22nd, 23rd LECTURES (THE CONCEPT OF DRIVE) (310 and 329)
Sigmund Freud (1917)
Summary:
We will make a direct formulation: it is possible that each sexual aspiration has parts that are delayed in earlier stages of
development, even if other parts have reached the final goal. We imagine each of these aspirations as a continuous current from
the beginning of life, breaking it down into separate and successive waves, even if this is somewhat artificial. This representation
needs further clarification, but we will not go into it in depth now. We call fixation a delay of a partial aspiration at an earlier stage
of development.
The second danger of this staged development is that the parts that have advanced can revert to earlier stages, which we call
regression. This occurs when the exercise of a function and the achievement of its goal of satisfaction face strong external obstacles
in its later form or at a higher evolutionary level. We assume that fixation and regression are related: the stronger the fixations on
the evolutionary pathway, the more function will avoid external difficulties by returning to those fixations, and th e developed
function will show less resistance to external obstacles.
Where does the libido find the necessary fixations to break repressions? He finds them in the practices and experiences of
childhood sexuality, in the abandoned partial desires and in the resigned objects of childhood. The libido reverts to them. This
infantile period is important for two reasons: first, it is in it that the child's innate instinctive orientations are manifested for the
first time; and second, due to external influences and accidental experiences, other drives are awakened and activated.
We can establish this bipartition: the innate dispositions of the child and the accidental experiences of childhood. Innate
dispositions are the result of the experiences of our ancestors. Analytic experience shows that contingent childhood experien ces
can leave libido fixations. Innate dispositions were also once acquired, and without that acquisition, there would be no inherita nce.
We cannot downplay the importance of childhood experiences compared to those of ancestors or adult life. Childhood
experiences, occurring in a period of incomplete development, have more profound consequences and can be traumatic. Work
such as Roux's on evolutionary mechanics shows that an early disturbance can seriously affect development, something that wou ld
not happen if the organism were already more developed.
The adult libidinal fixation, which we introduced as a factor in the etiology of neuroses, is now broken down into two factors: the
inherited disposition and the predisposition acquired in early childhood.
Explanation and conclusion:
In these lectures, Freud explores the idea that sexual aspirations can undergo fixations or regressions at earlier stages of
psychological development. A fixation occurs when a part of the sexual aspiration becomes stagnant at an earlier stage, while
regression implies that parts that have reached more advanced levels may recede under the pressure of external obstacles. These
processes are based on the experiences and practices of childhood sexuality, where partial desires and early objects of desire can
influence later sexual development.
The libido, according to Freud, seeks to resolve repressions through these fixations, returning to resigned infantile practices and
objects. The infant period is crucial because it reveals both the individual's innate dispositions and the accidental influences that
can leave fixations. These early experiences, occurring during a period of incomplete development, can have profound and often
traumatic consequences.
In conclusion, psychological development is marked by the complex interplay between inherited predispositions and early
childhood experiences. Fixations and regressions are manifestations of how childhood experiences shape adult life and may
contribute to the etiology of neuroses according to Freudian theory.
Main ideas:
- Each sexual aspiration can be delayed in earlier stages of development.
- Aspirations can be represented as a continuous current from the beginning of life, divided into successive waves.
1
Made by MatyBuda
Sigmund Freud (1917)
Summary:
We will make a direct formulation: it is possible that each sexual aspiration has parts that are delayed in earlier stages of
development, even if other parts have reached the final goal. We imagine each of these aspirations as a continuous current from
the beginning of life, breaking it down into separate and successive waves, even if this is somewhat artificial. This representation
needs further clarification, but we will not go into it in depth now. We call fixation a delay of a partial aspiration at an earlier stage
of development.
The second danger of this staged development is that the parts that have advanced can revert to earlier stages, which we call
regression. This occurs when the exercise of a function and the achievement of its goal of satisfaction face strong external obstacles
in its later form or at a higher evolutionary level. We assume that fixation and regression are related: the stronger the fixations on
the evolutionary pathway, the more function will avoid external difficulties by returning to those fixations, and th e developed
function will show less resistance to external obstacles.
Where does the libido find the necessary fixations to break repressions? He finds them in the practices and experiences of
childhood sexuality, in the abandoned partial desires and in the resigned objects of childhood. The libido reverts to them. This
infantile period is important for two reasons: first, it is in it that the child's innate instinctive orientations are manifested for the
first time; and second, due to external influences and accidental experiences, other drives are awakened and activated.
We can establish this bipartition: the innate dispositions of the child and the accidental experiences of childhood. Innate
dispositions are the result of the experiences of our ancestors. Analytic experience shows that contingent childhood experien ces
can leave libido fixations. Innate dispositions were also once acquired, and without that acquisition, there would be no inherita nce.
We cannot downplay the importance of childhood experiences compared to those of ancestors or adult life. Childhood
experiences, occurring in a period of incomplete development, have more profound consequences and can be traumatic. Work
such as Roux's on evolutionary mechanics shows that an early disturbance can seriously affect development, something that wou ld
not happen if the organism were already more developed.
The adult libidinal fixation, which we introduced as a factor in the etiology of neuroses, is now broken down into two factors: the
inherited disposition and the predisposition acquired in early childhood.
Explanation and conclusion:
In these lectures, Freud explores the idea that sexual aspirations can undergo fixations or regressions at earlier stages of
psychological development. A fixation occurs when a part of the sexual aspiration becomes stagnant at an earlier stage, while
regression implies that parts that have reached more advanced levels may recede under the pressure of external obstacles. These
processes are based on the experiences and practices of childhood sexuality, where partial desires and early objects of desire can
influence later sexual development.
The libido, according to Freud, seeks to resolve repressions through these fixations, returning to resigned infantile practices and
objects. The infant period is crucial because it reveals both the individual's innate dispositions and the accidental influences that
can leave fixations. These early experiences, occurring during a period of incomplete development, can have profound and often
traumatic consequences.
In conclusion, psychological development is marked by the complex interplay between inherited predispositions and early
childhood experiences. Fixations and regressions are manifestations of how childhood experiences shape adult life and may
contribute to the etiology of neuroses according to Freudian theory.
Main ideas:
- Each sexual aspiration can be delayed in earlier stages of development.
- Aspirations can be represented as a continuous current from the beginning of life, divided into successive waves.
1
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