Difference between revisions of "Superego"

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{{Top}}surmoi{{Bottom}}
  
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==Sigmund Freud==
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The term "[[superego]]" does not appear until quite late in [[Freud]]'s [[Sigmund Freud:Bibliography|work]], [[being]] first introduced in ''[[The Ego and the Id]]'' (1923).
  
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It was in this [[work]] that [[Freud]] introduced his so-called "[[structural model]]", in which the [[psyche]] is [[divided]] into [[three]] [[agencies]]: the [[ego]], the [[id]] and the [[superego]].
  
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The term "[[superego]]" does not appear until quite late in [[Freud]]'s work, being first introduced in ''The Ego and the Id'' (1923).
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However, the [[concept]] of a [[moral agency]] which judges and censures the [[ego]] can be found in [[Freud]]'s [[Sigmund Freud:Bibliography|work]] long before he locates these functions in the [[superego]], such as in his concept of [[censorship]].
  
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It was in this work that [[Freud]] introduced his so-called "structural model", in which the psyche is divided into three agencies: the ego, the id and the superego.
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==Jacques Lacan==
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[[Lacan]]'s first [[discussion]] of the [[superego]] comes in his articule on the [[family]].
  
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However, the concept of a moral agency which judges and censures the ego can be found in Freud's work long before he lcoates these funcitons in the superego, such as in his concept of censorship.
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In this work he distinguishes clearly between the [[superego]] and the '''[[ego-ideal]]''', [[terms]] which [[Freud]] seems to use interchangeably in ''[[The Ego and the Id]]''.
  
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--
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He argues that the primary function of the [[superego]] is to [[repress]] [[desire|sexual desire]] for the [[mother]] in the [[resolution]] of the [[Oedipus complex]].
  
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Lacan's first discussion of the superego comes in her articule on the fmaily.
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Following [[Freud]], he argues that the [[superego]] results from [[Oedipal]] [[identification]] with the [[father]], but he also refers to [[Kleinian psychoanalysis|Melanie Klein]]'s [[thesis]] on the [[maternal]] origins of an archaic [[form]] of the [[superego]].<ref>{{1938}} p. 59-60</ref>
  
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In this work he distinguishes clearly between the superego and the [[ego-ideal]], terms which Freud seems to use interchaneably in ''The Ego and the Id.
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===Symbolic Law===
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When Lacan returns to the subject of the superego in his 1953-4 [[seminar]]; he locates it in the [[symbolic|symbolic order]], as opposed to the [[imaginary|imaginary order]] of the [[ego]]: the [[superego]] is essentially located within the [[symbolic|symbolic plane]] of [[speech]].<ref>{{S1}} p. 102</ref>
  
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He argues that the primary function of the superego is to repress sexual desire for the mother int he resolution of the Oedipus complex.
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The [[superego]] has a close [[relationship]] with the [[Law]], but this relationship is a paradoxical one.
  
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Following Freud, he argues that the superego results from Oedipal identification with the father, but he also refers to Melanie Klein's thesis on the maternal origins of an archaic ofrm of the superego.<ref>{{L}} o.1938. p.59-60</ref>
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On the one hand, the [[Law]] as such is a [[symbolic]] [[structure]] which regualtes [[subjectivity]] and in this [[sense]] prevents disintegration.
  
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---
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On the other hand, the [[law]] of the superego has a "[[senseless]], blind [[character]], of pure imperativeness and simple tyranny.<ref>{{S1}} p. 102</ref>
  
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When [[Lacan]] returns to the subject of the superego in his 1953-4 seminar; he locates it in the symbolicorder, as opposed to the imaginary order of the ego: the superego is essentially located within the symbolic plane of speech.<ref>{{S1}} p.102</ref>
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<blockquote>Thus "the superego is at one and the same [[time]] the law and its [[destruction]]."<ref>{{S1}} p. 102</ref></blockquote>
  
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The superego ahs a close relationship with the Law, but this relationship is a paradoxical one.
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The superego arises from the misunderstanding of the [[law]], from the [[gap]]s in the [[symbolic]] [[chain]], and fills out those [[gap]]s with an [[imaginary]] [[substitute]] that distorts the [[law]].<ref>{{E}} p. 143</ref>
  
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On the one hand, the Law as such is a symbolic structure which regualtes subjectivity and in tis sense prevents disintegration.
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===Philosophy===
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More specifically, in [[linguistic]] terms, "the superego is an imperative."<ref>{{S1}} p. 102</ref>
  
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On the other hand, the law of the superego has a "senseless, blidn character, of pure imperativeness and simple tyranny.<ref>{{S1}} p.102</ref>
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In 1962, [[Lacan]] argues that this is none other than the [[Kant]]ian [[categorical imperative]].
  
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Thus "the superego is at one and the same time the law and its destruction."<ref>{{S1}} p.102</ref>
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The specific imperative involved is the command "Enjoy!"; the [[superego]] is the [[Other]] insofar as the [[Other]] commands the [[subject]] to [[enjoy]].
  
