Difference between revisions of "Repetition"

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repetition (rÈpÈtition)               
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Freud's most important discussion of the repetition compulsion (Wiederholungszwang) occurs in [[Beyond the Pleasure Principle]] (1920g) 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 (see [[Acting Out]]).
  
repetition (rÈpÈtition)                Freud's most important discussion of the repeti-
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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 rÈpÈtition,  a term borrowed from French psychiatry. <ref>Pierre Janet, GaÎtan Gatian de ClÈrambault</ref>
  
tion compulsion (Wiederholungszwang) occurs in Beyond the Pleasure Prin-
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While Lacan never completely abandons the term automatisme de rÈpÈtition, 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.'<ref>S3, 242</ref> Certain signifiers insist on returning in the life of the subject, despite the resistances which block them. In [[schemaL]], repetition / insistence is represented by the axis A-S, while the axis a-a' represents the resistance (or 'inertia') which opposes repetition.
  
ciple (1920g) where he links it to the concept of the DEATH DREVE. Freud posited
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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, 51</ref>
  
the existence of a basic compulsion to repeat in order to explain certain clinical
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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).<ref>(S8, 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>Sll, 33</ref>
  
data: namely, the tendency of the subject to expose himself again and again to
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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>
 
 
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 (see [[Acting Out]]).
 
 
 
      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 Wiederho-
 
 
 
lungszwang      as automatisme de rÈpÈtition,      a term borrowed from French
 
 
 
psychiatry (Pierre Janet, GaÎtan Gatian de ClÈrambault).
 
 
 
      While Lacan never completely abandons the term automatisme de rÈpÈti-
 
 
 
tion, 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' (S3, 242). Certain signifiers insist on returning in
 
 
 
the life of the subject, despite the resistances which block them. In scHEMA L,
 
 
 
repetitionlinsistence 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 (S17, 51).
 
 
 
      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) (S8, 204). However, Lacan points out that although the
 
 
 
repetition compulsion manifests itself perhaps most clearly in the transfer-
 
 
 
  ence, it is not in itself limited to the transference; in itself, 'the concept of
 
 
 
repetition has nothing to do with the concept of transference' (Sll, 33).
 
 
 
Repetition is the general characteristic of the signifying chain, the manifesta-
 
 
 
tion 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 (S8,
 
 
 
208).
 

Revision as of 07:23, 2 May 2006

repetition (rÈpÈtition) Freud's most important discussion of the repetition compulsion (Wiederholungszwang) occurs in Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920g) 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 (see Acting Out).

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 rÈpÈtition, a term borrowed from French psychiatry. [1]

While Lacan never completely abandons the term automatisme de rÈpÈtition, 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 schemaL, 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]

  1. Pierre Janet, GaÎtan Gatian de ClÈrambault
  2. S3, 242
  3. (S17, 51
  4. (S8, 204
  5. Sll, 33
  6. S8, 208