SAMIKSA

Journal of the Indian Psychoanalytical Society

Addictions and the Quest to Control the Unpredictable Object ROBERT WASKA

Psychodvnamic Resemblance binds the poets of Different Culture in a Single Order of Mind ARUP KUMAR GHOSAL AND TINNI DUTTA

v One rti thp !avf MOHI I,,J;. AMARENDRANATH BASU

Narcissus and Oedipus: The Children of Psychoanalysis in Relationship Perspective NlLANJANA SANYAL

The Dialogue with Death — A Classical Psychoanalytical Approach to Aggression SARALA KAPOOR

Are Psychoanalytic Concepts Relevant in a Globalizing World? ZAHID H. GANGJEE

Book Reviews

VOLUME 58 2005-2006 BI-ANNUAL EPITAPH

The sudden premature demise of our dear friend JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN PSYCHOANALYTICAL SOCIETY Mrs. Varsha Bhanscdi, has cast a dark Samiksd is to be published bi-annually from 2003. The subscription payable in advance is Rs.250/- (Rupees Two Hundred and Fifty) for inland subscribers and U.S.$ 85.00 Shadow of grief and despair upon the Indian Psychoanalytical Society. Mrs. Bhansali has been (eightyfive) for overseas subscribers. Subscriptions should be sent to Indian a loyal and devoted shipmate in the society's voyage of serving mankind. A journey through the Psychoanalytical Society, 14, Parsibagan Lane, Kolkata-700 009, India. Drafts should long years of her relationship with the society, witness nothing less than a deep and selfless love, be made payable to "Indian Psychoanalytical Society". kindness and caring and generosity, which she so benevolently showered upon this institution. She has been steadfast in her endeavour to gently heal the distressed person and put an end MANUSCRIPTS to the needless emotional suffering that many people experience. Like many a crewmember who work "below the deck", her contributions have been immense. Our beloved friend's patience, Manuscripts of articles should be sent directly to the editor and must be in English. trust and commitment have cemented a strong pillar that has supported the society during times All editorial communications should be addressed to the Editor, Samiksd, Indian of darkness and misery. Her love, understanding and unquestioning support has carried this Psychoanalytical Society, 14, Parsibagan Lane, Kolkata-700 009, India. institution through many a turmoil. She was a pencil in the hands of God, with which he had Contributors are requested to submit four clear copies of their articles — must be sketched beautiful pictures of life. As the living expression of the Almighty's kind, graciousness printed on white paper with at least l'/2 inch margin on all four sides, accompanied sparkle in her face, thoughtfulness in her eyes and tenderness in her smile. by a floppy disk/CD written on IBM compatible word processor, for example, Word '97, Page Maker upto 6.5. All parts must be "double spaced" including references, We will certainly miss her deeply and long for sense of specialness, but she will live in our footnotes and extracts. Footnotes are to be numbered sequentially and should appear hearts and spirits. May god bestow her family with all the strength and wisdom to cope with at the foot of the page where they are cited; footnote numbers should be typed one this deep sense of loss. Our dear friend should live forever as an angel who would knock at space above the line without punctuation or parenthesis. Initial footnotes referring the hearts of many and ask them to arise and harness for God the energies of love. May she to the title of the paper or the author do not carry a number. walk the golden beach of heaven with her lord, and may her soul be glorified in the light of his Author's address and affiliation should appear following the reference list at the end wisdom and purity. of the paper. Today, we stand side by side to join hands and thank the Almighty for love, which so tenderly Full reference to all works cited in the text should be given in the list of references bridges the land of the living and the land of the dead. John Wayne Schatter perhaps most at the end of the paper. Reference list must be printed double spaced. Authors exquisitely expresses such endless love through the intricate embroideries of a beautiful poem - should be listed alphabetically and their works chronologically by date of publication (when several of the authors' works are referred). When an author has published several works in the same year, the date is followed by a, b, c, etc. Authors' names "When I die, give what is left of me to children. are not repeated in the reference list; they are indicated by a line. References should If you need to cry, cry for your brothers, walking beside you. only include works cited in the text. Put your arms around any one and give them what you need For books — give title, place of publication, name of publisher and year of publication to give me. I want to leave you with something, something better than words of the edition cited (if different from the original publication date). When referring or sounds. to the writings of Sigmund Freud, cite only the Standard Edition, e.g. S.E. Look for me in the people I have known and loved. For articles — give title, abbreviated name of the journal, volume number, and And if you cannot live without me, let me live on in your eyes, inclusive page numbers. your mind and your acts of kindness. References in the text should be given by quoting the journal, volume number, and You can love me most by letting hands touch hands and letting inclusive page numbers. go of Children that need to be free. References in the text should be given by quoting the author's name followed by the Love does not die, people do. year of publication in parenthesis. It should be arranged in alphabetical order following So when all that is left of me is love standard rule, e.g. Give me away Dear friends,

I wish you all a very happy and peaceful life. I am taking the charge of 'Samiksha' - The Indian Journal of Psychoanalysis, in a very difficult situation. Within last two years, we have lost active senior members and some of our work force either due to death or sickness or transfer of some other places due to their job requirement. We are now left with some new, inexperience but sincere members to run the society.

We lost Mrs. V. Bhansali last year (2004) untimely. She herself a very dedicated and sincere member, was a source of sustenance. The only one who always helped our society in crisis - be it financial, library, or any work irrespective of its status. She always stretched her hands without thinking twice, if that was required.

I expect to have your cooperation as you have been doing since the time of Mr. H. Ghosal and Dr. D.N. Nandi.

I am thrilled to take the charge of Samiksha, but I am apprehensive of running it effectively, as I am totally novice in the area. So from this issue, 1 am introducing a new section "From the Reader's Desk", where I would like you all to comment on the articles published in Samiksha to help me to improve it further, [t can be reactions, or comments on articles published in the issue or simply suggestions.

With lots of my dreams to fulfill to serve you better and regularly.

With regards,

Sarala Kapoor Asst. Editor, Samiksha SAMIKSA CONTENTS

Journal of the Indian Psychoanalytical Society Addictions and the Quest to Control the Unpredictable Object by Robert Waska 1 Volume 57, 2OO5-2OO6 Psychodynamic Resemblance binds the poets of Different Culture in a Single Order of Mind by Arup Kumar Ghosal and Tinni Dutta 17 Editor Dr. D. N. Nandi GIRINDRASHEKHAR MAMORIAL LKCTURE

Girindrashekhar Bose: One of the last Ass/. Editors 'MOHICANS' of Colonial India by Amarendranath Basu 29 Sarala Kapoor JV1.K. Oastur Bani Pain Narcissus and Oedipus: The Children of Psychoanalysis in Relationship Perspective by Nilanjana Sanyal 39

Editorial Board The Dialogue with Death - A Classical Dhirendranatli Nandi Psychoanalytical Approach to Aggression S ar ad i n d u B a n c rj i by Sarala Kapoor 51 Shailesh Kapadia Sarosh Forbes Are Psychoanalytic Concepts Relevant in a Mallika Akbar 9 M.K. Daslur Globalizing World Zahid H. Gangjee , 61

14. Parsibagan Lane Book Reviews Kolkata-700 009 Reviewers : Jayanti Basu, Tapas Banerjee and India Gargi DasgupUi 67 ADDICTIONS AND THE QUEST TO CONTROL THE FORM IV RULE 8 UNPREDICTABLE OBJECT Statement about Ownership and other Particulars about the Journal Robert Waska Most patients come into psychoanalytic treatment engaged in some form of Place of publication The Indian Psychoanalytical Society repetitive, destructive behavior that is an externalization or projection of their 14, Parsibagan Lane, Kolkata-9 internal struggles. One form of this object relational acting out is the addictions, be they to alcohol, gambling, drugs, sex, procrastinating, or other variations. Periodicity Annual The patient's experience is a 'must do-can't stop' one that leaves them both Printer Tarit Kumar Chatterjee desperate and relieved. Nationality Indian Patients come to us wanting help in refraining from these addictive patterns. Sometimes, they are attending a twelve-step program or in a day treatment Address 112, Rammohan Sarani, Kolkata-9 recovery program, but need additional assistance in remaining free from their Editor Dr. D. N. Nandi addictive behaviors. Others seek out psychoanalytic treatment while still involved in their addiction, but wish to stop the behavior and build a more Nationality Indian positive plan for their lives. Address 14 Parsibagan Lane, Kolkata-700 009 This paper examines the deeper object relational issues that lie behind the Publisher Tarit Kumar Chatterjee addictive process. The transference is often colored by acting out, by sadomasochistic dynamics, by projective identification, and by phantasies of Nationality Indian persecution and loss. Case material will be used to explore these specific Address 112, Rammohan Sarani, Kolkata-9 problems as well as the patient's general difficulties with paranoid-schizoid and depressive functioning. Names and addresses of individuals The Indian Psychoanalytical Society - A who own the newspaper and Registered Society under the Societies Patients who come into psychoanalytic issues at play? I will present two cases in partners and shareholders holding Registration Act XXI of 1 860. 14, Parsibagan treatment while using drugs, drinking which the psychoanalytic focus was on the more than one per cent of the Lane, Kolkata-9 total capital. excessively, relating in repetitive, abusive internal conflicts and object relational pathology patterns, or involved in destructive sexual behind the addictive behaviors. One case was behaviors need to be assessed in a certain more successful than the other. In general, the I, TARIT KUMAR CHATTERJEE, hereby declare that the particulars given above are manner. Particular questions must be field of psychology and medicine sees true to the best of my knowledge and belief. answered. Do they need detox? Does the legal addictions as a mix of external, physiological, system need to intervene? Do they need to be and behavioral problems that need to be dealt encouraged to join a 12-step group of some with by behavioral, cognitive, or medication sort? Do they need an inpatient or outpatient approaches. Yet, psychoanalytic treatment is treatment program? Are psychiatric often a far better choice, in that it seeks to Sd/ medications indicated? Is a medical checkup find the root of the behavior, so the individual (TARIT KUMAR CHATTERJEE) necessary? Are they in danger of killing can regain a better balance in their life and Signature of Printer and Publisher of Samiksa themselves or harming others? learn to deal with what caused them to be so self-destructive in the first place. This is Once all these areas are sorted out, the different from simply eliminating the drug, psychoanalyst must ask, what are the deeper drink, or action by some external injunction.

Robert Waska PhD, Private Psychoanalytic Practice in San Francisco and Marin.

1 SAMlKSA ROBERTWASKA ADDICTIONS AND THE QUEST TO CONTROL THE UNPREDICTABLE OBJECT

Certainly, the issues of medical care, detox, Typical to many difficult patients, these two the acting out of pathology. In the following internal, defensive stand off with the analyst. and support groups need to be considered. But, patients were troubled by a dread of cases, the acting out was of an addictive nature Most treatments are shaped by external factors those would only be the beginning of a full and abandonment and persecution from a and often involved sadomasochistic relating but the patient's involvement with those factors proper treatment of addiction. narcissistic object as well as the phantasy of with the object. I think one could argue that is important to consider. harming or disturbing their object (Waska 2003: addictions are always sadomasochistic in some The psychoanalytic literature is rather Over their eight-year relationship, Jane had 2005). While this object relational phantasy was manner. Control and dominance of the sparse on the subject of addiction. In a broad shaped the course of the relationship by her the predominate mental experience for them attacking and abandoning object are central to sense, I think this is due to an unfair and largely desire to stay home and get high. In addition as adults, they revealed backgrounds in which these patients' internal struggle. incorrect bias against addicts and the to smoking large amounts of pot every day these stressful and often traumatic images and phenomenon of addiction. Far from hopeless and silting around "spacing out" and watching feelings were part of everyday family life. As cases that only benefit from medication or Case 1 television, she would drink herself unconscious with most if not all patients, there is a critical behavioral therapies, many addicts may profit almost every weekend. Joe would sometimes intersection of external and internal, past and Jane and Joe came to see me because Jane from the analytic method. be able to talk her out of smoking so much present. had been smoking pot and binge drinking for and they would go out for a walk, a movie, or Dodes (1996) sees addictions as part cf ten years and it was destroying their dinner. But, usually they ended up sitting around pathological compromise formations involving With many addicts in analytic treatment, relationship. They came together at my the house. Joe found solace in reading or compulsive patterns that revolve around intra- one gradually find that the patient has identified suggestion, because when Joe called requesting exploring the internet. They lived next door to psychic conflicts. Dodes (1990) also cites the with the narcissistic object and now feels help, I inquired as to how motivated Jane was Jane's mother. Jane's mother and father elements of narcissistic rage and the attempt entitled and superior in some ways, but inferior, to change. Frequently, addicts will enter divorced when Jane was five years old because to regain a sense of power as important in fearful, and ashamed in others ways. Acting treatment because of legal problems, divorce her father was an alcoholic and cheated on his understanding addiction. As such, Dodes out is not only part of the addictive process, situations, and other external forces. Therefore, wife. believes addictions are well within the realm but became part of the transference dynamic I try and assess how much they want to seek of analytic treatment. Johnson (1999) reviewed as well. I propose this acting out to be help and look at how I can bolster that desire So, after a few sessions, certain facts the psychoanalytic view of addiction and found unavoidable and even quite necessary to the to change. Based on Jane's questionable desire emerged. I had the sense that Jane's drug if divided into theories of biological cause, analytic process. However, in some cases, it to stop her addictive behavior, I asked Joe to addiction and drinking problem was incapacity to tolerate affect, and object becomes too consuming and poisons the attend with her. I have found that in many psychological in nature. I wasn't clear why or substitution. Volcan (1994) concludes that treatment. situations, not just addictions, the partner acts what the dynamics were, but I thought there addicts have suffered early object loss and are as a buffer, support, container, and was a connection between her family issues, Mertin Gill (1979) has pointed out the critical within a range of severe neurotic to borderline encouragement to the addict and helps to her marriage to Joe, and her own internal importance of the patient's use of transference pathology. He advocates the psychoanalytic prevent the rapid projection of badness, struggles. She did not appear to be a candidate as a path either to learning and change or for model as helpful, especially if the transference judgement, and persecution onto the analyst. for detox or any outpatient program. She told resistance and defense. Regarding how this relationship is focused on. Rosenfeld (1960) Without the partner present, the addict will me she was against 12-step programs and matter should be treated clinically. Gill states, discussed the link between manic defenses and often abort the treatment rather quickly. Also, would not try one. 1 didn't see any reason for "first distinguish clearly between two types of addiction. The addict uses the drug as an idyllic the partner often plays a significant role in the a medication evaluation. As I mentioned, she interpretation of the transference. The one is state or special object that can ward off anxiety entire addictive cycle. Without their willingness did not seem willing to attend therapy by herself an interpretation of resistance to the awareness and persecutory phantasies. Rosenfeld thought to explore their own troubles and ways of and I assumed some of her troubles lay in her of transference. The other is an interpretation the addict had regressed from the depressive contributing to the addict's problems, the addict relationship to Joe, so I recommended they of resistance to the resolution of transference." position into the paranoid schizoid position. may not be able to sustain their own shift in both begin to see me on a regular basis. (Pg. 264) In many successful analytic Specifically, when discussing the addict's ego behavior or emotional growth. treatments, it is the analysis of this type of 1 made certain transference interpretations prior to this regression, he states, "he has acting out and resistance that fosters a genuine So, I began meeting with Joe and Jane. early on. I asked Jane if she honestly thought partially reached the depressive position" working through. Betty Joseph (1983, 1985, Because of insurance coverage restrictions, the she had a drug or alcohol problem. She thought In the two cases presented in this paper, 1988, 1992, 2000) has made many important couple's financial state, and their mutual a bit and answered yes. Given that she only there was a particular transference pattern and contributions in this area. The dynamic of reluctance to make financial sacrifices for their showed up at my office because of Joe's phantasy profile that emerged. These two mutual enactments is common, including acting treatment, we were limited to meeting once or prodding, I interpreted that she seemed to need patients had different types of addictive out from the analyst. In other words, there is twice a week. These external factors are someone else to tell her what she needed (Joe) problems, but similar psychological issues. a parallel between the interpretive process and almost always used as elements in the patient's and she seemed to need others (Joe and

