obsessional]] question about [[death]]/[[existence]]) "are as it happens the two ultimate questions that have precisely no solution in the signifier.  This is what gives neurotics this existential value."<ref>{{S3}} p.190</ref>
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The two forms of [[neurosis]] -- [[hysteria]] and [[obsessional neurosis]] -- are distinguished by the [[content]] of the question.  The question of the [[hysteric]] ("[[hysteria|Am I a man or a woman?]]") relates to one's [[sex]], whereas the question of the [[obsessional neurosis]] ("[[obsessional neurosis|To be or not to be?]]") relates to the [[time|contingency]] of one's own [[existence]].  These two questions (the [[hysteria|hysterical]] question [[about]] [[sexuality|sexual identity]], and the [[obsessional]] question about [[death]]/[[existence]]) "are as it happens the two ultimate questions that have precisely no solution in the [[signifier]].  This is what gives neurotics this existential [[value]]."<ref>{{S3}} p.190</ref>
  
 
===Phobia===
 
===Phobia===
At times [[Lacan]] lists [[phobia]] as a [[neurosis]] alongside [[hysteria]] and [[obsessional neurosis]], thus raising the question of whether there are not two but three forms of [[neurosis]].<ref>{{E}} p.168</ref>
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At [[times]] [[Lacan]] lists [[phobia]] as a [[neurosis]] alongside [[hysteria]] and [[obsessional neurosis]], thus raising the question of whether there are not two but three forms of [[neurosis]].<ref>{{E}} p.168</ref>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Latest revision as of 23:13, 23 May 2019

French: névrose

Sigmund Freud

Mental Disorder

"Neurosis" is originally a psychiatric term which came to denote, in the eighteenth-century, a whole range of nervous disorders defined by a wide variety of symptoms. Freud uses the term in a number of ways, sometimes as a general term for all mental disorders in his early work, and sometimes to denote a specific class of mental disorders (i.e. in opposiiton to psychosis).

It is a pathological mental condition in which there are no observable lesions in the neuropsychological system. The patient is normally aware of the morbidity of his or her condition and a neurosis can, unlike a psychosis, be treated with the patient's consent. Neurosis is normally understood as a condition such as hysteria in which somatic symptoms are an expression of a psychical conflict originating in childhood. Modern psychoanalysis describes patients presenting obsessional, phobic or hysterical symptoms as neurotic.

Jacques Lacan

Clinical Structure

In Lacan's work, the term neurosis always figures in opposition to psychosis and perversion, and refers not to a set of symptoms but to a particular clinical structure. This use of the term to designate a structure problematizes Freud's distinction between neurosis and normality.

Neurosis and Normality

Freud bases this distinction purely on a quantitative factors ("psychoanalytic research finds no fundamental but only quantitative distinction between normal and neurotic life"[1]) which is not a structural distinction. In structural terms, therefore, there is no distinction between the "normal" subject and the neurotic.

Psychosis and Perversion

This Lacanian nosology identifies three clinical structures: neurosis, psychosis and perversion, in which there is no position of "mental health" which could be called "normal"[2]. The normal structure, in the sense of that which is found in the statistical majority of the population, is neurosis, and "mental health" is an illusory ideal of wholeness which can never be attained because the subject is essentially split. Thus whereas Freud sees neurosis as an illness that can be cured, Lacan sees neurosis as a structure that cannot be altered. The aim of psychoanalytic treatment is therefore not the eradication of the neurosis but the modification of the subject's position vis-à-vis the neurosis.

Hysteria and Obsessional Neurosis

According to Lacan, "the structure of a neurosis is essentially a question."[3]

"Neurosis is a question that being poses for the subject."[4]

The two forms of neurosis -- hysteria and obsessional neurosis -- are distinguished by the content of the question. The question of the hysteric ("Am I a man or a woman?") relates to one's sex, whereas the question of the obsessional neurosis ("To be or not to be?") relates to the contingency of one's own existence. These two questions (the hysterical question about sexual identity, and the obsessional question about death/existence) "are as it happens the two ultimate questions that have precisely no solution in the signifier. This is what gives neurotics this existential value."[5]

Phobia

At times Lacan lists phobia as a neurosis alongside hysteria and obsessional neurosis, thus raising the question of whether there are not two but three forms of neurosis.[6]

See Also

References

  1. Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams, 1990a: SE V: 373
  2. Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre VIII. Le transfert, 1960-61. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p. 374-5; Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 163
  3. Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.174
  4. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.168
  5. Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.190
  6. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.168