Difference between revisions of "Regression"

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regression (rÈgression)                  Freud introduced the concept of regression in                          longing for a protective father (Freud, 1927c: SE XXI, 22-4), and described
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{{Top}}régression{{Bottom}}             
  
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The Interpretation of Dreams in order to explain the visual nature of dreams.                              religion as 'a universal obsessional neurosis' (Freud, 1907b: SE IX, 126-7).
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==Sigmund Freud==
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[[Freud]] introduced the [[concept]] of [[regression]] in longing for a protective [[father]],<ref>{{F}} ''[[Works of Sigmund Freud|The Future of an Illusion]]'', 1927c: [[SE]] XXI, 22-4</ref> and described [[The Interpretation of Dreams]] in [[order]] to explain the [[visual]] [[nature]] of [[dreams]].
  
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Basing himself on a topographical model in which the psyche is conceived of                                   Lacan too considers himself      an atheist, having renounced the Catholic
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Basing himself on a [[topographical]] [[model]] in which the [[psyche]] is conceived of as  a series of distinct systems, [[Freud]] argued that during [[sleep]] [[progress]]ive access to motor [[activity]] is blocked, thus forcing [[thoughts]] to travel regressively through these systems towards the [[system]] of [[perception]].<ref>{{F}} ''[[The Interpretation of Dreams]]'', 1900a: [[SE]] V, 538-55</ref>
  
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  as  a series of distinct systems, Freud argued that during sleep progressive                                  religion of his parents (Lacan's brother, however, spent most of his life as a
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He later added a passage to this section distinguishing between this [[topographical]] kind of [[regression]] and what he called [[temporal]] [[regression]] (when the subject reverts to previous phases of [[development]]) and [[formal]] [[regression]]. (the use of modes of expression which are less [[complex]] than [[others]]).<ref>{{F}} ''[[The Interpretation of Dreams]]'', 1900a: [[SE]] V, 548</ref>
  
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  access to motor activity is blocked, thus forcing thoughts to travel regressively                          Benedictine monk). Like Freud he opposes religion to science, and aligns
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==Jacques Lacan==
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[[Lacan]] argues that the concept of [[regression]] has been one of the most misunderstood [[concepts]] in [[psychoanalytic theory]].  
  
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through these systems towards the system of perception (Freud, 1900a: SE V,                               psychoanalysis with the latter (S11, 265). Distinguishing religion from
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In [[particular]], he criticises the 'magical' view of [[regression]], according to which [[regression]] is seen as a [[real]] phenomenon, in which [[adults]] "actually regress, return to the [[state]] of a small [[child]], and start wailing."
  
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538-55). He later added a passage to this section distinguishing between this                                  magic, science and psychoanalysis on the basis of their different relations to
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In this [[sense]] of the term, "[[regression]] does [[exist]]."<ref>{{S2}} p. 103</ref>
  
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topographical kind of regression and what he called temporal regression                                        truth as cause, Lacan presents religion as a denial of the truth as cause of the
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In [[place]] of this misconception, [[Lacan]] argues that [[regression]] must be [[understood]] first and foremost in a [[topographical]] sense, which is the way [[Freud]] understood the term when he introduced it in 1900, and not in a [[temporal]] sense.
  
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(when the subject reverts to previous phases of development) and formal                                      subject (Ec, 872), and argues that the function of sacrificial rites is to seduce
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In [[other]] [[words]], "there is [[regression]] on the plane of [[signification and not on the plane of [[reality]]."<ref>{{S2}} p. 103</ref>
  
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regression (the       use of modes of expression which        are less complex than                          God, to arouse his desire (Sl l, 113). He states that the true formula of atheism
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Thus [[regression]] is to be understood "not in the [[instinct]]ual sense, nor in the sense of the resurgence of something anterior," but in the sense of "the reduction of the [[symbolic]] to the [[imaginary]]."<ref>{{S4}} p. 242</ref>
  
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others) (Freud, 1900a: SE V, 548 [passage added in 1914]).                                                            is not God is dead but God is unconscious (Sll, 59) and echoes Freud's
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===Temporal Regression===
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Insofar as [[regression]] can be said to have a [[temporal]] sense, it does not involve the [[subject]] "going back in [[time]]," but rather a rearticulation of certain [[demand]]s:
  
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      Lacan argues that the concept of regression has been            one of the most                          remarks about similarities between religious practices and obsessional neuro-
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"[[Regression]] shows [[nothing]] other than a [[return]] to the [[present]] of [[signifier]]s used in [[demand]]s for which there is a prescription."<ref>{{E}} p.255</ref>
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misunderstood concepts in psychoanalytic theory. In particular, he criticises                                sis (S7, 130).
 
