Difference between revisions of "Passage to the act"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | + | {{Top}}passage à l'acte{{Bottom}} | |
| − | + | ===Definition from French Clinical Psychiatry=== | |
| + | The phrase "[[passage to the act]]" comes from [[French]] [[clinic]]al [[psychiatry]], which uses it to designate those impulsive acts, of a violent or criminal nature, which sometimes mark the onset of an acute psychotic episode. | ||
| − | + | As the phrase itself indicates, these [[act]]s are supposed to mark the point when the [[subject]] proceeds from a violent idea or [[intention]] to the corresponding [[act]]. | |
| − | + | Because these acts are attributed to the action of the [[psychosis]], French law absolves the perpetrator of civil responsibility for them.<ref>Chemama, Roland (ed.) (1993) ''Dictionnaire de la Psychanalyse. Dictionnaire actuel des signifiants, concepts et mathèmes de la psychanalyse'', Paris: Larousse. p.41</ref> | |
| − | As psychoanalytic ideas gained wider circulation in France in the first half of the twentieth century, it became common for French | + | ===Acting Out and the Passage to the Act=== |
| + | As [[psychoanalytic theory|psychoanalytic ideas]] gained wider circulation in France in the first half of the twentieth century, it became common for [[French]] [[analyst]]s to use the term ''[[passage à l'acte]]'' to translate the term ''[[Passage to the act|Agieren]]'' used by [[Freud]]: i.e. as a synonym for [[acting out]]. | ||
| − | However, in his seminar of 1962-3, [[Lacan]] establishes a distinction between these terms. | + | However, in his [[seminar]] of 1962-3, [[Lacan]] establishes a distinction between these terms. |
| − | While both are last resorts against [[anxiety]], the [[subject]] who acts something out still remains in the [[scene]], whereas a [[passage to the act]] involves an exit from the [[scene]] altogether. | + | While both are last resorts against [[anxiety]], the [[subject]] who [[acting out|acts something out]] still remains in the [[scene]], whereas a [[passage to the act]] involves an exit from the [[scene]] altogether. |
| − | [[Acting out]] is a symbolic message address to the big Other, whereas a [[passage to the act]] is a flight from the [[Other]] into the dimension of the [[real]]. | + | ===Symbolic Order=== |
| + | [[Acting out]] is a symbolic message address to the [[big Other]], whereas a [[passage to the act]] is a flight from the [[Other]] into the dimension of the [[real]]. | ||
| − | The [[passage to the act]] is thus an exit from the symbolic nework, a dissolution of the social bond. | + | The [[passage to the act]] is thus an exit from the [[symbolic order|symbolic nework]], a dissolution of the social bond. |
Although the [[passage to the act]] does not, according to [[Lacan]], necessarily imply an underlying [[psychosis]], it does entail a dissolution of the [[subject]]; for a moment, the [[subject]] becomes a pure [[object]]. | Although the [[passage to the act]] does not, according to [[Lacan]], necessarily imply an underlying [[psychosis]], it does entail a dissolution of the [[subject]]; for a moment, the [[subject]] becomes a pure [[object]]. | ||
| − | + | ==Example from Freud== | |
| − | + | In order to illustrate what he means, [[Lacan]] refers to the case of the young homosexual woman treated by [[Freud]].<ref>{{F}} (1920a) "The Psychogenesis of a Case of Female Homosexuality", [[SE]] XVIII, 147.</ref> | |
| − | In order to illustrate what he means, [[Lacan]] refers to the case of the young homosexual woman treated by [[Freud]].<ref> | ||
[[Freud]] reports that the young women was walking in the street with the woman she loved when she was spotted by her father, who cat an angry glance at her. | [[Freud]] reports that the young women was walking in the street with the woman she loved when she was spotted by her father, who cat an angry glance at her. | ||
| Line 27: | Line 29: | ||
Immediately afterwards, she rushed off and threw herself over a wall down the side of a cutting onto a railway line. | Immediately afterwards, she rushed off and threw herself over a wall down the side of a cutting onto a railway line. | ||
| − | Lacan argues that this suicide attempt was a passage to the act; it was not a message addressed to anyone, since symbolization had | + | [[Lacan]] argues that this suicide attempt was a [[passage to the act]]; it was not a [[message]] addressed to anyone, since [[symbolic|symbolization]] had become impossible for the young [[woman]]. |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | Confronted with her [[father]]'s [[desire]], she was consumed with an uncontrollable [[anxiety]] and reacted in an impulsive way by [[identification|identifying]] with the [[object]]. | ||
| + | Thus she fell down ([[Ger]]. ''niederkommt'') like the ''[[objet petit a]]'', the leftover of [[signification]].<ref>Lacan. 1962-3. seminar of 16 january 1963</ref> | ||
| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | {{See}} | ||
| + | * [[Act]] | ||
| + | * [[Acting out]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Anxiety]] | ||
| + | * [[Object]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Other]] | ||
| + | * [[Psychosis]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Subject]] | ||
| + | * [[Woman]] | ||
| + | {{Also}} | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | [[Category:Practice]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Treatment]] | ||
[[Category:Politics]] | [[Category:Politics]] | ||
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | [[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | ||
Revision as of 16:55, 21 August 2006
| French: passage à l'acte |
Contents
Definition from French Clinical Psychiatry
The phrase "passage to the act" comes from French clinical psychiatry, which uses it to designate those impulsive acts, of a violent or criminal nature, which sometimes mark the onset of an acute psychotic episode.
As the phrase itself indicates, these acts are supposed to mark the point when the subject proceeds from a violent idea or intention to the corresponding act.
Because these acts are attributed to the action of the psychosis, French law absolves the perpetrator of civil responsibility for them.[1]
Acting Out and the Passage to the Act
As psychoanalytic ideas gained wider circulation in France in the first half of the twentieth century, it became common for French analysts to use the term passage à l'acte to translate the term Agieren used by Freud: i.e. as a synonym for acting out.
However, in his seminar of 1962-3, Lacan establishes a distinction between these terms.
While both are last resorts against anxiety, the subject who acts something out still remains in the scene, whereas a passage to the act involves an exit from the scene altogether.
Symbolic Order
Acting out is a symbolic message address to the big Other, whereas a passage to the act is a flight from the Other into the dimension of the real.
The passage to the act is thus an exit from the symbolic nework, a dissolution of the social bond.
Although the passage to the act does not, according to Lacan, necessarily imply an underlying psychosis, it does entail a dissolution of the subject; for a moment, the subject becomes a pure object.
Example from Freud
In order to illustrate what he means, Lacan refers to the case of the young homosexual woman treated by Freud.[2]
Freud reports that the young women was walking in the street with the woman she loved when she was spotted by her father, who cat an angry glance at her.
Immediately afterwards, she rushed off and threw herself over a wall down the side of a cutting onto a railway line.
Lacan argues that this suicide attempt was a passage to the act; it was not a message addressed to anyone, since symbolization had become impossible for the young woman.
Confronted with her father's desire, she was consumed with an uncontrollable anxiety and reacted in an impulsive way by identifying with the object.
Thus she fell down (Ger. niederkommt) like the objet petit a, the leftover of signification.[3]
See Also
References
- ↑ Chemama, Roland (ed.) (1993) Dictionnaire de la Psychanalyse. Dictionnaire actuel des signifiants, concepts et mathèmes de la psychanalyse, Paris: Larousse. p.41
- ↑ Freud, Sigmund. (1920a) "The Psychogenesis of a Case of Female Homosexuality", SE XVIII, 147.
- ↑ Lacan. 1962-3. seminar of 16 january 1963