3 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA ROBERT WASKA ADDICTIONS AND THE QUEST TO CONTROL THE UNPREDICTABLE OBJECT

errands and frequently reminds Jane of her myself) to look after her. These were her. She also said she thought her mother's in general, which was very important because generosity by way of guilt inducing remarks. comments based on her helpless presentation controlling ways "could have driven anyone to she told me the main reason she smoked pot She uses the house and other financial gifts as and her need to have Joe be the guiding force drink." I said, "you mean your father as well was to "relax and get rid of the tension." When a way to keep Jane on a tight leash. in finding treatment. Based on these ideas, I as you?" Jane said, "Oh! I didn't think of I asked what she meant, she was vague. I also suggested that it must be painful for her Also, Jane developed a friendship with a that!", laughing nervously. interpreted that the smoking might be a way to to look at herself and what is going on with boy her age during her teens. Almost fifteen avoid the tension, anxiety, and sorrow she felt I also interpreted that her bond with this her life. It might be easier to feel that I or Joe years later, they take walks together and stay around her family. Also, I interpreted that being other man, the pot dealer, might represent the was pushing her to get better than to look at in touch by phone. This man has been her high prevented her from being close and hoped for closeness with her father and the how she was really feeling. Here, I was supplier of pot the whole time. Joe is naturally connected to Joe and from being fully present pot smoking might represent a way to carry exploring the possibilities that projective jealous that Jane seems to have a good level and connected to me, both of which might be on that magical wish for connection with father. identification was the primary object relational of communication with this man but none with frightening or "stressful" to her. Jane said, "that I was considerably active with this patient, at vehicle in Jane's psychology (Waska 2004). him. There is no sense that anything sexual might be." While not much of a reply, this was least initially. This is often necessary with some Jane said I was correct and that she had takes place. It is more of an intimate sharing said in a heart felt way that conveyed her very stuck or stubborn individuals for a period been feeling "pretty depressed and troubled of the past and what they are going through in honest acknowledgment as well as her of time. However, the analyst must be careful lately." She said she didn't know about what. their current lives. When not working at fairly genuinely engaging with what I said. as this can turn into an acting out of I said we could find out, together. So, I made menial jobs, Jane stays at home getting high, transference/counter-transference feelings of some comments early on to point out how she watching television, or chatting with her friend. As we went along, 1 came to know more withholding, frustration, rejection, despair, need, seemed to need others to contain her troubles She is not social otherwise and has few friends. about Joe too. Joe was from a family in which rebelliousness, and phantasies of parental and become her caretaker. I also suggested he took care of everyone. Of course, I pointed Over the course of several sessions, I omnipotence (Feldman 1992; Goldberg & that she may be controlling others in some out how he was now taking care of Jane. His interpreted that Jane may feel a deep conflict Grusky 2004; Bell 2001; Joseph 2001; Schafer ways, since she made Joe and herself father died when Joe was twenty. Joe's sister about her past and about her current internal 2003). was in a car accident when she was a teen housebound and essentially dictated what they state. I interpreted that she may want to share do together. And, I interpreted that her I told Jane her pot smoking might also and was in a wheelchair, living with mother, herself with her husband Joe and with me her Joe's brother was an alcoholic and came and addiction might be a way to protect her from analyst, much like she seemed able to with her represent a way to resist mother's controlling painful feelings of some sort. Finally, I asked ways and rebel against her. Finally I interpreted went out of the family's life, creating misery pot dealer friend. And, she probably wished and crisis, Joe was the person everyone Jane if she was willing to begin cutting down she could have that closeness with her long that the drugs and the drinking may protect on her intake of drugs and look at what Jane against the sadness and loneliness she counted on. When 1 asked about how this left gone father. But, she seemed to want to him feeling, he said he was glad to help them emotional states were underneath, She said, "I withhold and make us suffer as well. This has over her broken family. Jane nodded, "I will try. I will give it a go." So, my think some of that is right." I asked her what out, but he resented them as well. He said, comment was based on the withholding way "they take advantage of me all the time." I interpretations were aimed at her possible need she spoke in the sessions, much like a passive, parts felt right and after a bit of reflection, she to control her objects, her difficulty with affect, said, "maybe all of it." When she said this, asked, "and how about with Jane?" He said, withholding teenager. Part of this was because "Yes, it can be that way too" and said he and her wish to be cared for. These elements she initially attended her sessions high on pot, Jane was sad and thoughfful. It was as if she were in alignment with the psychoanalytic suddenly emerged from a shroud. "even thought of leaving her sometimes, but mostly it was an emotional withdrawal and because it gets so bad." When Joe asked me literature reviewed earlier in the paper. withholding from me. 1 had to patiently ask At this point in the treatment, Jane had in a helpless sort of way. "so, what do I do, her to share her thoughts and feelings and she Over time, I gathered information about been able to reduce her pot smoking in half. I doc?", I interpreted that now he was making would ration out her comments. Was this Jane's past and slowly got to know more about believe this was because she was willing to me be the helper and he could be the helpless anything to do with her depressed and angry Joe. Jane's father had been a drinker and a think about herself more and willing to engage one. I told him he probably wants a turn getting feelings about her father and her current gambler and left the family when Jane was with some of her previously warded-off cared for, but this way might not. leave him relationship with her mother? Jane said, ten years old. Jane's mother raised her and feelings. This created the possibility for some satisfied. He agreed and went on to say he "Maybe. I have never given that much thought. was prone to be quite critical and contrary. To change with her internal objects. She was not wished Jane would pay more attention to him. But, it could be. I think all of that could have this day, she influences Jane's life a great deal. exactly participating in the analytic treatment So, here we worked with some of the gone better." Then, bit by bit, Jane made In fact, she bought the house next door to the in a very active sense, but she was willing to pathological projective identification Joe used comments about how "it didn't seem fair" that family home and let Jane live there for a modest slowly allow and experience new ways of to feel in control, yet also remained feeling her father was an alcoholic and that he left monthly fee, but requires her to always run feelings and thinking. This reduced her anxiety controlled and victimized as a result.

SAMiKSA SAMIKSA ROBERT WASKA ADDICTIONS AND THE QUEST TO CONTROL THE UNPREDICTABLE OBJECT

Joe's resentment also came out later in a an emotional attack from them, some kind of In the transference, there was a similar things tegether, going out and have fun. Jane's most interesting way. I had spoken with Jane punishment, followed by some type of dynamic. Jane saw me, the analyst, as trying relationship with her friend and pot supplier about the idea of continuing to cut back on the abandonment.1 Joe said, "sometimes, I feel like to control her, enforce limitations, and "make remained a sticking point, but we continued to drugs. She told me that she wanted to continue taking care of others is all I am good for. her grow up." She was also very polite and explore its deeper meanings in her life and cutting back. Unknown to me, they agreed What would they need me for if 1 didn't run respecfful to me in a way that turned out to be how she might approach it differently. based in fear of my being unhappy with her if between themselves that it would be easier their errands? Would I still mean anything?" In one recent session, they talked about she didn't follow my ways. She told me she for Jane to cut back and eventually quit their mutual struggle with family issues. Jane So, Joe remained in this sadomasochistic worried she wasn't "getting better quick smoking pot if Joe would ration her pot each brought up some problems with her mother relationship with his family to ward off these enough." Of course, when Jane felt this day. Suddenly, Joe was mercilessly making Jane and Joe mentioned some issues he was feelings and phantasies of loss, guilt, rejection, phantasy of persecutory parenting, she grew wait till he got home from work to be able to having with his family. They seemed to be and abandonment. 1 interpreted that perhaps both fearful and resentful. On one hand, she get high. Then, he would arbitrarily decide it relating as a unit, helping each other with he felt an ongoing sense of loss with his family wanted to rebel and do as she pleased. Yet, was time to cut back some more, so he would unique, but similar troubles. Also, Jane began and his marriage. Joe said. "I never thought of she grew scared that if she did I would be give her less. Once, when he didn't get home exploring her chronic sense of emptiness and it like that. I think I keep so busy doing stuff angry and maybe even "fire her as a patient." till the late evening, Jane got drunk. I interpreted how she has spent most of her life thinking for everyone that I don't have to think about So, the image of being held in a how both of them were playing out this of others, doing for others, and being her any of that stuff." I interpreted that he probably sadomasochistic relationship was comforting sadomasochistic game and seeking power and mother's errand runner. She said, "1 have no struggled with talking to me about himself compared to the threat of being the recipient revenge over each other. idea who 1 am. I am loo busy thinking about because of those feelings and that it was easier of anger and then asked to leave. While certainly not a traditional to deflect it by talking about Jane's addiction. others to know what I want." I interpreted psychoanalytic treatment in terms of one Joe replied, "Yes. 1 am so used to just Both Jane and Joe acted out a combined that the drugs provided Jane with a chance person on the analytic couch, this was very obsessing about her that I never stop to think sadomasochistic relationship with each other to do nothing for anyone, a chance to be much a psychoanalytic process. As the about how I am feeling, except that I am upset that seemed to be begging for my intervention. selfish. I also pointed out that maybe she treatment continued, I was engaged in a three with her smoking." 1 interpreted that they both seemed to want felt guilty or anxious about not serving her dimensional analytic exploration. One patient me to intercede as a parent, to break them up objects because this attempted solution With Jane, she felt controlled by her mother, was Jane, one was Joe, and one was their from their ritualized wrestling match. I actually left her with nothing. 1 said, "maybe who acted nice and was generous financially, marriage. Bit by bit, we discovered the deeper interpreted that maybe they weren't sure how you tell yourself, 'it's a dead-end, but at but, attached many strings to the gifts. Jane meanings of Jane's drug and alcohol addiction, to do that for themselves and certainly wanted least its my deadend." Jane laughed and felt she needed the money and the help the struggles Joe had with his family, and the to change, but this was hard as they both said, "I see what you mean." because she "thought she couldn't make it difficulties they had in their relationship to each seemed to gain some sense of safety, strength, without them." But, Jane also controlled her Jane continues to cut down her intake of other. Of course, the transference was the or power from it. This was the combined mother by presenting herself as a helpless child pot and has recently taken on a new job with central arena for all of this. couple's transference. Overtime, I interpreted who needed all that extra attention, forcing much more responsibility. As noted earlier, I that they tried to protect each other and gain mother to relate to her in that way. Jane was think Joe's presence in the sessions help to The main theme in each of these areas some independence from their family troubles also worried that if she separated more from prevent Jane from an early transference flight seemed very similar. Joe was anxious that within their marriage, but they participated in her mother, that they "wouldn't have much to into persecutory phantasies that might have without his help, his mother, sister, and brother very elements of their troubles in doing so: talk about." Without the sadomasochistic ended the treatment. To continue being a would be unable to cope or maintain addiction, sadomasochistic relating, mistrust, dependency that held them together, Jane successful case, there will need to be a gradual themselves. At the same time, he was resentful and the fear of loss. We worked on these feared she would lose her connection to mother. resolution of the sadomasochistic dependency of this because he felt they controlled him and issues over the coming sessions. made him be their slave or servant with guilt. Again, this theme of loss and rejection was they have with each other and on me. Part of Finally, he was internally preoccupied with the present and as a result, Jane sought to control As the months passed, their relationship the combined anger and sense of victimization idea that if he separated himself from them her object as a way of preventing her own improved. Their communication was better from their respective families held their and found his own place in life, there would be internal collapse. and more open. They found ways to create relationship together and allowed them a focus boundaries with their families in ways that in the treatment to begin examining their internal ! Here, Joe demonstrated what RosenI'cld (I960) stated regarding patients who only have partially reached the made contact more pleasant and less painful. worlds in the treatment setting. However, they depressive position. Joe fell a duty to help, rescue, and heal the object and fell guilty about separating from the object Jane's pot smoking continued to decrease and will need to eventually dissolve this pathological to fulfill his own desires. But, in addition, he experienced a much more primitive, paranoid threat of loss, abandonment, she no longer drank. They started to do a few link and find a new way to view the world. and persecution from his objects if he choose to live his own life.

