The Language of PsychoanalysisSigmund Freud evolved his theories throughout his lifetime. This entailed many revisions and changes which he himself never tried to standardise rigidly into a definitive conceptual system. The need for some sort of a reliable guide which would spell out both the pattern of the evolution of Freud’s thinking, as well as establish its inherent logic, was felt for a long time by both scholars and students of psychoanalysis. Drs Laplanche and Pontalis of the Association Psychanalytique de France succeeded admirably in providing a dictionary of Freud’s concepts which is more than a compilation of mere definitions. After many years of creative and industrious research, they were able to give an authentic account of the evolution of each concept with pertinent supporting texts from Freud’s own writing (in the Standard Edition translation), and thus have endowed us with an instrument for work and research which is characterised by its thoroughness, exactitude and lack of prejudice towards dogma. The Language of Psychoanalysis is an established classic that will long continue to be of invaluable use to both the student and the research-worker in psychoanalysis. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
according action activity actual affect agency aggressiveness analysis anxiety appears associations attempt become behaviour brings calls castration complex concept consciousness constitutes death defence defined described directed distinction dreams economic energy essential example excitation existence experience expression external fact factor force formation Freud Freudian function fundamental genital hysteria idea identification implies importance infantile instinct internal interpretation introduced kind libido means mechanism memory mental mode narcissism nature neurosis Notes notion object operation opposition organisation organism origin particular patient person phantasy play Pleasure Principle position possible present primary problem projection psychical psychical apparatus psycho-analysis Psychology question reality reference relation relationship repression resistance result sadism satisfaction secondary sense sexual speaking specific stage structure Studies symbolic symptoms takes term theory thought Three transference trauma treatment unconscious whole wish