Difference between revisions of "Suggestion"

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suggestion (suggestion)                  In nineteenth-century French psychiatry, the
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{{Top}}suggest|suggestion{{Bottom}}           
  
  term 'suggestion'    referred   to the   use of hypnosis       to remove neurotic
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==Psychiatric Definition==
 +
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]].
  
symptoms; while the patient was in         a state of hypnosis, the doctor would
+
==Sigmund Freud==
 +
Taking his cue from the French psychiatrists Charcot and Bernheim, [[Freud]] began using [[suggestion]] to treat [[neurotic]] [[patient]]s in the 1880s.
  
'suggest' that the symptoms would disappear. Taking his cue from the French
+
==Treatment==
 +
However, he became increasingly dissatisfied with [[suggestion]], and thus came to abandon [[hypnosis]] and develop [[psychoanalysis]].  
  
psychiatrists Charcot and Bernheim, Freud began using suggestion to treat
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The reasons for [[Freud]]'s [[dissatisfaction]] with [[hypnosis]] are hence fundamental for [[understanding]] the specific [[nature]] of [[psychoanalysis]].
  
neurotic patients in the 1880s. However, he became increasingly dissatisfied
+
However, it is beyond the scope of this article to enter into a detailed [[discussion]] of these reasons.  
  
with suggestion, and thus came to abandon hypnosis and develop psycho-
+
==Psychoanalysis==
 +
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]].
  
analysis. The    reasons for Freud's dissatisfaction with hypnosis            are hence
+
==Jacques Lacan==
 +
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:
  
fundamental for understanding the specific nature of psychoanalysis. How-
+
===Direction Toward Moral Value===
 +
: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.
  
  ever, it is beyond the scope of this article to enter into a detailed discussion of
+
===Resistance to Treatment===
 +
: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]] recognizes that a certain residue of [[resistance]] is inherent in the [[structure]] of the [[treatment]].
  
these reasons. Suffice it to say that in Freud's later work the term 'suggestion'
+
===Interpretation, Signification and Meaning===
 +
:3. In [[suggestion]], the [[interpretation]]s of the therapist are orientated around [[signification]], whereas the [[analyst]] orientates his [[interpretation]]s around [[meaning]] (''[[meaning|sens]]'') and its correlate, [[meaning|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.
  
  comes to represent a whole set of ideas which Freud associates with hypnosis
+
==Transference==
 +
[[Suggestion]] has a close relation with [[transference]].<ref>{{E}} p. 270</ref>
  
and which is thus diametrically opposed to psychoanalysis.
+
If [[transference]] involves the [[analysand]] attributing [[knowledge]] to the [[analyst]], [[suggestion]] refers to a [[particular]] way of responding to this [[attribution]].  
  
      Following Freud, Lacan uses the term 'suggestion' to designate a whole
+
==Position of the Analyst==
 +
[[Lacan]] argues that the [[analyst]] must realize 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.
  
range of deviations from true psychoanalysis (deviations which Lacan also
+
In this way, the [[analyst]] is able to transform the [[transference]] into "an [[analysis]] of suggestion."<ref>{{E}} p.271</ref>
  
refers to as 'psychotherapy'), of which the following are perhaps the most
+
[[Suggestion]], on the [[other]] hand, arises when the [[analyst]] assumes the position of one who really does know.
  
salient:
+
==Hypnosis and Psychoanalysis==
 +
Like [[Freud]], [[Lacan]] sees [[hypnosis]] as the [[model]] of [[suggestion]].
  
      1. Suggestion includes the idea of directing the patient towards some ideal or
+
In ''[[Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego]]'', [[Freud]] shows how hypnotism makes the [[object]] converge with the [[ego-ideal]].<ref>{{F}} ''[[Works of Sigmund Freud|Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego]]'', 1921. [[SE]] XVIII, 69.</ref>
  
  some moral value (see ETHIcs). In opposition to this, Lacan reminds analysts
+
To put this in [[Lacan]]ian [[terms]], [[hypnotism]] involves the convergence of the [[object]] ''a'' and the I.
  
that their task is to direct the treatment, not the patient (E, 227). Lacan is
+
[[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>.
  
opposed to any conception of psychoanalysis as a normative process of social
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==See also==
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{{See}}
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* [[Analysand]]
 +
* [[Analyst]]
 +
||
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* [[Interpretation]]
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* [[Knowledge]]
 +
||
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* [[Progress]]
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* [[Resistance]]
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||
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* [[Signification]]
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* [[Structure]]
 +
||
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* [[Transference]]
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* [[Treatment]]
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{{Also}}
  
influence.
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==References==
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<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">
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<references/>
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</div>
  
      2. Suggestion also arises when the patient'S RESISTANCE is seen as something
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[[Category:Imaginary]]
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[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
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[[Category:Dictionary]]
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[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
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[[Category:Concepts]]
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[[Category:Treatment]]
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{{OK}}
  
that must be liquidated by the analyst. Such a view is completely foreign to
+
__NOTOC__
 
 
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 (E, 270). 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' (E, 271). 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 (Freud, 1921). To put this in Lacanian
 
 
 
  terms, hypnotism involves the convergence of the object a and the I. Psycho-
 
 
 
analysis involves exactly the opposite, since 'the fundamental mainspring of
 
 
 
  the analytic operation is the maintenance of the distance between I      - identi-
 
 
 
  fication - and the a' (S11, 273).
 

Latest revision as of 00:05, 21 May 2019

French: suggestion

Psychiatric Definition

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.

Sigmund Freud

Taking his cue from the French psychiatrists Charcot and Bernheim, Freud began using suggestion to treat neurotic patients in the 1880s.

Treatment

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.

Psychoanalysis

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.

Jacques Lacan

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:

Direction Toward Moral Value

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.

Resistance to Treatment

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 recognizes that a certain residue of resistance is inherent in the structure of the treatment.

Interpretation, Signification and Meaning

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.

Transference

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.

Position of the Analyst

Lacan argues that the analyst must realize 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.

Hypnosis and Psychoanalysis

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

  1. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.227
  2. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 270
  3. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.271
  4. Freud, Sigmund. Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, 1921. SE XVIII, 69.
  5. 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