Unconscious phantasy and its conceptualizations: An attempt at conceptual integration.

That there is a lack of consensus as to how to decide between competing, at times even contradictory theories, and about how to integrate divergent concepts and theories is well known. In view of this situation, the IPA Committee on Conceptual Integration (2009-2013) developed a method for comparing the different versions of any given concept, together with the underlying theories and fundamental assumptions on which they are based. Only when situated in the same frame of reference do similarities and differences begin to appear in a methodically comprehensible and reproducible form. After having studied the concept of enactment followed by the publication of a paper in this Journal in 2013, we proceeded to analyze the concept of unconscious phantasy while at the same time continuing to improve our method. Unconscious phantasy counts among the central concepts in psychoanalysis. We identified a wide range of definitions along with their various theoretical backgrounds. Our primary concern in the present paper addresses the dimensional analysis of the semantic space occupied by the various conceptualizations. By way of deconstructing the concepts we endeavoured to establish the extent to which the integration of the different conceptualizations of unconscious phantasy might be achieved.

Towards a better use of psychoanalytic concepts: a model illustrated using the concept of enactment.

It is well known that there is a lack of consensus about how to decide between competing and sometimes mutually contradictory theories, and how to integrate divergent concepts and theories. In view of this situation the IPA Project Committee on Conceptual Integration developed a method that allows comparison between different versions of concepts, their underlying theories and basic assumptions. Only when placed in a frame of reference can similarities and differences be seen in a methodically comprehensible and reproducible way. We used "enactment" to study the problems of comparing concepts systematically. Almost all psychoanalytic schools have developed a conceptualization of it. We made a sort of provisional canon of relevant papers we have chosen from the different schools. The five steps of our method for analyzing the concept of enactment will be presented. The first step is the history of the concept; the second the phenomenology; the third a methodological analysis of the construction of the concept. In order to compare different conceptualizations we must know the main dimensions of the meaning space of the concept, this is the fourth step. Finally, in step five we discuss if and to what extent an integration of the different versions of enactment is possible.

Recuerdo, trauma y memoria colectiva: la batalla por el recuerdo en el psicoanálisis / Recollection, trauma, and collective memory. The memory battle in Psychoanalysis

Debido a la importancia creciente del análisis del "aquí y ahora" de la relación terapéutica, el recuerdo y la reconstrucción del pasado han perdido la relevancia central que tuvieron para Freud. Las experiencias y los recuerdos traumáticos se resistieron a este desarrollo. Se muestran las particularidades de su dinámica rememorativa y la importancia de la reconstrucción, no sólo para el tratamiento analítico, sino también para la memoria colectiva del Holocausto y sus consecuencias posteriores (AU)

Due to the increasing importance of the analysis of the here and now of the therapeutic relationship, memory and the reconstruction of the past have lost the central relevance they had for Freud. Traumatic experiences and memories have resisted this development. The particulars of the dynamics of memory and the importance of reconstruction, are shown, not only for analytic treatment, but also for the collective memory of the Holocaust and its later consequences (AU)

Remembrance, trauma and collective memory: the battle for memory in psychoanalysis.

In contemporary clinical theory in psychoanalysis, remembering life-historical events and reconstructing the past have lost the central therapeutic function that they had for Freud. The author describes this development and demonstrates the way in which trauma and its remembrance resist it. He discusses the problem of the truth status of memories. Traumatic memories are not subject to transformation by the present when they are retrieved. They constitute a kind of foreign body in the psychic-associative network, but rather than forming an exact replica of the traumatic experience they undergo specific remodellings. The author describes some of the psychic processes in this encapsulated realm. Resolving its predominant dynamics and extricating phantasy from traumatic reality require a remembrance and reconstruction of the traumatic events in the analytic treatment. The author goes on to describe the vital importance of social discourse concerning historical truth for both the individual concerned and society in connection with disasters defined as man-made. A reluctance to know often sets in here that stems from the desire to avoid confronting the crimes, the horror and the victims' suffering. With the Holocaust in particular, the further problem arises of how to avoid its subjugation in historical description to defining categories that eliminate the horror and traumatic nature of the events. Remembering crimes unfolds a special set of dynamics. The author describes both these dynamics and their transgenerational effects on post-war German society. He concludes that, in order to confront the problems posed by a multifaceted traumatic reality, it is also necessary to battle to restore memory to an appropriate place in psychoanalysis.

Recordação, trauma e memória coletiva: a luta pela recordação em psicanálise / Recordación, trauma y memoria colectiva: la lucha por la recordación en psicoanálisis / Rememberance, trauma and collective memory: the struggle for rememberance in psychoanalysis

Com a importância crescente da análise do aqui-e-agora da relação terapêutica, a recordação e a reconstrução do passado perderam o lugar central que tinham para Freud. Experiências e recordações traumáticas fecham-se para esse desenvolvimento. A especificidade da dinâmica da recordação e a importância da reconstrução são mostradas não somente para o tratamento analítico mas também para a recordação coletiva do Holocausto e seus efeitos posteriores.

A través de la importancia creciente del análisis del aquí y ahora de la relación terapéutica, la recordación y la reconstrucción del pasado perdieron el lugar central, que tenían para Freud. Experiencias y recordaciones traumáticas se cierran para ese desenvolvimiento. La especifi cad de la dinámica de su recordación y la importancia de la reconstrucción son mostradas.

Through the growing importance of analysising the therapeutic relationship's "here and now", rememberance and reconstruction of the past have lost their central place as they had for Freud. Traumatic experiences and memories are settled for this development. Th e specifi city of the dynamics of such rememberance and the importance of reconstruction are presented.

