Difference between revisions of "Partial object"
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| − | + | "[[part-object]]" ([[Fr]]. ''[[objet partiel]]'') | |
| − | [[part-object]] ([[ | ||
==Melanie Klein== | ==Melanie Klein== | ||
| − | According to [[Melanie Klein]], the [[infant]]'s underdeveloped capacity for perception, together with the fact that he is only concerned with his immediate gratifications, means that the [[subject]] begins by | + | According to [[Melanie Klein]], the [[infant]]'s underdeveloped capacity for perception, together with the fact that he is only concerned with his immediate gratifications, means that the [[subject]] begins by relating only to a part of a person rather than the whole. |
| − | relating only to a part of a person rather than the whole. | ||
The primordial [[part-object]] is, according to [[Klein]], the [[mother]]'s [[breast]]. | The primordial [[part-object]] is, according to [[Klein]], the [[mother]]'s [[breast]]. | ||
| − | As the [[child]]'s | + | As the [[child]]'s visual apparatus develops, so also does his capacity to perceive people as whole [[object]]s rather than collections of separate parts. |
| + | |||
| + | -- | ||
==Sigmund Freud== | ==Sigmund Freud== | ||
| + | While the term "[[part-object]]" was first introduced by the [[Kleinian]] [[school]] of [[psychoanalysis]], the origins of the concept can be traced back to [[Karl Abraham]]'s work and ultimately to [[Freud]]. | ||
| − | + | For example, when [[Freud]] states that [[drive|partial drive]]s are directed towards [[object]]s such as the [[breast]] or [[part-object|faeces]], these are clearly [[part-object]]s. | |
| − | + | [[Freud]] also implies that the [[penis]] is a [[part-object]] in his discussion of the [[castration complex]] (in which the [[penis]] is imagined as a separable organ) and in his discussion of [[fetishism]]. | |
| − | + | -- | |
==Jacques Lacan== | ==Jacques Lacan== | ||
The concept of the [[part-object]] plays an important part in [[Lacan]]'s work from early on. | The concept of the [[part-object]] plays an important part in [[Lacan]]'s work from early on. | ||
| − | [[Lacan]] finds the concept of the [[part-object]] particularly useful in his criticism of [[object-relations theory]], which he attacks for attributing a false sense of [[ | + | [[Lacan]] finds the concept of the [[part-object]] particularly useful in his criticism of [[object-relations theory]], which he attacks for attributing a false sense of completeness to the [[object]]. |
| + | |||
| + | In opposition to this tendency, [[Lacan]] argues that just as all [[drives]] are [[drive|partial drives]], so all [[objects]] are necessarily | ||
| + | [[part-objects]]. | ||
| + | |||
| − | + | -- | |
| − | |||
[[Lacan]]'s focus on the [[part-object]] is clear evidence of the important [[Klein]]ian influences in his work. | [[Lacan]]'s focus on the [[part-object]] is clear evidence of the important [[Klein]]ian influences in his work. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 40: | ||
Furthermore, [[Lacan]] argues that what isolates certain parts of the | Furthermore, [[Lacan]] argues that what isolates certain parts of the | ||
| − | [[body]] as a [[part-object]] is not any [[biological]] given but the [[signifying]] [[system]] of [[language]]. | + | [[body]] as a [[part-object]] is not any [[biological]] given but the [[signification|signifying]] [[system]] of [[language]]. |
| + | |||
| + | -- | ||
| − | In addition to the [[partial object]]s already discovered by [[psychoanalytic theory]] before [[Lacan]] (the [[breast]], the [[faeces]], the [[phallus]] as [[imaginary]] [[object]], and the [[urinary flow]]), Lacan adds (in 1960) several more: the [[phoneme]], the [[gaze]], the voice and the nothing]].<ref>{{E}} p.315</ref> | + | In addition to the [[partial object]]s already discovered by [[psychoanalytic theory]] before [[Lacan]] (the [[breast]], the [[part-object|faeces]], the [[phallus]] as [[imaginary]] [[object]], and the [[part-object|urinary flow]]), [[Lacan]] adds (in 1960) several more: the [[phoneme]], the [[gaze]], the voice and the nothing]].<ref>{{E}} p.315</ref> |
| − | These [[partial object]]s all have one feature in common: | + | These [[partial object]]s all have one feature in common: "they have no specular image."<ref>{{E}} p.315</ref> |
| − | + | In other words, they are precisely that which cannot be assimilated into the [[subject]]'s [[narcissistic]] [[illusion]] of completeness. | |