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the 'magical' view of regression, according to which regression is seen as a                                        Beyond these remarks on the concept of religion, Lacan's discourse abounds
 
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[[Real]] phenomenon, in which adults 'actually regress, return to the state of a                                    in metaphors drawn from Christian theology. The most obvious example is
 
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small child, and start wailing'. In this sense of the term, 'regression does not                                  surely the phrase the NAME-OF-THE-FATHER, which Lacan adopts to denote a
 
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exist' (S2, 103). In place of this misconception, Lacan argues that regression                                fundamental signifier whose foreclosure leads to [[Psychosis]]. However, this is
 
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  must be understood first and foremost in a topographical sense, which is the                              far from the only example. Thus the changes wrought by the [[Symbolic]] are
 
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described in creationist rather than evolutionary terms, although paradoxically
 
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Lacan argues that this creationism is actually the only perspective that 'allows
 
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one to glimpse the possibility of the radical elimination of God' (S7, 213). In
 
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the seminar of 1972-3 he uses the term 'God' as a metaphor for the [[big Other]],
 
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and compares feminine jouissance to the ecstasy experienced by Christian
 
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mystics such as St Teresa of Avila (S20, 70-1).
 
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== def ==
 
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The psychic reversion to childhood desires. When normally functioning desire meets with powerful external obstacles, which prevent satisfaction of those desires, the subject sometimes regresses to an earlier phase in normal psychosexual development."Regression," as a term, is closely connected to the term, fixation; the stronger one's fixations on earlier sexual objects (eg. the mouth, the anus), the more likely that, when a subject is confronted with obstacles to heterosexual satisfaction, that subject will respond by way of regression to an earlier phase. Example: a normally functioning woman is dumped by her boyfriend and starts over-eating (thus regressing to the oral phase). Regression can result either in neurosis (if accompanied by repression) or in perversion: "A regression of the libido without repression would never produce a neurosis but would lead to a perversion" (Introductory Lectures 16.344). In our example, the neurotic begins over-eating; the pervert gives up men and becomes a lesbian (a sexual identity that Freud saw as perversion, though many have since critiqued him on this point).
 
  
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[[Regression]] to the [[oral stage]], for example, is to be understood in [[terms]] of the articulation of [[oral]] [[demand]]s (the [[demand]] to be fed, evident in the [[demand]] for the [[analyst]] to supply [[interpretation]]s).
  
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When understood in this sense, [[Lacan]] reaffirms the importance of [[regression]] in [[psychoanalytic treatment]], arguing that [[regression]] to the [[anal stage]], for example, is so important that no [[analysis]] which has not encountered this can be called [[complete]].<ref>{{S8}} p. 242</ref>
  
 
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Latest revision as of 22:03, 20 May 2019

French: régression

Sigmund Freud

Freud introduced the concept of regression in longing for a protective father,[1] and described The Interpretation of Dreams in order to explain the visual nature of dreams.

Basing himself on a topographical model in which the psyche is conceived of as a series of distinct systems, Freud argued that during sleep progressive access to motor activity is blocked, thus forcing thoughts to travel regressively through these systems towards the system of perception.[2]

He later added a passage to this section distinguishing between this topographical kind of regression and what he called temporal regression (when the subject reverts to previous phases of development) and formal regression. (the use of modes of expression which are less complex than others).[3]

Jacques Lacan

Lacan argues that the concept of regression has been one of the most misunderstood concepts in psychoanalytic theory.

In particular, he criticises the 'magical' view of regression, according to which regression is seen as a real phenomenon, in which adults "actually regress, return to the state of a small child, and start wailing."

In this sense of the term, "regression does exist."[4]

In place of this misconception, Lacan argues that regression must be understood first and foremost in a topographical sense, which is the way Freud understood the term when he introduced it in 1900, and not in a temporal sense.

In other words, "there is regression on the plane of [[signification and not on the plane of reality."[5]

Thus regression is to be understood "not in the instinctual sense, nor in the sense of the resurgence of something anterior," but in the sense of "the reduction of the symbolic to the imaginary."[6]

Temporal Regression

Insofar as regression can be said to have a temporal sense, it does not involve the subject "going back in time," but rather a rearticulation of certain demands:

"Regression shows nothing other than a return to the present of signifiers used in demands for which there is a prescription."[7]

Regression to the oral stage, for example, is to be understood in terms of the articulation of oral demands (the demand to be fed, evident in the demand for the analyst to supply interpretations).

When understood in this sense, Lacan reaffirms the importance of regression in psychoanalytic treatment, arguing that regression to the anal stage, for example, is so important that no analysis which has not encountered this can be called complete.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion, 1927c: SE XXI, 22-4
  2. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams, 1900a: SE V, 538-55
  3. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams, 1900a: SE V, 548
  4. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book II. The Ego in Freud's Theory and in the Technique of Psychoanalysis, 1954-55. Trans. Sylvana Tomaselli. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge Unviersity Press, 1988. p. 103
  5. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book II. The Ego in Freud's Theory and in the Technique of Psychoanalysis, 1954-55. Trans. Sylvana Tomaselli. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge Unviersity Press, 1988. p. 103
  6. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre IV. La relation d'objet, 19566-57. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p. 242
  7. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.255
  8. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre VIII. Le transfert, 1960-61. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p. 242


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