Difference between revisions of "Censorship"
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This is how it appears in [[Freud]] in [[Studies on Hysteria]]: | This is how it appears in [[Freud]] in [[Studies on Hysteria]]: | ||
| − | <blockquote>"we are very often astonished to realize in what a mutilated state all the ideas and scenes emerged which we extracted from the patient by procedure of pressing. Precisely the essential elements of the picture were missing [...] I will give one or two examples of the way in which a censoring of this kind operates..."<ref>1895b, p. 281-282</ref></blockquote> | + | <blockquote>"we are very often astonished to realize in what a mutilated [[state]] all the [[ideas]] and scenes emerged which we extracted from the patient by procedure of pressing. Precisely the essential elements of the picture were [[missing]] [...] I will give one or two examples of the way in which a censoring of this kind operates..."<ref>1895b, p. 281-282</ref></blockquote> |
He then shows that what is censored is what appears to the patient to be blameworthy, shameful, and inadmissible. | He then shows that what is censored is what appears to the patient to be blameworthy, shameful, and inadmissible. | ||
| − | In a letter to [[Wilhelm Fleiss]]<ref>December 22, 1897, in 1950a</ref> he compares this psychic work to the [[censorship]] that the czarist regime imposed on Russian newspapers at the time: | + | In a [[letter]] to [[Wilhelm Fleiss]]<ref>December 22, 1897, in 1950a</ref> he compares this [[psychic]] [[work]] to the [[censorship]] that the czarist [[regime]] imposed on Russian newspapers at the [[time]]: |
| − | <blockquote>"Words, sentences and whole paragraphs are blacked out, with the result that the remainder is unintelligible."<ref>1950a, p. 240</ref></blockquote> | + | <blockquote>"[[Words]], sentences and [[whole]] paragraphs are blacked out, with the result that the [[remainder]] is unintelligible."<ref>1950a, p. 240</ref></blockquote> |
Although the term appears quite frequently in writings from this first period, its status remains uncertain. | Although the term appears quite frequently in writings from this first period, its status remains uncertain. | ||
| − | [[Freud]] seems to be describing the deliberate suppression by [[patient]]s, in their [[communication]] with the doctor, of what they do not wish to reveal to him, as well as the mechanism and effects of [[unconscious]] [[repression]].<ref>1896b</ref> | + | [[Freud]] seems to be describing the deliberate [[suppression]] by [[patient]]s, in their [[communication]] with the doctor, of what they do not wish to reveal to him, as well as the [[mechanism]] and effects of [[unconscious]] [[repression]].<ref>1896b</ref> |
| − | A second meaning appears when he evokes the [[censorship]] which, in [[dream-work]], results in a [[manifest]] text being presented as a riddle.<ref>Interpretation of Dreams, 1900a</ref> | + | A second [[meaning]] appears when he evokes the [[censorship]] which, in [[dream-work]], results in a [[manifest]] [[text]] [[being]] presented as a riddle.<ref>[[Interpretation]] of [[Dreams]], 1900a</ref> |
| − | The metapsychological texts of 1915 elaborate on the distinctions outlined in chapter seven of the [[Interpretation of Dreams]]. | + | The metapsychological [[texts]] of 1915 elaborate on the distinctions outlined in chapter seven of the [[Interpretation of Dreams]]. |
| − | [[Censorship]] is in fact defined as that which opposes the return of that which is [[repressed]], at the two successive levels in the passage from the [[unconscious]] to the [[preconscious]] (the "antechamber") and on to the [[conscious]] (the "drawing-room").<ref>1915e</ref> | + | [[Censorship]] is in fact defined as that which opposes the [[return]] of that which is [[repressed]], at the two successive levels in the passage from the [[unconscious]] to the [[preconscious]] (the "antechamber") and on to the [[conscious]] (the "drawing-room").<ref>1915e</ref> |
| − | [[Censorship]] is thus clearly distinguished from [[repression]]: whereas [[repression]] rejects a representation and/or an [[affect]] into the [[unconscious]], [[censorship]] is what prevents it from re-emerging. | + | [[Censorship]] is thus clearly distinguished from [[repression]]: whereas [[repression]] rejects a [[representation]] and/or an [[affect]] into the [[unconscious]], [[censorship]] is what prevents it from re-emerging. |
| − | [[Freud]] nevertheless confuses this distinction later when he writes, for example: | + | [[Freud]] nevertheless confuses this [[distinction]] later when he writes, for example: |
| − | <blockquote>"We know the self-observing agency as the ego-censor, the conscience; it is this that exercises the dream-censorship during the night, from which the repressions of inadmissible wishful impulses proceed."<ref>1916-17a, p. 429</ref></blockquote> | + | <blockquote>"We [[know]] the [[self]]-observing [[agency]] as the ego-censor, the [[conscience]]; it is this that exercises the dream-censorship during the night, from which the repressions of inadmissible wishful impulses proceed."<ref>1916-17a, p. 429</ref></blockquote> |
With the introduction of the [[structural theory]] [[Freud]] made a new distinction, with the [[ego]] becoming the [[agent]] of the [[censorship]] under the [[superego]]—the merciless supervisor.<ref>1923b</ref> | With the introduction of the [[structural theory]] [[Freud]] made a new distinction, with the [[ego]] becoming the [[agent]] of the [[censorship]] under the [[superego]]—the merciless supervisor.<ref>1923b</ref> | ||