6 7 SAMlKSA SAMlKSA ROBERT WASKA ADDICTIONS AND THE QUEST TO CONTROL THE UNPREDICTABLE OBJECT

Case 2 trying to put one over on me?', led me to say, have become a lot like her. And, I don't really to be on drugs. Instead, he had to accept that "I think you may be here because you are he was a man of many traits, some likeable, Paul was a man in his thirties. He entered know what to be other than that, except to be scared of relapsing, but also out of some sense some in need of work, and some just the way treatment with me for help in remaining drug high. Or both!" I said, "so, this is a difficult of obligation." He replied, "you are right. I they are. Paul said, "I know that is true but it free from an amphetamine addiction. During challenge. You are forced to be yourself here guess I should come clean. I try and impress is really, really hard to swallow." his twenties, he spent much of his time at the which might be uncomfortable. It makes sense everyone and make you think I really am into bars picking up women and getting drunk. He you are reluctant to share your thoughts and There was a side to Paul that was far from whatever we are doing. But, this is just became an alcoholic, involved in numerous one- that you try and impress me instead of revealing the polite and nice image he tried to convince something 1 think I need to do. It is certainly night stands. At age thirty, he was fired from the real you." Here, I was interpreting the me of. It was a more manipulative, angry part not what I would pick to be doing on my free his job for showing up drunk and found himself projective identification process that made up of him that wanted things his way and time." I said, "it makes you angry or irritated close to being homeless and broke. Six months the transference at that moment. demanded that his objects deliver. He would to have to see me and to have to show your in an intensive recovery program helped him miss some of his sessions and not call to tell insides to me, as if you are being made to?" This and other similar transference start a new life. Paul stayed sober for another me what happened. So, I would call him and Paul replied, "well, yes. But, not angry at you interpretations lead Paul to elaborate on how six months but felt "bored." He went out have to leave a message regarding the missed specifically. But, yes. 1 don't want to be here. he tried to impress others. During one session, drinking one weekend and used speed. For the session and remind him that I would see him I would rather be having a good time, I interpreted, "I notice you were trying to be next seven years he remained alcohol free, at the next meeting. My leaving a reminder mindlessly having fun and doing as I please. I very polite and nice to me as you came in but was a speed addict. This addiction resulted was an acting out of my counter-transference know logically I better do this, but I do feel from the waiting room. You ask how I am in a very large financial debt from charging feeling of uncertainty and mistrust. His actions obligated to change. If the drugs still worked doing and seem very respectful. Is that part of everything to credit cards and led to an left me with a sense of aloneness and confusion for me, I would be doing that." So, this was how you try and impress me or make sure we estrangement from his family, friends, and the about our relationship. This same lack of the reluctant, conflicted nature of the get along?" Paul replied, "Ops! I think you support system he had built when in recovery. response and lack of follow through happened transference from the beginning. busted me. Yes. I do that with you and Also, Paul contracted Hepatitis from his drug when he needed to call his insurance company everyone else. I try and sell myself." I said, use and was looking at a life that might become In getting to know Paul, I learned he was to confirm his authorized coverage, but didn't. "if I don't buy what your selling, what are we shadowed by chronic illness. raised by a distant father who didn't have much I began to question the stability of our left with?" Paul said, "that is the problem. 1 time for Paul. His mother, on the other hand, connection. I said, "you know we need that When Paul began psychoanalytic treatment don't know. I never have." After some thought, was overly involved with Paul. According to authorization for us to continue meeting and I with me, several times a week on the couch, he went on to say, "I don't think anyone is Paul, she was a dramatic, self-absorbed need it to be paid. When you seem to ignore he had managed to put together sixty days going to like me. I have spent my life feeling woman who always had some crisis to share it and not do it, it looks like you may not care without using drugs. Some of what I unloved and put down. As a young kid and as with him. He said he felt like he was her about us or that you may feel we don't deserve encountered while working with him could a teenager, they picked on me. I couldn't go "dedicated crying rag, forced to listen to all this time." 1 also interpreted that it might be a have been the result of the mental and 2 to my parents about it and my mother was too her worries, complaints, and unmet needs." way of relaying to me his own ongoing feeling psychical effects of stopping his addictive caught up in her own problems to care. When Based on these bits of history as well as other of being ignored, devalued, and cast aside. cycle. However, I believe what emerged in information Paul shared with me, I interpreted, I was drinking, I felt protected from all that. 1 the short period I treated him was more a part "you felt trapped by your dramatic and needy didn't care what anyone thought. Then, I got In other words, I assumed this way of of Paul's core personality and his internal, mother so you were happy to leave home and sober and it all came back." I said, "you told treating me was the reflection of how he object relational struggles. escape her when you were at eighteen. But, me you felt bored." Paul said, "That too. I felt treated his internal objects and how he felt like a nobody. And I was bored with myself Initially, he was both intent on "getting help it seems that with the drugs and drinking you they were treating him, via projective and with life. Then, when I found speed, it to look at my deeper issues" as well as "making became a bit like her, full of crisis and unsure identification. This pattern was confirmed was like a miracle. I felt important. Instead of sure I stick with my recovery and don't find of yourself. Sometimes with me you are when I would see Paul after a missed session worrying about how I look and if people like a way to rationalize any crazy behavior or dramatic and other times quiet and reluctant. and he wouldn't mention anything about his me, I felt sexy and wonderful. 1 want that getting high." On one hand, Paul seemed Do you think you are showing me what she absence or about my phone call. When I drew back." I interpreted that it was very difficult motivated and sincere. Yet, the way he spoke was like as well as what it was like to be with his attention to it, he would dismiss it as his for Paul to be sober and drug free and to truly to me about "showing up to do the right thing" her? Paul replied. "Oh God! I hate to hear "being busy, absent minded, or overwhelmed." be with himself as he would have to accept and the counter-transference feelings of 'is he that! I don't want to be like her but I know I I interpreted that it could be that he was more that he would never be the perfect, always comfortable having us be absent from his mind 2 There were several other siblings, but for reasons of confidentiality, they will be omitted from the presentation. likeable and sexy person he imagined himself than to have to deal with the feelings of conflict

8 SAMlKSA SAMIKSA ROBERT WASKA ADDICTIONS AND THE QUEST TO CONTROL THE UNPREDICTABLE OBJECT

he felt about our relationship and the issues meet to learn about you." Paul said, "I am just nicely, but I feel completely out of shape and inconvenienced and frustrated that his life had we faced together. Paul replied, "I don't' want so upset with everything." He started to cry most of my clothes are out of date. I feel like been put on hold. That seemed real. And, that to look at myself. I don't like myself. I don't again. He said, "1 know it sounds so clique, a shitty loser!" I replied, " you focus on the is what he seemed to sec it as, a life put on want to have to do this. I get so frustrated. It but a lot of this goes right back to my mother. clothes and the money, but 1 think you feel hold by external factors, not by his own doesn't seem fair that I can't go out drinking 1 did not have a chance to be myself, to find very ashamed of what is on the inside. You emotional struggles and his own actions. In and womanizing. Why am I so far in debt that out who 1 was. I had to be there for her. I had don't think I or your coworker would ever like fact, I think to realize that and to own that I will be broke for the next five years? And, to help her through all her little dramatic you if we see what is on the inside. Without meant something humiliating and very anxiety you are right. I think I just blow you off instead moments." the fancy car, money, clothes, or drugs, you producing for Paul. of calling. It is easier. I just want to have fun." feel exposed and inferior. You don't trust 1 1 had a sense of what this might have been Also, his relaying how he had grown up I said, "it is hard to grow up and face yourself." would tolerate you without all the wrappings." like for Paul as he would come to some of his being his mother's "emotional crying rag" Paul said, "I don't know who I am, I never Paul said, "Yes!" and was quiet for a long sessions and have emotional outbursts and fits struck me as real and a piece of his past and have. I don't know what to say. Can you tell time. Then, he said, "this is so difficult!" that 1 would have to help him manage. He present pain that was now embedded in his me what I should be looking at? What I should would come in and seem out of sorts and object relationships. When Paul shared his new be talking about? What would you recommend The next session, Paul appeared calm and uptight. When I asked what was troubling him, positive feelings and hopes of the future, 1 I talk about to get over these feelings? I want even a bit happy. I interpreted, "you seem to he would unleash a torrent of resentments and didn't really trust it as a genuine change of to be done with it!" have taken in some of what we talked about frustrations, all based around an angry sense last time. You seem more calm." Paul said, "1 attitude or outlook. It seemed to be a In the counter-transference, I felt Paul was of entitlement. Paul shouted, "it just isn't fair! feel better. I think I might make it. It is hard, combination of some manic stance and a starting to move away from his feelings and Why the hell do I have to do all this work? 1 but I think I could grow to accept myself." sudden reduction of anxiety from several put them into me by demanding a quick formula am young. I should be able to be having sex, The rest of the session was more of this new successful interpretations in the prior sessions. on how to feel good. I interpreted, "you want getting high, and enjoying life." 1 interpreted, tranquility. Paul shared his hopeful outlook and The interpretations helped Paul for a period of me to be like your drug, quick and gratifying. "you feel restricted, unable to do as you please. talked about a "new stability" that he time, but he was unable or unwilling to Maybe that is because you were starting to I wonder if when you can't be like mom, doing envisioned. participate with me in further cultivating the feel anxious about yourself and uncertain about as you please, you suddenly feel your wings interpretive direction so as to brins' some more who you are. Can you tell me more about have been clipped. You haven't discovered any My counter-transference during this session permanent clarity or balance to his internal those feelings?" Paul hesitated and then began place in the middle, yet." Here, 1 was referring was much the same as it was throughout world. to weep. He said, "I have always tried to hide to his use of pathological splitting and his Paul's analytic treatment, 1 felt a peculiar In many ways, Paul didn't want to change, from myself. All through my twenties, I tried inability to negotiate his phantasy of the experience of being held at a distance from because he felt doing so was not truly for him. to dress myself up in everyway possible to narcissistic object or tolerate the lack of Paul, unable to really connect with his He grew up feeling his life belonged to his feel good and look good. Whether I had to narcissistic entitlement within the analytic presentation. When I say connect, it was more mother and that what he did was to please her charge it or steal it, I had the best. My clothes situation. like the inability to trust or go along with either or to mange her chaotic moods. His years of were all designer label, my furniture was top the negative or positive expressions he had. During one session, Paul cried and raged drinking and drug addiction were a respite from of the line, my car wasn't so great because 1 So, in the session just presented, his thoughts about feeling inadequate in front of a female this. His drug problems served as a way out didn't have the dough, but all and all I managed about his "new stability" didn't feel completely coworker. They had gone out to lunch on the from the ongoing lack of self-identity he fell to put together a pretty nice looking package." grandiose or manic, but a bit in that direction. weekend. Paul tried to approach her as a new and an escape from the servitude he fell Yet, I did feel he also managed to balance friend instead of another sexual conquest. toward his objects. At best, he could try and I interpreted, "It sounds very fragile, like himself somewhat as a result of our work in Without the sex, without his drugs, alcohol, or convince his objects that he was his own man, you barely passed the test each day. With me, the previous session and take in some of what his identification with a narcissistic object (his in fancy clothes, exotic tastes, sexual it must be difficult, since you don't have the we worked on. The sessions in which he ranted mother), he felt lost, ashamed, and rejected. adventures, and wild ways. But, without all buffer of cars, clothes, drugs, alcohol, and so and complained didn't feel particularly He wailed, " I can't believe it! I was so that, he felt a combination of emptiness, on. All you have to bring me is the real you. threatening or worrisome, but I didn't really ashamed! 1 had to pick her up in my piece of inferiority, and a lack of freedom. He felt forced What is that like?" Paul replied, "the drugs experience his tears as completely poignant. shit, broken down Audi and we went to lunch to please mother and his emotional experience gave me the guarantee. If the clothes or Yet, I did believe he was frustrated, upset, and at this Italian place. It was ok, but 1 still can't was constricted by that internal obligation. furniture didn't work, the drugs always did." 1 pained at those moments. When I did said, "so staying sober is really tough for you get over that 1 don't have any money to spend. experience with Paul as genuine and real, I After about six months of analytic in general and maybe even harder when we I am on a god-damned budget. 1 tried to dress thought he was a man who felt very treatment, Paul's insurance coverage ran out.

