Difference between revisions of "Reality Principle"
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+ | Together with the [[pleasure principle]], the [[reality principle]] is, according to [[Freud]], one of the two principles governing the workings of the [[psyche]]. | ||
+ | The [[reality principle]] modifies the [[pleasure principle]] by regulating the instinctive search for [[pleasure]]. | ||
+ | Under its influence, the search for [[pleasure]] ceases to be immediate as momentary and uncertain pleasures are renounced in order to gain a more assured [[pleasure]] at a later stage (deferred gratification). | ||
+ | The quest for [[pleasure]] is thus modified so as to make it conform to the conditions imposed by external realities. | ||
+ | The religious doctrine which holds that those who renounce earthly pleasures can expect to be rewarded in the afterlife is viewed by [[Freud] as a [[projection]] of the [[reality principle]]. | ||
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[[Real]]ity principle (principe de rÈalitÈ) According to Freud, the | [[Real]]ity principle (principe de rÈalitÈ) According to Freud, the | ||
Revision as of 19:32, 10 June 2006
Together with the pleasure principle, the reality principle is, according to Freud, one of the two principles governing the workings of the psyche. The reality principle modifies the pleasure principle by regulating the instinctive search for pleasure. Under its influence, the search for pleasure ceases to be immediate as momentary and uncertain pleasures are renounced in order to gain a more assured pleasure at a later stage (deferred gratification). The quest for pleasure is thus modified so as to make it conform to the conditions imposed by external realities. The religious doctrine which holds that those who renounce earthly pleasures can expect to be rewarded in the afterlife is viewed by [[Freud] as a projection of the reality principle.
Reality principle (principe de rÈalitÈ) According to Freud, the
psyche is at first regulated entirely by the PLEASURE PRINCIPLE, Which seeks to
experience satisfaction via a hallucinatory cathexis of a memory of prior
satisfaction. However, the subject soon discovers that hallucinating does not
relieve his needs, and is thus forced 'to form a conception of the Real
circumstances in the external world' (Freud, 1911b: SE XII, 219). A new
'principle of mental functioning' is thus introduced (the 'Reality principle'),
which modifies the pleasure principle and forces the subject to take more
circuitous routes to satisfaction. Since, however, the ultimate aim of the
Reality principle is still the satisfaction of the drives, it can be said that 'the
substitution of the Reality principle for the pleasure principle implies no
deposing of the pleasure principle, but only a safeguarding of it' (Freud,
1911b: SE XII, 223).
From early on, Lacan is opposed to what he calls 'a naive conception of the
Reality principle' (1951b: ll). That is, he rejects any account of human
development based on an unproblematic notion of 'Reality' as an objective
and self-evident given. He emphasises Freud's position that the Reality prin-
ciple is still ultimately in the service of the pleasure principle; 'the Reality
principle is a delayed action pleasure principle' (S2, 60). Lacan thus chal-
lenges the idea that the subject has access to an infallible means of distinguish-
ing between Reality and Fantasy. '[R]eality isn't just there so that we bump our
heads up against the false paths along which the functioning of the pleasure
principle leads us. In truth, we make Reality out of pleasure' (S7, 225).
def
Respectively, the desire for immediate gratification vs. the deferral of that gratification. Quite simply, the pleasure-principle drives one to seek pleasure and to avoid pain. However, as one grows up, one begins to learn the need sometimes to endure pain and to defer gratification because of the exigencies and obstacles of reality: "An ego thus educated has become 'reasonable'; it no longer lets itself be governed by the pleasure principle, but obeys the reality principle, which also at bottom seeks to obtain pleasure, but pleasure which is assured through taking account of reality, even though it is pleasure postponed and diminished" (Introductory Lectures 16.357).