Recuerdo, trauma y memoria colectiva: la batalla por la memoria en psicoanálisis / Remembrance, trauma and collective memory: The battle for memory in psychoanalysis

En la teoría clínica contemporánea del psicoanálisis, el recuerdo de acontecimientos históricos de la vida y la reconstrucción del pasado han perdido la función central terapéutica que tuvieron para Freud. El autor describe este desarrollo y muestra la manera en que el trauma y su recuerdo se constituyen en una auténtica resistencia. Discute, además, el problema de la veracidad de los recuerdos. Los recuerdos traumáticos no son transformados por el presente cuando se recuperan. Constituyen una especie de cuerpo extraño en la red asociativa psíquica, pero que en vez de formar una réplica exacta de la experiencia traumática, experimentan remodelaciones específicas. El autor describe algunos de los procesos psíquicos relacionados en este ámbito encapsulado. Para resolver su dinámica predominante y desenredar la conexión entre la fantasía y la realidad del trauma se requiere el recuerdo y la reconstrucción de los acontecimientos traumáticos en el tratamiento analítico. El autor describe después en el ámbito de los desastres causados por el hombre, el significado vital del discurso social sobre la verdad histórica, tanto si se refiere a un único individuo como a la sociedad en su conjunto. Aquí aparece a menudo, un no querer saber para no tener que enfrentarse con el horror de los crímenes y con el sufrimiento de las víctimas. Con el Holocausto, en particular, surge el posterior problema de cómo evitar la subyugación de la descripción histórica a categorías de definición que eliminan el horror y la naturaleza traumática de los acontecimientos. Recordar crímenes despliega un conjunto especial de dinámicas. El autor describe tanto esas dinámicas como sus efectos transgeneracionales en la sociedad postbélica alemana. Concluye que con el fin de afrontar los problemas causados por una realidad traumática compleja es también necesario luchar para que el recuerdo vuelva a adquirir el lugar que le corresponde en el psicoanálisis. (AU)

Recuerdo, trauma y memoria colectiva: la batalla por la memoria en psicoanálisis / Remembrance, trauma and collective memory: The battle for memory in psychoanalysis

En la teoría clínica contemporánea del psicoanálisis, el recuerdo de acontecimientos históricos de la vida y la reconstrucción del pasado han perdido la función central terapéutica que tuvieron para Freud. El autor describe este desarrollo y muestra la manera en que el trauma y su recuerdo se constituyen en una auténtica resistencia. Discute, además, el problema de la veracidad de los recuerdos. Los recuerdos traumáticos no son transformados por el presente cuando se recuperan. Constituyen una especie de cuerpo extraño en la red asociativa psíquica, pero que en vez de formar una réplica exacta de la experiencia traumática, experimentan remodelaciones específicas. El autor describe algunos de los procesos psíquicos relacionados en este ámbito encapsulado. Para resolver su dinámica predominante y desenredar la conexión entre la fantasía y la realidad del trauma se requiere el recuerdo y la reconstrucción de los acontecimientos traumáticos en el tratamiento analítico. El autor describe después en el ámbito de los desastres causados por el hombre, el significado vital del discurso social sobre la verdad histórica, tanto si se refiere a un único individuo como a la sociedad en su conjunto. Aquí aparece a menudo, un no querer saber para no tener que enfrentarse con el horror de los crímenes y con el sufrimiento de las víctimas. Con el Holocausto, en particular, surge el posterior problema de cómo evitar la subyugación de la descripción histórica a categorías de definición que eliminan el horror y la naturaleza traumática de los acontecimientos. Recordar crímenes despliega un conjunto especial de dinámicas. El autor describe tanto esas dinámicas como sus efectos transgeneracionales en la sociedad postbélica alemana. Concluye que con el fin de afrontar los problemas causados por una realidad traumática compleja es también necesario luchar para que el recuerdo vuelva a adquirir el lugar que le corresponde en el psicoanálisis.

Trauma extremo, o colapso da civilização e as consequências de longo prazo para indivíduos e sociedades / Extreme trauma, the civilization collapse and the long-term consequences for individuais and societies

Com o advento das catástrofes do Holocausto e da Segunda Guerra Mundial, tornou-se um imperativo social a não-sujeição da experiência desse 'colapso da civilização' a um processo de normalização histórica que ameaçasse dissolver seu núcleo traumático. A teoria psicanalítica do trauma pode trazer uma contribuição, no sentido de tratar do problema no que diz respeito ao modo como os 'desastres fabricados pelo homem' fincam âncoras na memória coletiva. Este texto trata, em particular, das conseqüências específicas dos traumas e dos mecanismos de defesa afetivos envolvidos na confrontação com a reconstrução dos feitos dos perpetradores e das experiências traumáticas das vítimas. Traumas assim poderosos também entram na vida das gerações seguintes, por intermédio de processos particulares de identificação dos filhos com a experiência traumática dos pais. Dessa forma, catástrofes coletivas deixam sua marca em uma civilização por várias gerações(AU)

In the wake of the catastrophes of the Holocaust and World War II, it has become a social imperative that the experience of this 'collapse of civilization' not be subjected to a process of historical normalization that would threaten to dissolve its traumatic core. Psychoanalytic trauma theory can make a contribution toward addressing the problem of how 'man-made disasters' become anchored in collective memory. This paper addresses particularly the specific consequences of traumas and the affective defense mechanisms involved in the confrontation with the reconstruction of the deeds of the perpetrators and the traumatic experiences of the victims. Such massive traumas also enter into the lives of following generations. This occurs via particular processes of identification in children with the traumatic experience of their parents. In this way, collective catastrophes leave their mark on a civilization for several generations to come(AU)