10 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA ROBERT WASKA ADDICTIONS AND THE QUEST TO CONTROL THE UNPREDICTABLE OBJECT

Typically, I spend hours on the phone fighting continue coming to see me must feel like an identification and splitting. Forced to face and abandonment. There was a loss of contact with case managers who find the treatment obligation that you would resent. You felt deal with objects that must be cared for and with a reliable, caring parent who could give "not medically necessary." They remind me indebted to mother and now to me. Is that forgiven, manic defenses and pathological rather than need to be given to. In both cases, that the coverage is only for short term crisis make any sense?" Paul said, "Well, I have felt identification are also used to cope. These the patients felt their primary objects were intervention and then they terminate the patient. that from the first day here, but I have tried to internal and external experiences mix to create weak and needed help to the point of draining So, when this happened, I immediately saw not think about it too much. But, you are right. a rigid method of dealing with objects that is and hurting those around them. At the same the writing on the wall. Knowing how Paul Now, I feel that way for sure. I will think it highlighted by approach-retreat cycles, passive- time, both patients felt their objects could easily was already in great financial debt, 1 felt the over though. I want some time to think it over. aggressive standoffs, retaliation strategies, and become attacking, controlling, and rejecting door closing on our difficult but worthwhile I will call you." a desire to control others through a pattern of unless constantly catered to. The drugs journey. There was a chance he could see me I can only speculate that Paul was unable strict anti-growth and anti-change ways of provided an artificial break from feeling guilty for a reduced fee, out-of-pocket, until the new. to overcome those persecutory feeling. He relating. for not serving the object, a break from the calender year started for his insurance feelings of criticism, control, and punishment never did call and when I called him, he said A wish to heal the self and stop the coverage. At that time, he could possibly be from the angry object, and a way to forge a he wanted to "wait and see how things went." addiction is initially helpful in bringing the granted another number of visits. symbiotic identification with the object. When Again, I think Paul felt he would be having to patient into treatment, but this often switches 1 say the drugs provided a break, 1 mean a give to me and please me by truly engaging in to paranoid feelings of being forced to "be I presented Paul with this option, but I felt false sense of safety, revenge, and comfort. the treatment relationship. He wanted help but better" which can be traced to resentful in the counter-transference, less than optimistic The drugs were really part of a self-destructive in his phantasies help meant obligation, painful feelings about having to heal and serve the about it. He told me he would think about it. projective identification dynamic that eventually dependency, and a lonely exposure to the object. The next session, he began talking about his critical way he was with himself that left him brought on the very elements the patients were job, his twelve-step recovery meetings, his time Many addicts, as well as other difficult ashamed and depressed. In that sense, he had trying to avoid. at the gym, and how he was fixing up his patients who are not troubled with drug no choice but to not return to see me. apartment. I said, "you are talking a lot today problems, exhibit the particular mix of paranoid The drugs also gave Jane the power to about things that are going on outside of this and depressive dynamics found in these two rebel and do nothing. Doing nothing was a Summary room. But, you aren't mentioning our work cases. Stciner (1993) has explored patients victory against her demanding and disappointing together. You were going to think about what The main elements the psychoanalytic who find a respite or psychic retreat between objects, but also a desperate, shallow, and you want to do after today, since it is the last literature has identified as common in addictions the two psychological states. I am noting two temporary respite in her internal obligation to time the insurance covers you. Maybe, it is were certainly present in these two analytic cases in which the patients have not been able the needs of others. uncomfortable to think about us and how to cases. Difficulty in affect tolerance, object to successfully integrate the paranoid position For Paul, he used drugs to pretend he had keep us together, so it is easier if I bring it substitution, narcissistic rage, and compromise and were compelled to negotiate the depressive the admiration and love of others instead of up?" In the counter-transference, I had felt solutions around issues of powerlessness were position prematurely. They end up faced with facing the failure and loss of his mother's ignored and felt I was waiting to see what he all elements in the analytic work. However, the more pathological aspects of both positions containment and love. Without the drugs, he would do with us. It was as if he held our fate there was also another factor that shaped the and attempt to emotionally escape by avoiding, couldn't deny these intense feelings. He in his hands and didn't care much about it. internal lives of these individuals. As Rosenfeld disconnecting, and refusing contact with the wanted to act out and escape this painful state, This may have been his narcissistic (1960) noted, there is a depressive aspect of object in a desperate attempt to free even for a moment. Because Jane was still identification with his mother and his projection the ego that is combined and often themselves from the burden of their own using drugs, lived with Joe, and was able to of his ignored, excluded self into me. Also, he overshadowed by paranoid dynamics. conflicts and the pressures of an unpredictable, attend her analytic sessions with Joe, she had may have resented having to make the effort Specifically, I think the ego is operating within unsafe object. Drugs provide one temporary a much better secure base to operate from to bring it up since I think, in his persecutory phantasies of an object that is both injured, method of hiding from the object and and a way to withstand the pain of her own phantasies, Paul felt that having to truly make weak, and needing care as well as preventing attachment or growth, both of which sense of loss and persecution. Paul lacked the effort to be a participant in the treatment disappointing, intimidating, withholding, and are seen as threatening. Therefore, addiction these external factors and therefore faced a and devote his time, money, and vulnerability aggressive. Actual historical experiences with can be understood as a specific form of psychic more precarious internal state, without a feeling to it would be akin to giving to me. And, this parents who were prone to fluctuating moods, retreat. of hope or any kind of emotional safety net. would be experienced as more servitude to needy and demanding ways, as well as volatile Yet, he was able to remain drug free for six mother. Paul said, "1 will let you know. I will and controlling manners combine with the Both cases presented in this paper involved months while in treatment. For both patients, call you." I said, "I have a sense that to ego's strong infantile cycles of projective patients who grew up in families where there was significant emotional and psychical drugs served to cover up the lack of self-

1 2 13 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA ROBERT WASKA ADDICTIONS AND THE QUEST TO CONTROL THE UNPREDICTABLE OBJECT integration, the guilt over not providing enough support of ongoing transference interpretation, (1988) Object Relations in Clinical analytic Insight and Relationships; A to their needy objects, and the rage at not growth and change become possible. The Practice. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 57:626- Kleinian Approach, Routledge and Kegan being cared for and parented. addictions create great difficulties for both 642 Paul Ltd, London patient and analyst and demand a level of I think Jane's history and childhood perserverance that patient and analyst cannot (1992) Psychic Change: Some STHINBR, .1 (1993) Psychic Retreats: Pathological experiences were not as devastating as Paul's. always bear. However, if the psychoanalytic Perspectives. International Journal of Organizations in Psychotic, Neurotic, and Therefore, she was ultimately more able to method is utilized, the basis for the destructive, Psychoanalysis, 73:237-243 Borderline Patients, Routledge, London and tolerate the anxiety and frustration that analytic addictive cycle is better understood. Then, the New York treatment brings about in the healing process. (2000) Agreeableness as Obstacle. direction fo what is needed is more clear and VOLKAN, K (1994) Addiction from an Object Paul was able to hang in there until an external International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 81 the chances of change become more within Relations Perspective, Peter Lang situation came along that triggered his core 641-649 reach. While these difficult cases are not Publishing New York feelings of resentment at having to serve others (2001) Transference, in Kleinian always salvageable, the psychoanalytic method instead of being served and admired. Theory: A Contemporary Perspective, edited WASKA, R. (2002) Primitive Experiences of provides the patient hope, support, and a strong Loss: Working with the Paranoid-vSchizoid The psychoanalytic method is well-suited by Catalina Bronstein, Whurr Publications, opportunity for a shift in the addictive process. Patient, Karnac, London to many individuals seeking help with problems This is a shift not only in the external London,pg.181-192 (2004) Project!ve Identification: the that at first glance appear external and symptoms but the underlying psychological ROSRNFELD, H (1960) On Drug Addiction, behaviorally maladaptive (SulzbergerWittenberg base of the problem. The analyst must realize International Journal of Psychoanalysis, Kleinian Interpretation, Brunner/Rutledge. 1970). With exploration, deeper psychological these are complex cases that often fail or only 41:467-475 London issues are revealed that fuel the destructive show partial resolution. This should not be (2005) Real People, Real Problems, SCHAPHR, R (2003) Bad Feelings, Other Press, behavior. Patient, consistent interpretation of cause for counter-transference despair, but Real Solutions: The Kleinian Approach to New York the internal phantasies, feelings, and defenses merely a confirmation that we often work in Difficult Patients, Brunner/Rutledge, that produce these addictions and interpersonal the trenches with the most trying of human Sulzberger-Wittenberg, I (1970) Psycho- London drama provide relief from paranoid and suffering and don't always see transformation depressive anxieties. This leads to a better or a complete turnaround in our day to day understanding of the addiction and a start to private practice experiences. But, we can offer eliminating it. a hand to these patients during a most painful With this analytic understanding and the period of their life.

Bibliography

BHLL, D (2001) Protective Identification, in Psychoanalytic Association., 27:263-288 Klein ian Theory: A Contemporary Perspective, edited by Catalina Bronstein, JOHNSON, B (1999) Three Perspectives on Whurr Publications, London, pg. 125-147 Addiction, Journal of the American PsychoanalyticAssociation, 47:791-815 DoDiis, L (1990) Addiction, Helplessness, and Narcissistic Rage, Psychoanalytic Quarterly, JOSEPH, B (1983) On Understanding and not 59:398-419 Understanding: Some Technical Issues. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, (1996) Compulsion and Addiction, 64:291-298 Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 44:815-835 (1985) Transference: The Total GILL, M (1979) The Analysis Of The Situation. International Journal of Transference. Journal of the American Psychoanalysis, 66:447-454

14 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA PSYCHODYNAMIC RESEMBLANCE BINDS THE POETS OF DIFFERENT CULTURE IN A SINGLE ORDER OF MIND /Illustration from Keats' "Ode to A Nightingale" And Tagore's "Duhsamaya"'/* Arup Kumar Ghosal1, Tinni Dutta2

The power and universality of unconscious seen in literature carries common thread among men of letters. J. Keats of English literature and R.N. Tagore of Bengali literature are two such noteworthy examples.

Introduction Haider, (1931), Basu (1988), Sanyal (1992), have analysed the works of Tagore and have A study of comparative literature shows that actually shown us how did the creator's earlier an almost 'telepathic affinity' exists among the life events have stimulated and provided him poets living in different geographic areas at with an urge for such a creation. Each part of different cultures and even in different times. the poet's work was shown to be the outcome In the words of Shelley there must be of complex ego adaptive processes comprising resemblance which does not depend upon their of sublimation, identification, ego expansion, own will between all the writers of an age. etc. Such resemblance in the creation of two poets, John Keats (1795-1821) and Rabindranath In this present study we are making an Tagore (1861-1941) are well known. Among attempt to analyse Keats' "Ode To A the Romantics 'it is to Keats, perhaps, that Nighingale" and Tagore's "Duhsamaya" from Tagore comes closer than to any other' [Sen, psychoanalytical point of view. 1961] Enriched by the knowledge derived from psychoanalysis it appears that such affinity It is clear and evident from literature that between them are far too deep to be accidental. Tagore was indebted to Keats for his poetic It would be interesting to inquire whether the style, specific patterns of attitude, rhythm and 'Bird' of Keats (Nightingale) could 'parallel so on. 'Keats thus gave him an instrument the "one" that Tagore invokes in the poem that served him splendidly for nearly the entire that opens his Kalpana? [Sen, 1961]. length of his poetic career.' (Sen, 1961) In this present study we wish to investigate whether The introductory poem of Kalpana, such 'Kcatsian gift' which proved congenial to ""(imagination) Duhsamaya *(Hard Times) was 'Tagore's poetic genius' was, to some extent, written by Tagore in 1896, long after the due to the two poets' psychodynamical composition of 'Ode to A Nightingale' (1819) resernblcnce or not. by Keats. But the content and the form analysis of these two poems following principles of The validity of methodology of the present psychoanalysis, reveal, inspite of their study is corroborated with the references of existence far apart spatially and temporally, a others like Haider (1931) in a similar field of striking similarity in their style of transcending research. Emphasis is put on poet's their liabilities, sorrows and weaknesses. biographical data, and poet's utterances

* Please see attached English version of the poem. 1. Sr. Faculty Dept, of Applied Psychology, Calcutta University, Kolkata, Secretary, Indian Psychoanalytical Society. 2. Clinical psychologist, NGO Consultant.

