Difference between revisions of "Psychosis"
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| − | + | "[[psychosis]]" ([[Fr]]. ''[[psychose]]'') | |
| − | "[[psychosis]]" ([[Fr]. ''[[psychose]]'') | ||
==Sigmund Freud== | ==Sigmund Freud== | ||
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==Jacques Lacan== | ==Jacques Lacan== | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]]'s interest in [[psychosis]] predates his nterest in [[psychoanalysis]]. | ||
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| + | Indeed it was his doctoral research, which concerned a psychotic woman whom [[Lacan]] calls [[Aimée]] that first led [[Lacan]] to [[psychoanalytic theory]].<ref>{{L}} p.1932.</ref> | ||
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| + | It is often remarked that [[Lacan]]'s debt to this [[patient]] is reminiscent of [[Freud]]'s debt to his first [[neurotic]] [[patient]]'s (who were also [[female]]). | ||
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| + | In other words, whereas [[Freud]]'s first approach to the [[unconscious]] sis by way of [[neurosis]], [[Lacan]]'s tortured and at times almsot incomprehensible style of writing and speaking to the [[discourse]] of [[psychotic]] [[patient]]s. | ||
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| + | Whatever one makes of such comparisons, it is clear that [[Lacan]]'s discussions of [[psychosis]] are among the most significant and original aspects of his work. | ||
| + | --- | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]]'s most detailed discussion of [[psychosis]] appears in his [[seminar]] of 1955-6, entitled simply ''[[Seminar III|The Psychoses]]''. | ||
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| + | It is here that he expounds what come to be the main tents of the [[Lacan]]ian approach to [[madness]]. | ||
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| + | [[Psychosis]] is defined as one of the three [[clinical structure]]s, one of hwihc is defined by the operation of [[foreclosure]]. | ||
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| + | In this operation, the [[Name-of-the-Father]] is not integrated in the [[symbolic order|symbolic universe]] of the [[psychotic]] (it is "[[foreclosed]]"), with the result that a hole is left in the [[symbolic order]]. | ||
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| + | To speak of a hole in the [[symbolic order]] is not to say that the [[psychotic]] does not have an [[unconscious]]; on the contrary, in [[psychosis]] "the unconscious is present but not functioning."<ref>{{S3}} p.208</ref> | ||
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| + | The [[psychotic]] [[structure]] thus results from a certain malfunction of the [[Oedipus complex]], a [[lack]] in the paternal function; more specifically, in [[psychosis]] the paternal funciton is reduced to the [[image]] of the [[father]] (the [[symbolic]] is reduced to the [[imaginary]]). | ||
Revision as of 10:59, 10 August 2006
Sigmund Freud
The term psychosis arose in psychiatry in the nineteenth century as a way of designating mental illness in general.
During Freud's life, a basic distinction between psychosis and neurosis came to be generally accepted, according to which psychosis designated extreme forms of mental illness and neurosis denoted less serious disorders.
This basic distinction between neurosis and psychosis was taken up and developed by Freud himself in several papers.[1]
Jacques Lacan
Lacan's interest in psychosis predates his nterest in psychoanalysis.
Indeed it was his doctoral research, which concerned a psychotic woman whom Lacan calls Aimée that first led Lacan to psychoanalytic theory.[2]
It is often remarked that Lacan's debt to this patient is reminiscent of Freud's debt to his first neurotic patient's (who were also female).
In other words, whereas Freud's first approach to the unconscious sis by way of neurosis, Lacan's tortured and at times almsot incomprehensible style of writing and speaking to the discourse of psychotic patients.
Whatever one makes of such comparisons, it is clear that Lacan's discussions of psychosis are among the most significant and original aspects of his work. ---
Lacan's most detailed discussion of psychosis appears in his seminar of 1955-6, entitled simply The Psychoses.
It is here that he expounds what come to be the main tents of the Lacanian approach to madness.
Psychosis is defined as one of the three clinical structures, one of hwihc is defined by the operation of foreclosure.
In this operation, the Name-of-the-Father is not integrated in the symbolic universe of the psychotic (it is "foreclosed"), with the result that a hole is left in the symbolic order.
To speak of a hole in the symbolic order is not to say that the psychotic does not have an unconscious; on the contrary, in psychosis "the unconscious is present but not functioning."[3]
The psychotic structure thus results from a certain malfunction of the Oedipus complex, a lack in the paternal function; more specifically, in psychosis the paternal funciton is reduced to the image of the father (the symbolic is reduced to the imaginary).
- ↑ Freud, 1924b and 1924e
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. p.1932.
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.208
