Jahrbuch der Psychoanalyse: Band 71: Der Begriff der Symbolisierung

As a concept of metapsychology as well as of clinical theory, the term symbolization is widely used by different psychoanalytic schools of thought. But there are differences in its conceptualization which are not always apparent. This volume inquires into its various meanings in the work of Freud and in contemporary psychoanalysis, but also into its roots in philosophy. Clinical aspects are also presented. The volume documents an already advanced discussion of the concept and its emerging divergences.

Content:

• Enno Rudolph: Ich zeige, also bin ich: Das Ich und seine Symbole
  Abstract

  The history of philosophical anthropology of symbolization in Europe starts with Aristoteles’ psychology. It gains a new dimension through Leibniz’ junction of mathematics and metaphysics by way of symbol theory, and is then modified by Kant in respect to ethics and politics. Yet it becomes apparent only through Ernst Cassirer’s theory of symbols and his development of a theory of symbolic forms directly as anthropology of the »animal symbolicum« by explicit referral to the aforenamed symbol theories. The link to Aristoteles opens a possibility to reveal philosophically the psychological sources of the capacity to symbolize. Introducing Helmuth Plessner’s philosophy, moreover, provides a convincing link to contemporary anthropology. A comparison with Hans Blumenberg’s modern theory of metaphors extends the perspective on the human capacity to generate authentic language images other than symbolic, and this with respect to the still relevant impact of the linguistic turn.
• Raymond Borens: Vor dem Anfang ist das Symbolische
  Abstract

  The child does not achieve the symbol through development, maturation and learning processes. Rather, according to Lacanian understanding, the symbolic as an autonomous formation of alterity is essentially made of language and already exists, before the child is born into it and is very largely determined by it. This is mediated by signifiers imposed on the child particularly by parental desires articulated in their speech. Yet language does not remain on the »surface «, it is inscribed into the body and thus connected with the pulsions in order to form »montages«. The consequences of this view for the psychoanalytic cure and for interpretation are elucidated by two clinical examples.
• Claudia Frank: Zum Wurzeln der Symbolisierung in ›sinnhaften‹ unbewussten Phantasien körperlicher Erfahrungen – Der kleinianische Symbolisierungsbegriff
  Abstract

  Taking initially the historic example of Melanie Klein’s analysis of six years old Erna, the roots of the Kleinian notion of symbolization in ›meaningful‹ unconscious phantasies of physical experiences are demonstrated, which – due to reciprocal orientation – develop into conceptions or – due to disorientation – lead to misconceptions. This is followed by outlining some basic theoretical traits, referring especially to Money-Kyrle’s ideas, which are finally illustrated by a case of today’s practice.
• Dietmut Niedecken: Zum Symbolbegriff bei Alfred Lorenzer
  Abstarct

  The theoretical work of Alfred Lorenzer takes on a meta-theoretical perspective whose aim it is to engage psychoanalysis in multidisciplinary discussions. The example of the Fort-Da game is used to show how this meta-theoretical standpoint differs from those of Melanie Klein and Jacques Lacan: Lorenzer does not strive to determine the meaning of the game. He rather examines the phenomenon that meaning evolves out of the game, that the game creates a symbolic structure – and he shows how this is done. Furthermore, Lorenzer investigates the structure of symbolic forms, referring to Susanne Langer’s distinction between discursive and presentational symbolism. It is shown that this distinction opens a new sight upon some irritations regarding Klein’s and Lacan’s theories.
• Elfriede Löchel: (Mit) Differenzen arbeiten: Symbol, Symbolisierung, Symbolisches. Ein Beitrag zur Diskussion des psychoanalytischen Symbolbegriffs
  Abstract

  The paper outlines the historical context of the present psychoanalytic discussion regarding the concept of symbolization. It underlines the linguistic turn in philosophy, and social and cultural sciences. Three different approaches to the concept of the symbol in Freud’s oeuvre are then pointed out, the most important of which being the Gone-There/Fort-Da play (Freud 1920g), which the author connects with Freud’s concept of negation (Freud 1925h). The second part of the paper discusses the concepts of symbol, symbolization and the symbolic in the work of Alfred Lorenzer, Melanie Klein and Jacques Lacan, as they are contemporarily read (in this volume) by D. Niedecken, C. Frank and R. Borens, respectively. In the third part, the author presents her thesis that »symbolization is negation«. The paper ends with an outlook on the relation between psychic representation and symbolization, especially in respect to »unrepresented states«.
• Jean-Claude Stoloff: Väterliche Funktion und Urverdrängung
  Abstract

  Following Freud, repression presupposes primal repression, the latter being conceived of endogeneously as instinct fixation to ideational representatives. But Freud has a second notion founding primal repression on incidents in the primal horde giving rise to totemism and subsequently being transmitted phylogenetically. The two notions can be integrated only by taking into account the role of the primary object as representing the paternal function. Lacan’s concept of the presence of the significant of the phallus in the discourse of the Other is referred to, but seen as problematical in its exclusive reliance upon a structuralistic concept of language. More advance can be made by Aulagnier’s concept of »fundamental language« which takes relational aspects of language into account as well and moreover preserves Freud’s economic factor. Against this background, an integration of the two notions of primal repression is proposed in outline by ascribing the primal phantasies described by Freud unto elementary representations of bodily experiences with the object, the latter having to undergo elaboration into phantasms under the influence of the parents’ primal phantasies.
• Stefanie Schunck: Seele im Blick – Blick in der Seele
  Abstract

  Case material of a patient with classical neurotic conversion symptoms is subjected to a structural form analysis aimed at identifying phenomena of gaze in hysteria. This begins with the body surface being exposed for deciphering. Next, oscillation between different and incongruent perspectives is described as a general principle of the visual in order to carve out the visual mode in dual relationship. This leads to a discussion of different conceptions of the »maternal gaze« such as early breastfeeding situation, »alpha« function of the mother, and mirror stage. The close correlation of vision and knowledge is linked to the detection of one’s own sex. There follows a discussion of phantasms of omnivision and omnipresence in the framework of subject-object-relation. After this, denial of castration and of deficiency is demonstrated in the case material in terms of »gaze as object a«, and it is shown how in the symptoms jouissance (Lacan) is striving to be put in action. With respect to all these aspects, a traumatic aetiology is suggested, and it is shown that only the acknowledgement of separation and deficiency can constitute trauma in terms of retroaction (Nachträglichkeit).

Wolfgang-Loch-Vorlesung:

• Hermann Beland: Der Funktionskreis der angeborenen Antizipationen. Zur Kritik des Affektgesetzes, dass jedes Gefühl Folge eines vorangehenden Situationsurteils sei
  Abstract

  Some elements of inborn anticipations are examined to prove the validity of the psychoanalytic affect-theory law that each emotion is caused by a logically as well as temporally antecedent conscious or unconscious judgment of the present situation. Among these are: attention (Freud, Bion), pre-conceptions, pre-monitions, b-elements (Bion), projective identifications, separation lines within the body scheme of mother-newborn-unity (Tustin). Inborn propositions of situations which cause emotional acting in envy, rage and depression are described more extensively. A clinical sequence demonstrates how projective identification can serve as an omnipotent situational judgment overcoming the judgmental function of the analyst. Mother’s alpha-function allows for the infant’s first realistic situational jugdments (beginning of reality principle). The therapeutic consequence is that in dealing with emotion it is never advisable to fight the emotion but to analyze the bizarre judgment of situation which causes the emotion. Wolfgang Loch’s understanding of emotions as sometimes functioning as antecedent noesis in the framework of sign philosophy backs the author’s affect theory. This paper is dedicated to his memory.