17 SAMIKSA ARUP KUMAR GHOSALAND TINNI DUTTA PSYCHODYNAMIC RESEMBLANCE BINDS THE POETS OF DIFFERENT CULTURE

relevant to present study. These are as valuable Name of the Poem: Ode To A Nightingale consolation' in wine, but now for the moment ego which manifests as depression in later life. as materials obtained from the free association Year of Composition: May, 1819. it demonstrated his in another light. Viewless This finding is also corroborated with the wings of poesy carried him away from the evidence derived from the poet's biographical method, Basu, (1988) Sanyal, (1992). Incident prior to the Composition of the reality into a fanciful world with which he has analysis. The poet desired to get rid of his Poem : Charles Brown has recalled that Keats' Psychoanalytically we can explain that such confronted, where intelligence may take rest. depressive moods through drinking wine. It Nightingale was engendered by a real bird who traumatic childhood experiences have turned a He only perceived that 'Tender is the night.' appeared that 'such unconscious impulses are had built her nest near the poet's house in the fear of castration or loneliness (loss of love) In stanza five 'the darkness stepped in scents.' not only oral but homosexual in nature.' Spring of 1819. Keats felt a continual and into a fear of death. (Fenichel, 1945) The loss The word 'embalmed' foreshadowed the Fenichel (1945). The poet has utilised the tranquil joy in her song. And this poem, 'Ode of love, the feeling of desolation which was preoccupation with death. But once the defense of withdrawal by imaginatively joining To A Nightingale' contained his poetic feeling. strongly repressed probably clue to the consciousness has been jogged into readmitting the 'invisible bird in the forest dim and to 'leave 'interpersonal disappointment' in earlier life was Literary Theme of the Poem ; Keals'poetic death into cognition, the life was renewed the world unseen'. Further analysis reveals that not triggered by his brother's death. Therefore structure based on the "flight from everyday again. It was full of fresh sensations. After the memory of Tom Keats has fallen upon his he stepped into the 'thoughtless chamber of reality and return to it' was reflected in this the 'death of violets, there appeared the birth ego. Rubin Fine (1977) said according to Maiden Poesy' into the darkness of the poem. The poet wished to escape with the of rose.' Stanza seven implied the poet's feeling Abraham depression is a consequence of an unconscious where he remained for a while, bird from the world of pain and sorrow. Here toward the bird, it would be grand to die 'with unconsciously experienced loss. Freud but, all of a sudden light sprinkled from it. nightingale's song implied the possibility of no pain' while the bird was singing so following, Abraham stated, in depression the Thus he wished to sublimate his depressive permanence which remains unchanged from ecstatically. In the final stanza the poet had ego has incorporated the lost object and thus states and transcend his emotion. And it was age to age. uttered 'Forloan' which means long lost identified himself with it. 'Thus the shadow of reflected in the form and content of the poem untrotted by men. It has expressed the In the Nightingale Ode of Keats the best the object fell upon the ego. [Freud. 1917]. (Ode to a Nightingale). withdrawal of his vision. The bird's anthem elements were a record of his "sensations"... The poet again expressed the wish to fly became plaintive with distance. It continued to the opening line gave a sense of enjoyment with the bird and perceived the beauties of John Keats exist and sing though more and more remotely. through the agency of pain which was a night. The symbol of night indicated that the The experience came to an end. A soliloquy Analysis of the Significant Life Events of prominent sign of a depressive demeanour. The poet has regressed and has shown unconscious was uttered 'Fled is that music. Do I wake or the Poet (Keats) : Here we discuss only those poet's recurrent pressure toward opposities craving lor a return to the mother's womb. events thai are of psychodynamic significance. were also pronounced in the first two stanzas. The relationship may be mentioned here. It is evident from the poet's biographical study The stress on 'drowsiness and pain' was The poem is a testimony to the power of 'Conscious events as light, unconscious ones that death knocked at his door since his child- transmuted by the bird's carefree song in imagination to transport us from the actual to as dark. The dark end of the scale extends hood... 'When he was seven his brother Spring. Again 'Tasting of Flora', 'Dance & the ideal, But... actual soon returns with a well below the human consciousness, may Bdward died, when he was nine, his father was Provencal song', 'Sunburnt Mirth', all were painful sense of disenchantment. possible be some form of protoplasamic killed. At ten, he lost his grand-father Jennings, indications of an ideal summer which has consciousness.' quoted by Kostler, (1964). At at twelve his beloved Uncle Midgley Jennings, inspired more living spirit, intense Psychodynamic views this state as if the 'dull brain perplexes and at fourteen his mother, at nineteen his consciousness, but again his mood gradually retards'. Dynamically it is the symbol ol grandmother Jennings'. (Baker, 1986) Again a graviated towards despair. In the third stanza Psychodynamically birds represent passivity. The maturing of thought, the entry calamitious event occured in his life in 1818. 'the weariness, the fever, the fret' have 'thoughts and flight of thoughts'. Generally into awareness from preconsciousness tend to He lost his brother Torn Keats. This was a transporated the poet from this mundane world fantasies and intuitive ideas are represented be experienced and received passively and not turning point in Keats' poetic development. into a tranquil state of heavenly bliss. He was (Jung, 1945). In the beginning of the poem as actively produced [Kris, 1951). After such distressing experience he gained an lost in the infinite space, like another bird, there was a shutting of emotional states insight. He found, though 'the world is full of breaking all ties - 'that is cathexes'. He has ranging from elation to depression. Though the In stanza seven again the poet was grimly misery and heart break pain, sickness and recalled the tragic scene of his brother's (Tom poet wished to be in an elevated and expensive reminded of death. Psychoanalytically the poet oppression... thought becomes gradually Keats) death, but not only to the extent of its mood by bird's freedom and mobility but again has tried to undo the loss of his brother by darkend', but still... 'at the same time, many physical existence, but the spiritual death it his mood gravitated toward potential 'pathognomonic introjeclion.' Fenichel, (1945). doors are set open'... 'the awakening of the has also rendered. In stanza four the poet depression. As Freud (1917) postulated that a It was not only an attempt to undo the loss of thinking principle does not pitch us immediately wished to escape with the nightingale, but not vulnerability to depression is caused by an his brother, Simultaneously it was an attempt into darkness but into a chamber which is bright by being chariated by 'Bacchus and his pards' interpersonal disappointment early in life and it to achieve the 'uniomystica' with his brother, and full of wonders' as quoted by Baker (1986) which symbolically referred 'epicurean might result in a self destructive attitude of to become the brother's companion who has

1 8 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA ARUP KUMAR GHOSALAND TINNI DUTTA PSYCHODYNAMIC RESEMBLANCE BINDS THE POETS OF DIFFERENT CULTURE

been lost. In such stage of pathognomonic was no way of meeting (1917)'. beginning of Duhsamaya he imagined that the creative personalities. Here in the poem, thus introjection, the ego of the poet and his lost Such feeling of 'loneliness' along with 'wish 'evening comes with slow steps and has fear has brooded and loneliness has pervaded brother's became equated. The poet has lost to emancipate from bondage' which was signalled all songs to cease.' It casts on him his mind. His ego-ideal and Freud (1914) his object relationship by regressing into a triggered by the bereavements with which he fear of being alone as his 'companions have suggested became a substitute for the lost phase where no objects yet existed. After such was confronted in his later life. In gone to their rest.' The 'fear broods in the narcissism of his childhood. It was reflected in phase of regression the poet has regained the Reminiscences (1917) he wrote, 'When my dark and the face of the sky is veiled.' He the writings of his son, Rathindranath Tagore lost objective world. At the end of the poem mother died, I was quite a child... On the night prayed, 'Yet bird, O my bird, listen to me, do (1985) as he had perceived his father. He the nightingale's song has created a vestige of she died we were fast asleep in our room not close your wings.' wrote... 'during his (poet's) youth he was a far more extensive feeling which has downstairs... Half awakened by her (Old completely absorbed in his own self and his embraced the universe and expressed the He imagined that 'it is not the gloom of the nurse) words, I felt my heart sink within me, own creative work and ...' Here in the poem inseparable connection of the ego with the leaves of the forest, but it is the 'sea, swelling but could not make out what had happened... at that moment of loneliness and hopelessness external world. It was this 'oceanic feeling' like a dark black snake.' He wondered about Thus the shadow of death which fell on us left he prayed, 'Yet bird, O my bird, listen to me, which the poet has tried to recapture. The the ' sunny green shore and prayed, 'Bird, O no darkness behind; it departed as softly as it do not close your wings.' Birds in depth poet imagined the song was obliged to find a my bird, listen to me, do not close your wings.' came, only a shadow... But the acquaintance psychology, represent though and flight of path in Ruth's heart. which I made with Death at the age of twenty- He phantasized as if 'the lone night lies thoughts, (Ciiiot 1993). Virtually the bird is the Finally the poet was back in the real world four was a permanent one.' along your path, behind the shadowy bills,' 'the poet himself. Here it came as the messenger from where he started. The nightingale has stars hold their breath counting the hours,' 'the of the emancipation and it led the poet toward The poet's first great sorrow in life came fled off symbolically the imaginative journey feeble moon swims the deep night'. And he the region of freedom and imagination with in death of his sister-in-law, Kadambari Devi has terminated. The poet has attained such an prayed 'Bird, O my bird, listen to me, do not the higher spirit beyond the immanent realities. (1884) to whom he was deeply attached. The integrated cognitive development not only close your wings.' poet couldn't reconcile 'that which remained through his intelligence but through subjective Tagore's perception of the 'gloom of the with that which had gone.' A deep and terrible Finally a sort of self realization transcended painful longings, where consciousness leaves of the forest' as a 'swelling... dark black darkness continued to attract him night and upon the poet. He found there was 'no hope,' intermingled with unconscious, But when he snake' was interesting. The 'gloom of the day as tune went on... "But yet in the midst of 'no fear,' 'no word', 'no bed of rest,' But has returned to reality it was neither a state of leaves of the forest' was a cozy resting place, this unbearable grief, flashes of joy sparkle in 'there is only a pair of wings and pathless sky. despair, nor elation, but it was the state of his with a denotative implication of hearty warmth my mind. That which I had held ] was made And he prayed, 'Bird, O my bird, listen to me, bewilderment, which coloured his perception. reminiscent of the mother's embrace. This to let go - this was the sense of loss which do not close your wings.' vibrantly positive idea was further corroborated distressed me, but when at the same moment by later phases 'the sunny green shore' and Rabindra Nath Tagore I viewed It from the stand-point of freedom Psvchodynamic view point the 'dance of the flowering Jasmine.' But the gained, a great peace fell upon me.' (Tagore, Dynamically at the beginning the poet has poet here was unable to bring forth warm Analysis of the Significant life events of 1917). This psychodynamics his self realisation felt profound 'separation anxiety.' Probably hearty associations of these (as quoted above) the Poet ; (Here those which are of which came upon him as a sudden, wonderful such anxiety occurs in adults due to one's and on the contrary shows such ideationai psychodynamic significance in regard to this revelation from a terrible darkness, was 'defensive regression.' According to Angel juxta-positions as the 'sea swelling' like a 'dark poem are only discussed). expressed in this poem (Hard-Times) through (1977) 'one wished to look at his wife as a black snake' and 'flashing foam.' The snake It is evident from Tagore's biographical its symbolic appearances. protecting mother, from whom he fears to in Jungian parlance denoted power and strength analysis that living under the domination of on one hand and reactivation of destructive Name of the Poem: Duhsamaya (hard times) separate because he is afraid of consequences servants culminated in 'seperation anxiety' Year of Composition : 1 896 of looking at her as a sexual person.' potentiality on the other (Cirlot 1993). The net along with a 'feeling of loneliness' within the result psychologically was, that the poet was poet. In Reminiscences (1917) he wrote 'We Thus it was found that the poet sometimes unable to place himself in the warmth of the used to be under the rule of servants'. Library Theme preferred solitude and detachment in the midst motherly lap. (a womb). of his family and children. In such a state the ... 'Our elders were in every way at a The introductory poem of Kalpana, libidinal cathexes have flown back unto his Symbolically the lone night in the third great distance from us, in their dress and food, Duhsamaya (Hard Times) was written in the ego. But the poet has always been in charge stanza was indicative of passive principle, the living and doing, conversation and amusement year 1896 in a period of transition in the poet's of his withdrawals and freshly created feminine and unconscious... 'Topographically ... Going out of the house was forbidden to us, creative life when he recalled his earlier days cathexes. In this sense it was an 'Adaptive ego regression occurs not only when the ego it (outside) was free, but I was bound, there which were full of hope and shine. In the Regression' which is so markedly seen in is weak in sleep, in falling asleep, in fantasy...