| − | + | -- | |
[[Lacan]]'s conceptualisation of the [[part-object]] is modified with the development around 1963-4 of the concept of ''[[objet petit a]]'' as the [[cause]] of [[desire]]. | [[Lacan]]'s conceptualisation of the [[part-object]] is modified with the development around 1963-4 of the concept of ''[[objet petit a]]'' as the [[cause]] of [[desire]]. | ||
| Line 55: | Line 61: | ||
# the [[gaze]], | # the [[gaze]], | ||
# the [[breast]] and | # the [[breast]] and | ||
| − | # [[faeces]]. | + | # [[part-object|faeces]]. |
==Quotes== | ==Quotes== | ||
| − | + | "[[Partial object]]" is [[Klein]]ian term that "has never been subjected to criticism since [[Karl Abraham]] introduced it."<ref>1977. p. 283/687</ref> | |
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
| Line 66: | Line 72: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
[[Category:Freudian psychology]] | [[Category:Freudian psychology]] | ||
[[Category:Sigmund Freud]] | [[Category:Sigmund Freud]] | ||
Revision as of 00:16, 31 July 2006
"part-object" (Fr. objet partiel)
Melanie Klein
According to Melanie Klein, the infant's underdeveloped capacity for perception, together with the fact that he is only concerned with his immediate gratifications, means that the subject begins by relating only to a part of a person rather than the whole.
The primordial part-object is, according to Klein, the mother's breast.
As the child's visual apparatus develops, so also does his capacity to perceive people as whole objects rather than collections of separate parts.
--
Sigmund Freud
While the term "part-object" was first introduced by the Kleinian school of psychoanalysis, the origins of the concept can be traced back to Karl Abraham's work and ultimately to Freud.
For example, when Freud states that partial drives are directed towards objects such as the breast or faeces, these are clearly part-objects.
Freud also implies that the penis is a part-object in his discussion of the castration complex (in which the penis is imagined as a separable organ) and in his discussion of fetishism.
--
Jacques Lacan
The concept of the part-object plays an important part in Lacan's work from early on.
Lacan finds the concept of the part-object particularly useful in his criticism of object-relations theory, which he attacks for attributing a false sense of completeness to the object.
In opposition to this tendency, Lacan argues that just as all drives are partial drives, so all objects are necessarily part-objects.
--
Lacan's focus on the part-object is clear evidence of the important Kleinian influences in his work.
However, whereas Klein defines these objects as partial because they are only part of a whole object, Lacan takes a different view.
They are partial, he argues, "not because these objects are part of a total object, the body, but because they represent only partially the function that produces them."[1]
In other words, in the unconscious only the pleasure-giving function of these objects is represented, while their biological function is not represented.
Furthermore, Lacan argues that what isolates certain parts of the body as a part-object is not any biological given but the signifying system of language.
--
In addition to the partial objects already discovered by psychoanalytic theory before Lacan (the breast, the faeces, the phallus as imaginary object, and the urinary flow), Lacan adds (in 1960) several more: the phoneme, the gaze, the voice and the nothing]].[2]
These partial objects all have one feature in common: "they have no specular image."[3]
In other words, they are precisely that which cannot be assimilated into the subject's narcissistic illusion of completeness.
--
Lacan's conceptualisation of the part-object is modified with the development around 1963-4 of the concept of objet petit a as the cause of desire.
Now each partial object becomes an object by virtue of the fact that the subject takes it for the object of desire, objet petit a.[4]
From this point on in his work, Lacan usually restricts his discussion of part-objects to only four:
Quotes
"Partial object" is Kleinian term that "has never been subjected to criticism since Karl Abraham introduced it."[5]
See Also
References
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.315
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.315
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.315
- ↑ Template:Sll p.104
- ↑ 1977. p. 283/687
