Difference between revisions of "Repetition"
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| − | repetition ( | + | "[[repetition]]" ([[Fr]]. ''[[répétition]]'') |
| − | Freud's most important discussion of the repetition compulsion (Wiederholungszwang) occurs in [[Beyond the Pleasure Principle]] ( | + | |
| + | [[Freud]]'s most important discussion of the "[[repetition compulsion]]" (''[[Wiederholungszwang]]'') occurs in ''[[Beyond the Pleasure Principle]]'' (1920) where he links it to the concept of the [[death drive]]. | ||
| − | + | [[Freud]] posited the [[existence]] of a basic [[compulsion to repeat]] in order to explain certain clinical data: namely, the tendency of the [[subject]] to expose himself again and again to distressing situations. | |
| − | + | It is a basic principle of [[psychoanalysis]] that a person is only condemned to repeat something when he has forgotten the origins of the compulsion, and that [[psychoanalytic treatment]] can therefore break the cycle of [[repetition]] by helping the [[patient]] [[remember]]. | |
| − | + | -- | |
| − | + | In [[Lacan]]'s pre-1950s work, the concept of [[repetition]] is linked with that of the [[complex]] - an internalised social [[structure]] which the [[subject]] repeatedly and compulsively re-enacts. | |
| − | Repetition is the general characteristic of the signifying chain, the manifestation of the unconscious in every subject, and transference is only a very special form of repetition (i.e. it is repetition within psychoanalytic treatment), which cannot simply be equated with the repetition compulsion itself. <ref>S8, 208</ref> | + | At this time [[Lacan]] often translates [[Freud]]'s ''[[Wiederholungszwang]]'' as ''[[automatisme de répétition]]'', a term borrowed from [[French]] [[psychiatry]].<ref>Pierre Janet, GaÎtan Gatian de ClÈrambault</ref> |
| + | |||
| + | -- | ||
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| + | While [[Lacan]] never completely abandons the term ''[[automatisme de répétition]]'', in the 1950s he increasingly uses the term "[[insistence]]" ([[Fr]]. ''[[instance]]'') to refer to the [[repetition compulsion]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Thus [[repetition]] is -- now defined -- as the [[insistence]] of the [[signifier]], or the [[insistence]] of the [[signifying chain]], or the [[insistence]] of the [[letter]] (''l'instance de la lettre''). | ||
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| + | <blockquote>"Repetition is fundamentally the insistence of speech."<ref>{{S3}} p.242</ref></blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Certain [[signifier]]s insist on returning in the life of the [[subject]], despite the [[resistance]]s which block them. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In [[schema L]], [[repetition]] / [[insistence]] is represented by the axis A-S, while the axis ''a''-''a''' represents the [[resistance]] (or 'inertia') which opposes [[repetition]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | -- | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the 1960s, [[repetition]] is redefined as the return of ''[[jouissance]]'', an excess of [[enjoyment]] which returns again and again to [[transgress]] the limits of the [[pleasure principle]] and seek [[death]].<ref>{{S17}} p.51</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | -- | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[repetition compulsion]] manifests itself in [[treatment|analytic treatment]] in the [[transference]], whereby the [[analysand]] repeats in his relationship to the [[analyst]] certain attitudes which characterised his earlier relationships with his parents and others. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Lacan]] lays great emphasis on this [[symbolic]] aspect of [[transference]], distinguishing it from the [[imaginary]] dimension of [[transference]] (the [[affect]]s of [[love]] and [[hate]]).<ref>{{S8}} p.204</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, [[Lacan]] points out that although the [[repetition compulsion]] manifests itself perhaps most clearly in the [[transference]], it is not in itself limited to the [[transference]]; in itself, "the concept of repetition has nothing to do with the concept of transference."<ref>{{S11}} p.33</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Repetition]] is the general characteristic of the [[signifying chain]], the manifestation of the [[unconscious]] in every [[subject]], and [[transference]] is only a very special form of [[repetition]] (i.e. it is [[repetition]] within [[psychoanalytic treatment]]), which cannot simply be equated with the [[repetition compulsion]] itself. <ref>S8, 208</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | * [[Death drive]] | ||
| + | * [[Transference]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Terms]] | [[Category:Terms]] | ||
[[Category:Concepts]] | [[Category:Concepts]] | ||
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | [[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Dictionary]] | ||
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | [[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | ||
Revision as of 00:30, 31 July 2006
"repetition" (Fr. répétition)
Freud's most important discussion of the "repetition compulsion" (Wiederholungszwang) occurs in Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920) where he links it to the concept of the death drive.
Freud posited the existence of a basic compulsion to repeat in order to explain certain clinical data: namely, the tendency of the subject to expose himself again and again to distressing situations.
It is a basic principle of psychoanalysis that a person is only condemned to repeat something when he has forgotten the origins of the compulsion, and that psychoanalytic treatment can therefore break the cycle of repetition by helping the patient remember.
--
In Lacan's pre-1950s work, the concept of repetition is linked with that of the complex - an internalised social structure which the subject repeatedly and compulsively re-enacts.
At this time Lacan often translates Freud's Wiederholungszwang as automatisme de répétition, a term borrowed from French psychiatry.[1]
--
While Lacan never completely abandons the term automatisme de répétition, in the 1950s he increasingly uses the term "insistence" (Fr. instance) to refer to the repetition compulsion.
Thus repetition is -- now defined -- as the insistence of the signifier, or the insistence of the signifying chain, or the insistence of the letter (l'instance de la lettre).
"Repetition is fundamentally the insistence of speech."[2]
Certain signifiers insist on returning in the life of the subject, despite the resistances which block them.
In schema L, repetition / insistence is represented by the axis A-S, while the axis a-a' represents the resistance (or 'inertia') which opposes repetition.
--
In the 1960s, repetition is redefined as the return of jouissance, an excess of enjoyment which returns again and again to transgress the limits of the pleasure principle and seek death.[3]
--
The repetition compulsion manifests itself in analytic treatment in the transference, whereby the analysand repeats in his relationship to the analyst certain attitudes which characterised his earlier relationships with his parents and others.
Lacan lays great emphasis on this symbolic aspect of transference, distinguishing it from the imaginary dimension of transference (the affects of love and hate).[4]
However, Lacan points out that although the repetition compulsion manifests itself perhaps most clearly in the transference, it is not in itself limited to the transference; in itself, "the concept of repetition has nothing to do with the concept of transference."[5]
Repetition is the general characteristic of the signifying chain, the manifestation of the unconscious in every subject, and transference is only a very special form of repetition (i.e. it is repetition within psychoanalytic treatment), which cannot simply be equated with the repetition compulsion itself. [6]
See Also
References
- ↑ Pierre Janet, GaÎtan Gatian de ClÈrambault
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.242
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre XVII. L'envers de la psychanalyse, 19669-70. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p.51
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre VIII. Le transfert, 1960-61. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p.204
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book XI. The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, 1964. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1977. p.33
- ↑ S8, 208
