Difference between revisions of "Suggestion"
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| − | + | "[[suggestion]]" ([[Fr]]. ''[[suggestion]]'') | |
| − | suggestion (suggestion) | ||
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| − | symptoms; while the patient was in | + | In nineteenth-century French psychiatry, the term "[[suggestion]]" referred to the use of hypnosis to remove [[neurotic]] [[symptoms]]; while the [[patient]] was in a state of hypnosis, the doctor would "[[suggest]]" that the [[symptom]]s would disappear. |
| − | + | Taking his cue from the French psychiatrists Charcot and Bernheim, [[Freud]] began using [[suggestion]] to treat [[neurotic]] [[patient]]s in the 1880s. | |
| − | + | However, he became increasingly dissatisfied with [[suggestion]], and thus came to abandon [[hypnosis]] and develop [[psychoanalysis]]. | |
| − | + | The reasons for [[Freud]]'s dissatisfaction with [[hypnosis]] are hence fundamental for understanding the specific nature of [[psychoanalysis]]. | |
| − | + | However, it is beyond the scope of this article to enter into a detailed discussion of these reasons. | |
| − | + | Suffice it to say that in [[Freud]]'s later work the term "[[suggestion]]" comes to represent a whole set of ideas which [[Freud]] associates with hypnosis and which is thus diametrically opposed to [[psychoanalysis]]. | |
| − | + | -- | |
| − | + | Following [[Freud]], [[Lacan]] uses the term "[[suggestion]]" to designate a whole range of deviations from true [[psychoanalysis]] (deviations which [[Lacan]] also refers to as "[[psychotherapy]]"), of which the following are perhaps the most salient: | |
| − | + | -- | |
| − | + | 1. [[Suggestion]] includes the idea of directing the [[patient]] towards some [[ideal]] or some [[moral]] value. | |
| − | + | In opposition to this, [[Lacan]] reminds [[analysts]] that their task is to direct the [[treatment]], not the [[patient]].<ref>{{E}} p.227</ref> | |
| − | + | [[Lacan]] is opposed to any conception of [[psychoanalysis]] as a normative process of social influence. | |
| − | + | -- | |
| − | + | 2. [[Suggestion]] also arises when the [[patient]]'s [[resistance]] is seen as something that must be liquidated by the [[analyst]]. | |
| − | + | Such a view is completely foreign to [[psychoanalysis]], argues [[Lacan]], since the [[analyst]] recognises that a certain residue of [[resistance]] is inherent in the [[structure]] of the [[treatment]]. | |
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| − | + | -- | |
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| − | + | 3. In [[suggestion]], the [[interpretation]]s of the therapist are orientated around [[signification]], whereas the [[analyst]] orientates his [[interpretation]]s around meaning (''sens'') and its correlate, nonsense. | |
| − | + | Thus whereas in [[psychotherapy]] there is an attempt to avoid the ambiguity and equivocation of [[discourse]], it is precisely this ambiguity which [[psychoanalysis]] thrives on. | |
| − | + | --- | |
| − | + | [[Suggestion]] has a close relation with [[transference]].<ref>{{E}} p.270</ref> | |
| − | + | If [[transference]] involves the [[analysand]] attributing [[knowledge]] to the [[analyst]], [[suggestion]] refers to a particular way of responding to this attribution. | |
| − | + | [[Lacan]] argues that the [[analyst]] must realise that he only occupies the position of one who is presumed (by the [[analysand]]) to know, without fooling himself that he really does possess the [[knowledge]] attributed to him. | |
| − | + | In this way, the [[analyst]] is able to transform the [[transference]] into "an analysis of suggestion."<ref>{{E}} p.271</ref> | |
| − | + | [[Suggestion]], on the other hand, arises when the [[analyst]] assumes the position of one who really does know. | |
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| − | + | ---- | |
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| − | + | Like [[Freud]], [[Lacan]] sees [[hypnosis]] as the model of [[suggestion]]. | |
| − | + | In ''[[Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego]]'', [[Freud]] shows how hypnotism makes the [[object]] converge with the [[ego-ideal]].<ref>Freud, 1921</ref> | |
| − | + | To put this in [[Lacan]]ian terms, [[hypnotism]] involves the convergence of the [[object]] ''a'' and the I. | |
| − | + | [[Psychoanalysis]] involves exactly the opposite, since "the fundamental mainspring of the analytic operation is the maintenance of the distance between I - identification - and the ''a''."<ref>{{S11}} p.273</ref>. | |
| − | + | {{Les termes}} | |
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| − | + | ==See also== | |
| + | * [[Resistance]] | ||
| + | * [[Transference]] | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | <references/> | ||
| − | + | [[Category:Imaginary]] | |
| + | [[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Concepts]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Treatment]] | ||
Revision as of 22:37, 30 July 2006
"suggestion" (Fr. suggestion)
--
In nineteenth-century French psychiatry, the term "suggestion" referred to the use of hypnosis to remove neurotic symptoms; while the patient was in a state of hypnosis, the doctor would "suggest" that the symptoms would disappear.
Taking his cue from the French psychiatrists Charcot and Bernheim, Freud began using suggestion to treat neurotic patients in the 1880s.
However, he became increasingly dissatisfied with suggestion, and thus came to abandon hypnosis and develop psychoanalysis.
The reasons for Freud's dissatisfaction with hypnosis are hence fundamental for understanding the specific nature of psychoanalysis.
However, it is beyond the scope of this article to enter into a detailed discussion of these reasons.
Suffice it to say that in Freud's later work the term "suggestion" comes to represent a whole set of ideas which Freud associates with hypnosis and which is thus diametrically opposed to psychoanalysis.
--
Following Freud, Lacan uses the term "suggestion" to designate a whole range of deviations from true psychoanalysis (deviations which Lacan also refers to as "psychotherapy"), of which the following are perhaps the most salient:
--
1. Suggestion includes the idea of directing the patient towards some ideal or some moral value.
In opposition to this, Lacan reminds analysts that their task is to direct the treatment, not the patient.[1]
Lacan is opposed to any conception of psychoanalysis as a normative process of social influence.
--
2. Suggestion also arises when the patient's resistance is seen as something that must be liquidated by the analyst.
Such a view is completely foreign to psychoanalysis, argues Lacan, since the analyst recognises that a certain residue of resistance is inherent in the structure of the treatment.
--
3. In suggestion, the interpretations of the therapist are orientated around signification, whereas the analyst orientates his interpretations around meaning (sens) and its correlate, nonsense.
Thus whereas in psychotherapy there is an attempt to avoid the ambiguity and equivocation of discourse, it is precisely this ambiguity which psychoanalysis thrives on.
---
Suggestion has a close relation with transference.[2]
If transference involves the analysand attributing knowledge to the analyst, suggestion refers to a particular way of responding to this attribution.
Lacan argues that the analyst must realise that he only occupies the position of one who is presumed (by the analysand) to know, without fooling himself that he really does possess the knowledge attributed to him.
In this way, the analyst is able to transform the transference into "an analysis of suggestion."[3]
Suggestion, on the other hand, arises when the analyst assumes the position of one who really does know.
Like Freud, Lacan sees hypnosis as the model of suggestion.
In Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, Freud shows how hypnotism makes the object converge with the ego-ideal.[4]
To put this in Lacanian terms, hypnotism involves the convergence of the object a and the I.
Psychoanalysis involves exactly the opposite, since "the fundamental mainspring of the analytic operation is the maintenance of the distance between I - identification - and the a."[5].
See also
References
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.227
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.270
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.271
- ↑ Freud, 1921
- ↑ 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.273