20 21 SAMlKSA SAMIKSA ARUP KUMAR GHOSALAND TINNI DUTTA PSYCHODYNAMIC RESEMBLANCE BINDS THE POETS OF DIFFERENT CULTURE but also during many types of creative 'Upanishadic' concept of 'Charaibeti' (Move The Chief symbolism used by both Keats a stage of passivity the ego regulated the processes. (Kris, 1952). The concept was forward) was expressed in Tagore's style. and Tagore was the bird. Bird, Psycho- regression and such voluntary shifting of elaborated in ego's ARISE function Bellak et Poetically it can be written that the poet wished analytically signify thoughts and flight of ideas. cathexex from one area to another was aimed al (1973). ...'Adaptive regression in the service to enjoy the power to wheel through the space Keat's Nightingale implied 'flight from at regaining improved control. Thus after such of the ego refers to the ability of the ego to as the bird flies through the air. everyday reality, flight from 'worlds of sorrow'. regressive phase Keats as well as Tagore initiate a partial, temporary and controlled It also signified a concept of 'eternity,' a regained the lost objective world. lowering of its own function... in the Comparison between Keats and Tagore possibility of permanence which remains At the end enlightment has awaken up from unchanged from age to age. furtherance of its interest... such regression Analysis of life events of Keats and Tagore their deep layers of the unconscious. Keats results in a relatively free but controlled play revealed that they had similar background Here, Tagore offered a parallel. Bird, in his felt that the consciousness will be extinguished of the primary process. This implies a creative history which are of psychodynamic poem Dhusamaya (Hard Times) came as the by death but the bird would continue to pour process and can be observed also "in more significance. Both confronted traumatic events messenger of the emancipation from reality, at its soul all over, And finally he returned to diverse and private sectors of living as well." in childhood, death of their loved ones. the moment of his loneliness and hopelessness. reality by a mournful bell from where he In the poetic language... 'it is an anticipatory Probably these incidents have inculcated a He stepped a step further and wished to 'move started. state in that, though not yet day, but the promise 'feeling of loneliness.' 'loss of love' deep within foreward' concept 'Charaibeti Charaibeti' Similarly like Keats, light has also of daylight' (Cirlot, 1993). Thus the rays and them. (move foreward) was expressed in his style. illuminated from the dark unconscious ol warmth of the sun was repressed within the Dynamically, at the beginning of the poem Tagore. He has experienced transcendence of darkness of night. For Keats, the pang due to loss of love, the feeling of desolation, which were repressed in Keats wished to get rid of his melancholia time and space and realized there is 'no hope', But again the symbolism of the feeble moon unconscious, probably due to interpersonal through drinking wine. It not only satisfied his 'no fear;' 'no word,' 'no cry'. He wished to implied the poet's oscillation between regresion disappointment in earlier life (series of death) unconscious oral needs, but such wishes were 'move foreward' which is the creed of life in to progression. Moon's invisible phase was not triggered by his brother's (Tom) death. also homosexual in nature, which was the light of 'Upanishadic' concept. corresponds to death in man, but it is not an Psychodynamically there existed an object pronounced in subsequent stanzas. The Keats was in a conflict between loveliness extinction. It is evident that 'spring follow upon choice. Owing to real injury, brother's death, memory of his deceased brother, Tom Keats of existence and infinitude even still at the end winter,' "flower appears after the frost,' 'the this object relationship was... undermined and fell upon his ego. lie tried not only to undo the where his unconscious minsled wii.h the sun rises after the gloom of night' and thus the it resulted in withdrawal of libido from the loss of his brother by pathognoinonio introjection consciousness. Dynamically his imaginative 'crescent moon' grows out of the 'feeble object that was invested into the ego. This has but made an attempt to achieve the potentials tend to satisfy his basic needs, but moon.' shown in the poet's feeling of mania alternating 'uniornystiea' (to unite with) with his brother. his intelligence his empathic capacity tend toward a 'creative achievement' in the Therefore it can be said that at the end, the with painful dejection. But such features of On the other hand Tagore preferred solitude language of literature it can be said, 'immortality poet has accepted the truth of life, the laws of melancholia are replaced by the state of mania. and detachment in the beginning of the poem, of art'. change, growth and decline. Thus he has felt Thus Keats felt a feeling of triumph following at such state the libidinal cathexes have flown neither hope nor fear. There is 'no word,' 'no subsequent phase of depression. It was back into his ego, his ego ideal became a lost Similar conflict is also echoed from Tagore's cry.' It is the poet who wished to break all pronounced in 'Ode to A Nightingale.' narcissism of his Childhood. He wished to poem, though very delicately, but he resolved bonds, gives up all possessions, liberates his On the other hand for Tagore as he lived return to youth to regain his narcissistic it by being an existentialist. He realised time is emotion from the demands of action. The poet under the domination of servants (in his pleasure. eternal, joys and sorrows life's opposiles are again uttered, 'Bird, O my bird, listen to me, childhood), it had culminated in anxiety of Dynamically, at the middle of the poem both fused with each other. Therefore he desired to do not close your wings.' Winged bird separation from mother figure. It was retained of them. Keats & Tagore regressed further. liberate his emotion from action. To Tagore dynamically reveals 'invisible spirit' derived in his unconscious and intensified after the Tagore's rgression, his wish to return to his being in this world is the acme of human from the unconscious, feminine in nature, such death of his mother. Such a sense of loss was mother's womb was pronounced through the existence, and only 'move forward' is the aim femininity which can be interpretated as repressed and the lost object was subsequently symbolism of 'sea;' 'leaves of forest,' 'moon' of human sojourn. 'anima' (feminine component of the incorporated within the poet's psyche. The etc. Keats and Tagore wondered al the personality) may remain invested at the cost image of mother figure was eventually beauties of night. It was indicative of femininty Conclusion of loneliness and isolation, (Neumann, 1955). internalized as loving object. Such lost object and passivity. The maturing of thought which Parallels arc cited in the dynamics of Probably the peak experiences of gave rise to melancholia and thus the poet entered from prcconsciousness to personality between Keats & Tagore. It strikes transcendence of time and space has occured found, 'The evening comes with slow steps consciousness tend to be experienced as us how Tagore who appeared long after Keats in this creation. Also the traditional and has signalled all songs to cease.' passively, and not as actively produced. In such in a completely dilfcenl geographic and cultural

22 2 3 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA ARUP KUMAR GHOSALAND TINNI DUTTA PSYCHODYNAMIC RESEMBLANCE BINDS THE POETS OF DIFFERENT CULTURE set up could come so close to Keats. Much of field of comparative literature. It is evident BASU, A. (1988). Tagore's Smaran Poems: A JUNG, C.G. (1921). Psychological Types, C.W. these can be attributed to their similar from literature that Tagore who appeared long psychoanalytical perspective. In Samiksa, Volume 6, Routledged & Kegan Paul childhood life-events shaping a similarity into after Keats in a completely different cultural Volume 38, Parsibagan Lane, Calcutta, pp.202. their personality dynamics. Keats, coming set up has come very close to Keats indeed. pp.3-18. (1922). The Spirit In Man Art and Whether such closeness is, to some extent at before Tagore, this means an indebtedness of BELLAK ETAL. (1973). Ego Functions in Literature, C.W. Routledged & Kegan Paul, least due to. their psychodynamic resemblance Tagore on Keats at the level of reality. As a Schizophrenics, Neurotics & Normals. Volume 15, pp. was investigated in this present study. Keats' supportive evidence to our conclusion, that "no John Willey & Sons. pp. English poem is referred to in his writings, 'Ode to A Nightingale" and Tagore's KOSTLER, A. (1964). In The Act of Creation, prose and verse, so many times in so many 'Duhsamaya' (Hard Times) were analysed CIRLOT, J.E. (1993). A Dictionary of Symbols. Cox & Wyman Ltd, Great Britain, pp. different ways as 'Ode To The Nightingale.' from psychoanalytical perspective with Routledge & Kegan paul pp.26, 27, 228, KRIS, E. (1952). Psychoanalytic Explorations (Sen, 1961) Perhaps such Western influences reference to the poets' life events. Findings 285-289. in Art. International Universities Press, roused the hidden poetic sense in Tagore. highlighted that Keats and Tagore had similar FENICHEL, O. (1945). Anxiety As Neurotic pp.291-302, 311, 312. Tagore cultivated and enriched such influences background history which were of Symptom: Anxiety Hysteria, In The with the depth of his Indian background in the psychodynamic significance. Both confronted Psychoanalytic Theory of Neuroses. NEUMANN, E. (1955). The great mother light of Upanishadic concept. 'Keatsian beauty' similar traumatic events in their childhood - W.W. Norton & Company. New York, Panthon, New York. brooded on his own loveliness. Thus Keats death of their loved ones. Such loss of love, Longon, pp. 209. RUBINEINE, D. (1977). Depression and Mania, and Tagore shared common psychodynamic feeling of desolation which were repressed in (1945). Perversions And Impulse Psychoanalytic Theories, in International features between them that bind them together their unconscious are reflected in the form and Encyclopedia of Psychiatry, Psychology, under a single nest, in a 'single order of mind', content of the poem by means of complex ego Neuroses, In the Psychoanalytic Theory in a 'single community of spirit'. adaptive process like temporary regression of Neuroses. W.W. Norton & Company, Psychoanalysis and Neurology, Edited by from reality, ego expansion, sublimation etc. New York, London, pp.379. Wolman, pp.64. So to conclude, in great art, the poets are (1945). Depression And Mania, In the The chief symbolism of 'Bird' used by both SANYAL, N. (1922). Where Regression is not lost in the isolation of their creation, but Psychoanalytic Theory of Neuroses. Keats and Tagore implied the 'flight of Creative. An Illustration from Tagore in they share the unspoken desires of the times W.W. Norton & Company, New York, thoughts' from everyday reality, from 'worlds Samiksa, journal oj Indian where all men are cought in a 'Common of sorrow' at the moment of their loneliness London, pp.396. Psy ch oana ly tica I So c ie ty, Vo 1. 46, rhythem which allowed them to communicate and hopelessness. But dynamic ayaiysis FKKUIJ, S. (1914). On Narcissism. SE, 14 pp.73- Parsibagan Lane, Calcutta, p. 101-112. the feeling and strivings of mankind', Jung indicated that finally Keats and Tagore returned 102 (1922). Thus Keats and Tagore have, to reality after a phase of temporary regression, SKN, T. (1961). Western Influence on the Poetry psychodynamically speaking, transcended times as enlightment has come from their (1917). Mourning & Melancholia. SE of Tagore. In Tagore's Ccntinery Volume. and culture in which they were born. The unconscious. Thus Keats and Tagore shared 14, pp.243-248. Sahitya Academy pp. 251-275,. present study provided a step in that direction. common psychodynamic pattern which bind (1928). Dostocvsky and Parricide, SE TAGORE, R. (1917). Reminiscences. The But their self transcending, power that made them together in a single order of mind. 21, pp.154. the art objective and impersonal, is still Macmillian Company of India Limited HALDBR, R (1931). The working of unconscious unknown. As Freud (1928) said, 'Before the (1980) pp.8-14, 255-261. wish in the creation of Poetry & Drama, problem of creative artist the analysis must, References International Journal of Psychoanalysis, (1958). On the Edges of Time. alas, lay down its arms'. Therefore further ANGEL, K. (1977). Separation and loss. Volume 12, Part 2, pp 88-205. Orient Longmans, Calcutta pp.34. extensive research is called for studying in International Encylopedia of Psychitry, depth comparative literature by utilising p s y c h o I o gy, P sy choana ly s i s a n d psychoanalytical insights so that uniqueness of Neurology. Edited by Wolman, Volume 10, present day literature can be fused with the pp. 180-181. age old past, if at all that is ever possible. BAKER, J. (1986). The Nature of Keats' Summary Development. In John Keats and The close affinity between John Keats and Symbolism. The Harxeter Press Limited, Rabindranath Tagore are well known in the pp. 15-19.

24 25 SAMIKSA SAMlKSA HARD TIMES

THOUGH the evening comes with slow steps and has signalled for all songs to cease; Thouth your companions have gone to their rest and you are tired; Though fear broods in the dark and the face of the sky is veiled; Yet, bird, O my bird, listen to me, do not close your wings. That is not the gloom of the leaves of the forest, that is the sea swelling like a dark black snake. That is not the dance of the flowering jasmine, that is flashing foam. Ah, where is the sunny green shore, where is your nest? Birds, O my bird, listen to me, do not close your wings. The lone night lies along your path, the dawn sleeps behind the shadowy hills. The stars hold their breath counting the hours, the feeble moon swims the deep night. Bird, O my bird, listen to me, do not close your wings. There is no hope, no fear for you. There is no word, no whisper, no cry. There is no home, no bed of rest. There is only your own pair of wings and the pathless sky Bird, O my bird, listen to me, do not close your wings. GIR1NDRASHEKHAR BOSE: ONE OF THE LAST 'MOHICANS' OF COLONIAL INDIA Amarendranath Basu [Twenty seventh Girindrashekhar Memorial lecture delivered by Dr. Amarendranath Basu on February 1, 2003 at the Indian Psychoanalytical Society, Calcutta)

Respected President Sir and learned Audience, So his life span covered almost the last two With profound humility I acknowledge the decades of the 19th and first half of the 20th honour the Indian Psychoanalytical Society has century. Historian R.C. Majumder (1978) says bestowed upon me by calling me to deliver the in his 'History of modern Bengal': "A throbbing 27th Girindrashekhar Memorial lecture this of the national spirit and stirring of political year. 1 express my sincere gratitude to the consciousness were the two characteristics of authority of IPS for that. But I take this the new national awakening that began in responsibility with deep anguish: would I be Bengal in 19th century". This awakening able to maintain the high standard my influenced almost all the aspects of India's predecessors established who were honoured colonial life. British rule drastically transformed with the same task in the previous years? In India in every respect. Historian Bipan Chandra spite of that, I am relaxed when I think that it et al said in their 'India after Independence' has not been only a matter of honour for me, (2002) : "thus a stagnating per capita income. but also an expression of love towards the abysmal standards of living, stunted industrial alumnus of this institution. I had my training in development and stagnating low-productivity, psychoanalysis in this institution. This is my semi-feudal agriculture marked the economic alma mater. I feel joy for having this opportunity legacy of colonialism as it neared the end." to be present among the old and new members But everything was not gloomy in this legacy. of the alumni assemblage. This is an occasion Hence, the above mentioned historians further of nostalgia. say:"The British evolved a general educational system, based on English as the common Life and works of Girindrashekhar Bose language of higher education for the entire now are facts of history. At present we are at country. This system in time produced an India- a distance of 50 years from him since his death wide intelligentsia which tended to have a in the year 1953. One who is in the procession similar approach to society and common ways of events of a particular period may become of looking at it and which was, at its best. positively or negatively bias in judgement to capable of developing a critique of colonialism any event of that period, because he himself and this it did during the second half of remains a part of the stream of events. But nineteenth century and after" (Bipan Chandra when the period becomes history an onlooker et al; 2002). In spite of British exploitation of from the posterity can assess the events of our country, R.C. Majumder (1978) points out that period objectively and impartially. that we could develop through English Girindrashekhar was born in the year 1886. education among intelligentsia a liberal mind-

Practising Psychoanalyst and Secretary (Astt.) Indisn Psychoanalytical Society, Kolkaia.