| − | Although the notion of [[censorship]] continues to be fairly widely used in [[psychoanalysis]] to describe [[resistance]] to the [[treatment]], it has scarcely received any further elaboration and its global nature may cause it to appear to be somewhat outmoded. | + | Although the [[notion]] of [[censorship]] continues to be fairly widely used in [[psychoanalysis]] to describe [[resistance]] to the [[treatment]], it has scarcely received any further elaboration and its [[global]] [[nature]] may [[cause]] it to appear to be somewhat outmoded. |
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
| Line 50: | Line 50: | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | * [[Freud, Sigmund]]. (1895b). On the grounds for detaching a particular syndrome from neurasthenia under the description "anxiety neurosis." SE, 3: 85-115. | + | * [[Freud, Sigmund]]. (1895b). On the grounds for detaching a [[particular]] syndrome from neurasthenia under the description "[[anxiety]] [[neurosis]]." SE, 3: 85-115. |
| − | * ——. (1896b). Further remarks on the neuro-psychoses of defence. SE, 3: 157-185. | + | * ——. (1896b). Further remarks on the neuro-[[psychoses]] of [[defence]]. SE, 3: 157-185. |
| − | * ——. (1900a). The interpretation of dreams. SE, 4-5. | + | * ——. (1900a). The [[interpretation of dreams]]. SE, 4-5. |
* ——. (1915e). The unconscious. SE, 14: 159-204. | * ——. (1915e). The unconscious. SE, 14: 159-204. | ||
* ——. (1916-1917a). Introductory lectures on psychoanalysis. Parts I & II. SE, 15-16. | * ——. (1916-1917a). Introductory lectures on psychoanalysis. Parts I & II. SE, 15-16. | ||
| − | * ——. (1923b). The ego and the id. SE, 19: 1-66. | + | * ——. (1923b). The ego and [[The Id|the id]]. SE, 19: 1-66. |
| − | * ——. (1950a). Extracts from the Fliess papers. SE, 1: 173-280. | + | * ——. (1950a). Extracts from the [[Fliess]] papers. SE, 1: 173-280. |
[[Category:Glossary]] | [[Category:Glossary]] | ||
| Line 64: | Line 64: | ||
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | [[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | ||
[[Category:Freudian psychology]] | [[Category:Freudian psychology]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Enotes]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:02, 27 May 2019
The term censorship in everyday language connotes ideas of blame and repression of faults.
This is how it appears in Freud in Studies on Hysteria:
"we are very often astonished to realize in what a mutilated state all the ideas and scenes emerged which we extracted from the patient by procedure of pressing. Precisely the essential elements of the picture were missing [...] I will give one or two examples of the way in which a censoring of this kind operates..."[1]
He then shows that what is censored is what appears to the patient to be blameworthy, shameful, and inadmissible.
In a letter to Wilhelm Fleiss[2] he compares this psychic work to the censorship that the czarist regime imposed on Russian newspapers at the time:
"Words, sentences and whole paragraphs are blacked out, with the result that the remainder is unintelligible."[3]
Although the term appears quite frequently in writings from this first period, its status remains uncertain.
Freud seems to be describing the deliberate suppression by patients, in their communication with the doctor, of what they do not wish to reveal to him, as well as the mechanism and effects of unconscious repression.[4]
A second meaning appears when he evokes the censorship which, in dream-work, results in a manifest text being presented as a riddle.[5]
The metapsychological texts of 1915 elaborate on the distinctions outlined in chapter seven of the Interpretation of Dreams.
Censorship is in fact defined as that which opposes the return of that which is repressed, at the two successive levels in the passage from the unconscious to the preconscious (the "antechamber") and on to the conscious (the "drawing-room").[6]
Censorship is thus clearly distinguished from repression: whereas repression rejects a representation and/or an affect into the unconscious, censorship is what prevents it from re-emerging.
Freud nevertheless confuses this distinction later when he writes, for example:
"We know the self-observing agency as the ego-censor, the conscience; it is this that exercises the dream-censorship during the night, from which the repressions of inadmissible wishful impulses proceed."[7]
With the introduction of the structural theory Freud made a new distinction, with the ego becoming the agent of the censorship under the superego—the merciless supervisor.[8]
Although the notion of censorship continues to be fairly widely used in psychoanalysis to describe resistance to the treatment, it has scarcely received any further elaboration and its global nature may cause it to appear to be somewhat outmoded.
See Also
- Dream
- Dream interpretation
- Ego
- Fantasy
- Fundamental rule
- Hysteria
- Jokes
- Latent
- Nightmare
- Preconscious
- Repression
- Superego
- Wish/yearning
References
- Freud, Sigmund. (1895b). On the grounds for detaching a particular syndrome from neurasthenia under the description "anxiety neurosis." SE, 3: 85-115.
- ——. (1896b). Further remarks on the neuro-psychoses of defence. SE, 3: 157-185.
- ——. (1900a). The interpretation of dreams. SE, 4-5.
- ——. (1915e). The unconscious. SE, 14: 159-204.
- ——. (1916-1917a). Introductory lectures on psychoanalysis. Parts I & II. SE, 15-16.
- ——. (1923b). The ego and the id. SE, 19: 1-66.
- ——. (1950a). Extracts from the Fliess papers. SE, 1: 173-280.