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The [[superego]] arises from the misunderstanding of the law, from the gaps in the symbolic chian, and fills out those gaps with an imaginary substitute that distorts the law.<ref>{{E}} p.143</ref>
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The [[superego]] is thus the expression of the [[superego|will-to-enjoy]] (''volonte de jouissance''), which is not the [[subject]]'s own will but the will of the [[Other]], who assumes the form of [[Sade]]'s "Supreme Being-in-[[Evil]]."<ref>{{Ec}} p. 773</ref>
  
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---
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The [[superego]] is an "[[obscene]], ferocious [[Figure]]"<ref>{{E}} p. 256</ref> which imposes "a senseless, destructive, purely oppressive, almost always anti-legel [[morality]]" on the [[neurotic]] [[subject]].<ref>{{S1}} p. 102</ref>
  
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More specifically, in linguistic terms, "the superego is an imperative."<ref>{{S1}} p.102</ref>
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The [[superego]] is related to the [[voice]], and thus to the invoking [[drive]] and to [[sadism/masochism]].
  
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In 1962, [[Lacan]] argues that this is none other than the Kantian categorical imperative.
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==See Also==
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{{See}}
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* [[Ego]]
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* [[Desire]]
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||
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* [[Drive]]
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* [[Id]]
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||
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* [[Identification]]
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* ''[[Jouissance]]''
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||
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* [[Law]]
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* [[Oedipus complex]]
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||
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* [[Philosophy]]
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* [[Repression]]
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||
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* [[Structure]]
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* [[Symbolic]]
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{{Also}}
  
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The specific imperative involved is the command "Enjoy!"; the superego is the Other insofar as the Other commands the subject to enjoy.
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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>
  
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The superego is thus the expression of the will-to-enjoy (volonte de jouissance''), which is not the subject's own will but the will of the Other, who assumes the form of Sade's 'Supreme Being-in-Evil."<ref>{{Ec}} p.773</ref>
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{{OK}}
  
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The [[superego]] is an "obscene, ferocious FIgure"<ref>{{E}} p.256</ref> which imposes "a senseless, destructive, purely oppressive, almost always anti-legel morality" on the [[neurotic]] [[subject]].<ref>{{s1}} p.102</ref>
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__NOTOC__
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The [[superego]] is related to the [[voice]], adn thus to the invoking drive and to sadism/masochism.
 

Latest revision as of 00:07, 21 May 2019

French: surmoi

Sigmund Freud

The term "superego" does not appear until quite late in Freud's work, being first introduced in The Ego and the Id (1923).

It was in this work that Freud introduced his so-called "structural model", in which the psyche is divided into three agencies: the ego, the id and the superego.

However, the concept of a moral agency which judges and censures the ego can be found in Freud's work long before he locates these functions in the superego, such as in his concept of censorship.

Jacques Lacan

Lacan's first discussion of the superego comes in his articule on the family.

In this work he distinguishes clearly between the superego and the ego-ideal, terms which Freud seems to use interchangeably in The Ego and the Id.

He argues that the primary function of the superego is to repress sexual desire for the mother in the resolution of the Oedipus complex.

Following Freud, he argues that the superego results from Oedipal identification with the father, but he also refers to Melanie Klein's thesis on the maternal origins of an archaic form of the superego.[1]

Symbolic Law

When Lacan returns to the subject of the superego in his 1953-4 seminar; he locates it in the symbolic order, as opposed to the imaginary order of the ego: the superego is essentially located within the symbolic plane of speech.[2]

The superego has a close relationship with the Law, but this relationship is a paradoxical one.

On the one hand, the Law as such is a symbolic structure which regualtes subjectivity and in this sense prevents disintegration.

On the other hand, the law of the superego has a "senseless, blind character, of pure imperativeness and simple tyranny.[3]

Thus "the superego is at one and the same time the law and its destruction."[4]

The superego arises from the misunderstanding of the law, from the gaps in the symbolic chain, and fills out those gaps with an imaginary substitute that distorts the law.[5]

Philosophy

More specifically, in linguistic terms, "the superego is an imperative."[6]

In 1962, Lacan argues that this is none other than the Kantian categorical imperative.

The specific imperative involved is the command "Enjoy!"; the superego is the Other insofar as the Other commands the subject to enjoy.

The superego is thus the expression of the will-to-enjoy (volonte de jouissance), which is not the subject's own will but the will of the Other, who assumes the form of Sade's "Supreme Being-in-Evil."[7]

The superego is an "obscene, ferocious Figure"[8] which imposes "a senseless, destructive, purely oppressive, almost always anti-legel morality" on the neurotic subject.[9]

The superego is related to the voice, and thus to the invoking drive and to sadism/masochism.

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Les complexes familiaux dans la formation de l'individu. Essai d'analyse d'une fonction en psychologie, Paris: Navarin, 1984 [1938]. p. 59-60
  2. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book I. Freud's Papers on Technique, 1953-54. Trans. John Forrester. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 102
  3. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book I. Freud's Papers on Technique, 1953-54. Trans. John Forrester. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 102
  4. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book I. Freud's Papers on Technique, 1953-54. Trans. John Forrester. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 102
  5. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 143
  6. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book I. Freud's Papers on Technique, 1953-54. Trans. John Forrester. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 102
  7. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p. 773
  8. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 256
  9. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book I. Freud's Papers on Technique, 1953-54. Trans. John Forrester. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 102


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