29 SAMlKSA AMARENDRANATH BASU GIRINDRASHEKHAR BOSE: ONE OF THE LAST 'MOHICANS' OF COLONIAL INDIA set with national spirit. Opening of the railway for the cause of their cultural independence, Psychoanalysis, as a western discipline, and the Vaisesika systems are almost purely and post and telegraph communication systems which was ultimately lost in their being was formally introduced in India in the year psychological." In ancient philosophical generated a sense of national unity among complete physical extermination, was depicted 1922, in a colonial atmosphere, with the literature we come across the concepts like Indian people. At the core of this nationalism in the 'Last of the Mohicans' a superb novel establishment of the Indian Psychoanalytical conscious, sub-conscious, illusion, ego and many or Swadeshi spirit was the spiritual heritage of by James Fenimore Cooper in 1826. Society by Dr. Girindrashekhar Bose. But, other. The Vedic-Upanishadic Rishis made Vedic-Upanisadic thought. Love for motherland Girindrashekhar, the youngest son of actually, its cultivation was begun much earlier attempts with superb skill to unravel the was the central point of this awakening. With Chandrashekhar, had his education and training in Calcutta by Girindrashekhar's effort. He mechanism and mystery of dreams. They this was mingled and assimilated by the in the formative period of life by his father writes in the preface of his book 'Concept of analysed the structure of the human mind and intelligentsia the western liberal and scientific who was well-versed in Indian philosophical repression': "I had been keen on hypnotism in dissected human personality on the basis of thoughts which was a fall-out of the colonial and puranic literature, particularly in the my early days, and had been practicing it to Samkhya concept of the three attributes or English education. Central urge among the Vedanta. On that educational infrastructure, therapeutic ends while yet a student for about Gunas of Prakriti—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. intelligentsia was to see the motherland, afterwards, he had his English or Western nine years, before • I came across It is to be pointed out here that swami Bharatmata, one among the top nations of the education as superstructure. Over and above, psychoanalysis in 1909. By the end of that Vivekananda in the last decade of the 19th world. This sentiment was most loudly voiced he grew up in an atmosphere of national or year I began treating cases by psychoanalytic century, when Freud was formulating his by the poets of the colonial India, especially in Swadeshi sentiment. Thus there was a meeting method." Girindrashekhar's effort in making doctrines of the unconscious and depth Bengal, in their inspiring call to the people to of the east and west in him. He kept his psychoanalysis known to the academic circle psychology in his (Vivekananda's) lecture tour restore the ancient glory of Mother India. The Western way of learning wide open and in Calcutta got support and inspiration from no in America and Europe voiced ancient Indian total atmosphere of India was filled with the welcomed the Western knowledge to blow in, less a person than Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, knowledge of human mind and working of the spirit of nationalism, the kind of which merged but he was never blown off from his Indian the then Vice-chancellor of Calcutta University, sub-conscious. Many a great personalities of with universalism, a sense of unity with the learning; rather he incorporated the Western by whose energy and effort it was possible for those continents, including Leo Tolstoy and world, as said in the Jajur-Veda- learning into Indian. I shall try to show how he him to introduce psychology in M.Sc and M.A William James were impressed knowing the 'Viswabhavatyekamidam' (the whole world did it without blindly copying west. courses in the Calcutta University with existence of this store-house of knowledge of becomes one home). Consequently the There are many deviants from Freud in psychoanalysis forming a part of the curriculum. psychology in ancient Indian heritage. It is very members of the intelligentsia engaged Freudian psychoanalysis. Girindrashekhar also In this regard Girindrashekhar got scholarly striking that like Vivekananda, Girindrashekhar themselves heart and soul in their respective deviated from several conceptual scheme of help from another significant person. Dr. used the term 'subconscious' to mean areas of learning with the single aim to glorify Freud. But unlike other deviants his divergences Brojendranath Seal, the then king George 5th •unconscious' in his "Concept of repression' the motherland. stemmed from his knowledge and firm professor of philosophy in the said University as the title of chapter II- 'Theory of the Girindrashekhar was the product of this grounding in ancient Indian heritage in general, and who was the author of the volumes titled Subconscious'. Girindrashekhar, following nationalism or Swadeshi atmosphere. And, and particularly in yoga-psychology. Once 'The positive sciences of ancient 'Hindus', Samkhya psychology and the Gita, analyses perhaps, he was the last vestige, at least in swami Vivekananda said to one of his friends where he mentioned the contributions of ancient human mind according to the three gunas of Bengal, of the colonial nationalism who fought that India has two gifts for the West— Indian Rishis (seers) in psychology and other Prakriti or unmanifested matter. Prakriti has to his last to keep the flag of ancient Indian philosophy and psychology (Purnatmananda; branches of science. These persons were two attributes (Gunas) of knowledge or jnana and wisdom high against many odds and also made 1994). Girindrashekhar made it a reality in his of the stalwarts of colonial intelligentsia of ignorance or a-jnana. Ignorance is lamas. It a synthesis of eastern and western knowledge scholastic activities and carried the legacy of Bengal. opposes jnana or knowledge. There are two like other stalwarts of that period of nationalism. Vivekananda as well as that of ancient India types of jnana or knowledge—external oriented As Girindrashekhar was one of the last soldiers to a fulfilment. Many concepts of the Freudian depth and internal oriented, bahirrnukhi and of the then colonial intelligentsia upholding Girindrashekhar grounding in Indian heritage psychology were known to the ancient Indian antarmukhi. Tamas opposes both external and ancient Indian heritage in one branch of can be measured from his books: (1) The Rishis. Actually the basis of the ancient Indian internal knowledge. By Rajas is generated science, psychology, at least in Bengal, I Yoga-sutras (1920), (2) Bhagavat-Gita (in philosophical and religious wisdom was external oriented knowledge, and by Sattva is describe him as one of the 'Last of the bengali 1948) and (3) Puran-pravesh (in psychology. Girindrashekhar says in his yoga- generated internal oriented knowledge. Mohicans'. The Mohicans were the original Bengali 1935) and his ideas regarding some of sutras:"Hindu philosophy when compared with Therefore, in order to acquire the knowledge tribes-man inhabitants of North America the basic concepts of psychoanalysis can be Western systems stands on a peculiar footing. of material world is required the Rajas Guna (U.S.A) who fought to their last against had from his books: (I) Concept of repression In no European system of philosophy has the or attribute, and for knowledge of inner mind cultural and political subjugation of the white (1921), (2) A new theory of mental life and (3) psychological material been so dominant. The Sattva attribute or Guna is responsible. settlers in the 18th century. The heroic struggle from some other articles. outlook of the Vedanta, the Samkhya, the Yoga Girindrashekhar's concept of the theoretical

30 SAMIKSA 3 1 SAMIKSA AMARENDRANATH BASU GIRINDRASHEKHAR BOSE: ONE OF THE LAST 'MOHICANS' OF COLONIAL INDIA

'ego' that he envisaged in his 'A New Theory may be said to be like that of an empiricist. clear Girindrashekhar refers in this connection first of all took the earth to be the ultimate of Mental Life' can be known by the persons Like a staunch believer in empiricism he sought to the example of Nachiketa of Kathopnisad reality or Brahman. He then proceeded to the having Sattva Guna in prominence. To acquire knowledge of mind through the empirical who put so many fundamental questions next bigger entity Air; then to the Sky and knowledge with an aim in view to knowing the methods of scientific observation and relating to the mystery of reality, to Yama. He Space; then to the Time as the entity which mystery of truth is their pursuit. Men of Rajas experiment followed by logical inference. Freud also refers to several other Upanisads in this embraces everything physical. At this place personality are induced to acquire knowledge considered."the intellect and the mind as objects regard. On an analysis of his thoughts as the Rishis gave a big jump or leap from the which results material benefit. Sattvik for scientific research in exactly the same way reflected in his 'The yoga-sutras' and the physical to the nonphysical Time; it was knowledge is pure knowledge, it leads as any non-human thing." That is, his method Bhagavatgita 1 come to the conclusion that psychological or conceptual Time which they ultimately to self-knowledge, knowledge of the was like that of any other objective science. Girindrashekhar had a mental fellowship of the experienced directly. Some of the Rishis did inner world. In that way, a psychologist (also Freud did not believe in intuition, divination and Rishis of the Upanisads. not stop here. At this point they shifted their search from experience of the inner world of psychoanalyst) pursues Sattvik knowledge, but revelation. According to him, those "may safely Unlike Freud, Girindrashekhar in his mind; from experience of the objective world a psychiatrist is after Rajas activity be reckoned as illusions, fulfillment of wishful endeavour to search for truth crossed, like the to the experience of the subjective world of (Girindrashekhar; 1948). As pure psychology impulses." He was an atheist. He considered ancient Indian Rishis, the boundary of empirical the ego; from the world of empirical logical opens the door to inner knowledge, antarmukhi religion as the worst enemy of psychoanalysis, methods. Along with scientific observation and inference to the world of meditation or direct jnana, Vivekananda describes as the 'Science though he confessed that his conclusion was experiment and logical inference he embraced experience in intuition. This is Upanisadic of Sciences' (1963). based on the scrutiny of common man's empathy, intuition in meditation. In this respect meditation (or Nididhyasan). Girindrashekhar religion of the West (1933). he followed the rules as prescribed in the T.G. Vaidyanathan (1999) writes in his ' says in 'The Yoga-sutras' :"The ego therefore, Girindrashekhar stands just at the opposite Brihadaranyaka Upanisad; it is stated there Introduction' to the book 'Vishnu on Freud's was the greatest entity. Everything in the pole of Freud. Like Freud he also was not a (2/5/5) :"lt is the Self that should be seen, Desk':"Bose has, in fact, serious claims to be outside physical and inside mental world was philosopher in its technical sense, (but in India heard of, reflected on and meditated upon. regarded as one of early pioneers of the apprehended by the ego. The objective almost everybody is a practicing philosopher). Verily, by the seeing of, by the hearing of, by discipline of psychoanalysis after Freud's reference to the outside world was ultimately In spite of that, for our convenience if we the thinking of, by the understanding of the pathbreaking discovery of the unconscious in dropped all together and it was appreciated want to give him any epistemological mark, Self, all this is known" (Radhakrisnan's the 1890s." he further stales:"Yet, Bose was that the experience of the ego was the only we can describe him as a rationalist with an translation). It is found that sense experience, by no means a blind follower of Freud. He reality. The subjective reference entirely idealist bearing. Again he was not an atheist logical thinking, discussion along with was too deeply rooted in Hindu spiritual and superseded the objective one." Ultimately the and was not against religion. But his religion meditation have been accepted as method for philosophical lore for that, having already by Rishi in his meditation (Nididhyasan) came to was not religion of rituals and search for an search for knowledge of the Self. then published a translation of Patanjali's realize that the Ego or Self is synonymous to omnipotent father figure (god) who would fulfill Yogasutras. He differed, loo, from Freud on Brahman or pure consciousness or Ananda. the earthly desires and protect when in danger. In his 'Yoga-sutras' Girindrashekhar some of the basic cultural assumptions of Here we find the root of Girindrashckhar's Religion to him was a search for knowledge elaborates with utmost lucidity the psychological psychoanalysis." Another writer in the book idea of the theoretical ego or pure ego which and experience of the Absolute or Infinite, pursuit of the Upanisadic Rishis for ultimate mentioned above, Christiane Hartnack, in her he describes in his 'A New Theory of Mental pursuit for a mystic experience. In this regard truth. They did not follow any obscure method. article speaks of'Bose's Indianization of Life' as: "The ego that I would posit for the he says in his 'The Yoga-sutras':"l now come They never started with any preconceived psychoanalytic Therapy" (1999). purposes of the theory of opposite wish may to that important class of persons who seek transcendental idea about Brahman or self. be called the theoretical ego. Generally In order to understand the above god because a thirst for knowledge. The motive They proceeded as per the laws of human speaking it may be said to be the hypothetical phenomena we require to scrutinise several here is exactly like that of a scientific worker mind on the basis of their unsophisticated sense entity which maintains the continuity of mental fundamental differences in basic conviction, who wants to discover a law of nature or who experience. The Rishis were searching for the experience both conscious and unconscious outlook and world-view between Freud and wants to test the validity of an assertion by greatest truth, which they named Brahman, during all times; to speak figuratively it is the Girindrashekhar, from which the divergences another scientist. Scientific curiosity has thus meaning the Greatest. Girindrashekhar says:"lf thread which keeps the individual beads being in 'basic cultural assumptions of been recognized by the Gita as a legitimate the Rishis ultimately came upon such an feel that there is a sharp contrast between the psychoanalysis' arise between the two. motive for the search for the Godhead." He obscure entity as Brahman it was only because this enquiry logically and quite naturally and subject and A object, between the ego and the Though Freud was not a philosopher in its considers those wise persons who already feel inevitably led him to this point," alter-ego, between the experience!" and the technical sense, yet, his epistemological position the presence of God are of highest category; Girindrashekhar elaborates further that the experienced. It is the average man's T that or leaning, if we want to categorize him for that is who have mystic experience are truly Rishis in his experience of the outer world feels the continuity of experience and the the advantage of our understanding, his position religious. In an attempt to make his stand point

32 3_3 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA AMARENDRANATH BASU GIRINDRASHEKHAR BOSE: ONE OF THE LAST 'MOHICANS' OF COLONIAL INDIA strivings of life. It is the great reservoir of all He believed in the panpsychism of reality Freud and Indian thoughts as a whole. It is physical parallelism may be traced, I think, in wishes both conscious and unconscious. It according to which all substances have their very striking that in Freud's biographies, written the Upanisadic aphorisms such as:" (know includes within itself the Freudian ego, the id latent psychic aspects which can affect our by renowned persons, we do not find any that) all this, whatsoever moves in this moving and the super-ego, in fact, all manifestations consciousness. It is like philosopher Spinozo's presence of Girindrashekhar Bose in spite of world, is enveloped by God" (Isopanisad; I.I.), of mental life. It harbours within itself panpsychism. Everything is both mental and their academic correspondence for a long "verily, the whole world is Brahman" contradictory elements that may come into physical. By it, he explains in his 'Concept of period of time, not to speak of interaction or (Chhandogya Upanisad; 246) and "you are conflict with one another, and still it usually Repression', the relationship between mind and encounter with any other Indian thoughts. Prof. woman, you are man, you are the youth and maintains the unity that constitutes personality." body as relationship of psychophysical T.G. Vidyanathan comments in his introduction the maiden too" (Svetasvatara Upanisad ; 57; parallelism. And thereby he explained how drug, to the book 'Vishnu on Freud's Desk': "But Translation by Radhakrishnan). The ultimate Girindrashekhar mentions his deep a material substance, affects mind and alas! India remains the least favoured reality Brahman is said to encompass conviction in pure consciousness without reversebly how mental phenomena affect body. destination for Freud's biographers even now." everything, includes all objects, all opposites reference to any 'context', as pure Every mental event has its counterpart in Was it possible that to Freud Indian heritage find their place in that; all the contradictions consciousness is the 'context' of everything. physical event and vice versa. Alcohol affects always remained almost a closed area in spite merge and coalesce in it. The basic opposition He says in 'The Yoga-sutras': "But the pure our consciousness through its psychic of the fact that Remain Rolland tried to draw in human mind is found between in its opposite consciousness of the Rishis is no imaginary counterpart. Similarly he explains the efficacy his attention to it? This needs to be investigated wishes of masculinity and femininity. But concept. It is to be realized in actual experience of psychotherapy. But according to him the with an open and scholarly mind. ultimately they get merged in one entity. Here, by ardent effort. I have only made an attempt term 'psychotherapy' is a misnomer, because too, lies the root of bisexuality. In the here to arrive at it intellectually. It took one Girindrashekhar's panpsychism derived the speeches and words arc, strictly speaking, Brihadaranyaha Upanisad it is said (1/4/3) :"H.e hundred and one years of hard meditation on from Upanisadic thoughts, led him to formulate nothing but physical agencies. It is very difficult (Brahman) became as large as a woman and the part of India, as the story goes, to realize the theories of opposite wishes. Physical and to distinguish between psychic remedy and a man in close embrace. He caused that self this pure consciousness which is identical with mental are the two aspects of the one ultimate physical remedy. The so-called psychical stimuli to fall into two parts. From that arose husband Brahma. The search for Brahma thus reality, which according to Vedanta is non-dual. affect our consciousness through the medium and wife. Therefore, as Yajnavalkya used to essentially turns out to be a pure psychological The same energy manifests in both physical of sense organs. There is no real antagonism say, this (body) is one half of oneself, like one problem," (Here he refers to the story of and mental level. He deduced from his between two modes of treatment physical and of the two halves of a split pea" (Translation encounter between Indra, the disciple, and psychophysical parallelism the following psychological. It is only our failure that we do by Radhakrishnan). All these Upanisadic Prajapati, the Guru (teacher) of Chhandyogya corollaries: not appreciate the real import of the two concepts, in course of time, gave rise to the Upanisad). He asserts that the experience of systems. 1. "Energy is indestructible" puranic concept of Ardhanariswar image pure consciousness can be had through the [image having half god (Shiva) and half methods of Yoga. The experiencer is lost in 2. "Actions and reactions are equal and Though Freud did not agree with many of goddess (Gauri) ]. Girindrashekhar took it as one unitary experience in it. He further states opposite" the conceptual ideas of Girindrashekhar, yet the emblem of Indian psychoanalytical society that he himself and some other persons under he appreciated it highly with a desire for its 3. "An energy continues to manifest itself in representing opposite wishes of masculinity and certain psychological laboratory came to the future study and expected its high prospect. the same way unless it is impressed on by femininity in perfect resolution. According to conclusion that pure consciousness would be He commented on the book "Concept of other energy" him "hate is not at all a primary feeling" possible as described by the Rishis. Experience Repression' in a letter to Girindrashekhar dated (Concept of Repression). When there is a of pure consciousness can be had in any type 4. "An energy is not affected by another 20.2.1922:"Dr. Bose has singled out the friction between two contradictory types of of deep introspection or meditation on any energy unless the two have elements of concept of repression for his inquiry and love there arises hale. Hate exists there where subject, e.g., in the pursuit of science. Freud identity." treating this theoretical matter has provided us there is a possibility of relationship of love. agreed that it might be possible through the 5. "The energy that can neutralise another with precious suggestion and intense motives Hence fear cannot be at all primary. When a process of Yoga, but he did not dare to go to energy is of the same nature but has the for further study. Dr. Bose is aiming at a wish is repressed the wish itself is transformed that extreme as his "aims are less extreme'— opposite sign." philosophical evolution and elaboration of our into fear. We do not hate anything unless there he confessed in the 'Civilization and its crude, practical concepts and I can only wish, 6. "The transformation of energy is only is a possibility of its opposite can be realised. discontents-II and to Prof. S.N.Dasgupta in a psychoanalysis should soon reach up to the possible on the ground of fundamental unity The resolution of the conflict between the discussion (Dasgupta; 1941). level, to which he strives to raise it." But alas! between the different types." opposite wishes is realised in a relationship or There are other facets of Girindrashekhar's Freud's wish was not fulfilled. Unfortunately, The roots of Girindrashekhar's act or symbol where both the wishes find their belief which did not corroborate with Freud's. there was lack of proper interaction between panpsychism and consequently of psycho- place in a perfect harmony. In this regard he

3 4 3 5 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA AMARENDRANATH BASU GIRINDRASHEKHAR BOSE: ONE OF THE LAST 'MOHICANS' OF COLONIAL INDIA mentions the significance of the obsessive they together form the unitary whole. Similarly, Thus, it appears that Girindrashekhar had speak of his simple life style on a par with the attachment to the mystic numbers 1,2 and 3. Dharitrimata is the psychic counterpart of the an all comprehensive view of the universe, then prevailing nationalistic spirit. The conflict between 1st and 2nd is resolved earth. Due to the presence of this psychic which encompassed both material and spiritual, in the 3rd. This is a monistic approach. So reality in.them patriotism and universal Ladies and Gentleman! I have just made a and naturally this world-view influenced his long there is dualism there is conflict. Only in brotherhood were roused so easily among very brief and scrappy outline of the facts of psychoanalytic concepts. Whereas Freud oneness all contradictions or conflicts are Indian people in the colonial period. Girindrashekhar's loyalty to the spirit of declined to assign any such comprehensive resolved. Here we get a proper justification of nationalism in colonial period of our country Girindrashekhar had firm conviction in the view of the universe to psychoanalysis. the thoughts of Hegelian and Marxian theory which was a fall-out of Indian renaissance. It Indian concept of rebirth. He says in the Freudian method has to follow, like other of dialectics where the conflict between the needs more investigation to find out its 'Yoga-sutras':"In the yoga-sutras it is asserted objective sciences, scrappy point of view 1st and 2nd gets resolved in the 3rd step, i.e., complete picture. May I call upon our young that when one attains sarnadhi or engrossment restricted to its own area of investigation. the conflict between the thesis and anti-thesis colleagues to undertake that scared duty? It is by fixed concentration of the mind on the Girindrashekhar made bold attempt, following is resolved in the synthesis. The conflict of sacred because it is a legacy of Indian memory impressions one gets a direct the paths of Upanisads, to unite the subjective duality gets resolved in non-duality (oneness). renaissance and of national movement for knowledge of one's previous births. There is and objective, into a unitary whole or oneness Unlike Freud, Girindrashekhar had been always independence that was generated in colonial no reason to suppose that the sages deliberately of pure consciousness. period. In the present age of globalisation India a Monist, a Vedantic non-dualist. indulged in false assertions to mislead us. Girindrashekhar's loyalty to the spirit of has something to contribute to the common Girindrashekhar believed in the Rebirth is not an impossible phenomenon." He, colonial nationalism was not only restricted to pool of world-knowledge. Girindrashekhar has apauruseyatva (non-human) of the Vedas, i.e., unlike Freud, explains the laws of rebirth, his scientific pursuit, it also overflowed to shown us the path in the area of psychology the Vedas are not the product of human Karma (law of action) and heredity by the other aspects of life. Actually his total and psychoanalysis. Let us take over the flag intelligence, the belief with which Freud would assumption of the function of subtle body, i.e., personality was anchored at the spirit of from him, the one of the last soldiers who kept not have agreed at all. According to the functional mental unit or psychic nationalism. He had an intense love for his it high in the colonial period, like the last of the Girindrashekhar, "just as the facts of counterpart of the body. Mind according to mother tongue. He expressed his sentiment in Mohicans. It is the combined legacy of our observation in physics and chemistry are Indian thought is material, through a very subtle a reply to a request to write his scientific national awakening and of Girindrashekhar's independent of the intelligence of truthful matter which can act on the gross body. In article in English. He said that if his writings achievement m psvchocUiHlvsis observers so the human passions, cravings and this regard he cites the works of Sir Jagadish were of any merit those would be translated impressions recorded in the Vedas and the Chandra Bose, physicist and botanisl, on plant in English by others; no Englishman would We arc at a distance of half a century Upanisads may be described as independent life. The fact that a plant responds to stimuli write his articles in Bengali for the benefit of from our national awakening, and it is fifty of the intellect of their unbiased observers" and produces impulses can be explained only the Bengalee (Scngupta; The Statesman; years since Girindrashekhar passed away. A (Yoga-sutras). Again, he justified the Hindu by the assumption ol the existence ol a 1987). He wrote most of his books and legacy of this type sustains degeneration for scheme of and belief in the pantheon of 'functional nerve' system in its body. The idea articles in Bengali. Recently a book in Bengali sometime due to its inherent momentum it innumerable gods and goddesses. According of 'functional nerve' system differs from language titled 'Agranthita Girindrashekhar', gathered during its period of creation. But it to panpsychism it is said that the gods and 'structural nerve' system; though the former's a collection of Girindrashekhar's Bengali cannot last forever, how much forceful it might goddesses are nothing but psychic counterpart presence cannot be shown under the articles not published in book form earlier, be. It declines, unless it is constantly reinforced of the objects. Hence, every object of the microscope, yet its idea helps to explain many compiled and edited by a medical person and developed creativity to suit the changing universe, each sense organ of the human body, biological riddles. The yoga system, likewise, practising in psychiatry, Amit Basu, includes circumstances. The onus lies with the younger has its respective god and goddess. The assumes the presence of several Chakras several photographs of Girindrashekhar which workers. Sanskrit word Devata (God) means illuminating (circular spots) in different parts of the human or shining. Every object, every Indriya (sense body and the presence of Ida and Pingala (two organ) has the capacity inherent in it either to nerves) in the spinal cord which are also References receive from an object into consciousness. In 'functional'. They carry on their function of the colonial period or nationalism or Swadeshi transmitting energy from Muladhar Chakra to BOSE, G. (1921). Concept of Repression (1935). Puranpravesh (in Bengali) sentiment, India, our Mother-land came to be Sahasrar Chakra. Girindrashekhar had firm worshipped as Mother-India (Bharatrnata), the conviction in the efficacy of yoga system (1920). The Yoga-sutra VAIDYANATHAN, T.G. & KRIPAL, J. (1999). Vishnu on Freud's desk mother-goddess of the birth-land. This whereby the Sadhak (endeavourer) with the (1966). A New Theory of Mental Life Bhartmata, Girindrashekhar explains, is the help of deep concentration of mind can unravel VAIDYANATHAN, T.G. (1999). 'Introduction' of psychic counterpart of our land of birth, and the riddle of any mystery. (1948). Bhagavadgita (in Bengali) the above book

3 6 3 7 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA AMARENDRANATH BASU

HARTNACK, CHRISTIAN!- (1999). Psychoanalysis RADHAKRISHNAN, S. (1994). Principle Upanisads in colonial India BASU, A. (1999). Agranthita Girindrashekhar NARCISSUS AND OEDIPUS: THE CHILDREN OF FRKUD, S. (1933). A Welanschaunting in New (in Bengali) PSYCHOANALYSIS IN RELATIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE Introductory Lectures SWAMI PURNAJMANANDA (1999). Smritir Aloke (1930) Civilization and its discontents Vivekananda: (in Bengali) Nilanjana Sanyal (1921-1937) Bose Freud Correspondence SWAMI VIVKKANANDA (1963). The Importance of Psychology This paper focusses on interpersonal conflicts and alienation as its' CHANDRA, BIPAN (1930) India after Indepence consequence. The present 'unrelatedness' are tearing the concept of assured DASGUPTA, S.N. (1941). An Introduction of stability and happiness in life. Institutions are loosing their values. The basic MAJUMDKR, R.C. (1978). History of Modern Yoga Theory of the Relation of Mind and needs affecting relationships and their manifestations in normal and Bengal Body. pathological context of life, is discussed in the light of two famous Greek myths of 'Narcissus' and 'Oedipus' as adapted by Freud to relate the focal point of 'self centered' and/or 'triangular' or heterosexual orientations in relationship bond.

Augustus audience on doldrums of interpersonal conflicts and consequent alienation. The dark patches of It is not only my privilege, but a responsibility unrelatedness are tearing the concept of as a disciple of psychoanalysis to accept this assured stability and happiness in life. The offer of delivering 'Girindrasekhar Memorial socio-political context faces the venomous Lecture' and be present here today to honour poison of secularism drawing its root from the decision of its members and humbly avail individual-familial context of these relationship this opportunity of expressing my deepest troubles. To usher in a new era of peace and respect to the most enigmatic legendary father harmony and from psychoanalytical perspective figure psychoanalyst—great Dr. Girindra an era of patience and tolerance in terms of Sckhar Bose. emotional maturity, the folds of 'Relationship' I dedicate this lecture to my 'relationship' phenomenon needs a relevant review. with 'psychoanalysis' -the most sustenant Relationships enable us, first, to meet our discipline of life and to my relationship with need to maintain and improve a standard of my professors—the predecessor analysts of life which is acceptable to us and secondly, to this 'society'. I offer my deepest respect and have freedom of action, whether our gratitude to them all and am genuinely relationship with somebody is based on power, acknowledging their contribution in my life to give-and-take or love (Lake, 1981). We have develop 'real' relationship with not only a always been materially and emotionally segmented group of psychologists and dependent upon one another. Most of our psychoanalysts, but also with the panoramic ancestors lived in small, unchanging canvas of psychology as a subject and hence communities, and met few strangers. They to the spreaded wings of life as such with all grew up knowing personally almost everybody its inmates whom I met or with and about they would need throughout their lives. It was whom I conceived life in my fantasies. safe for them to assume that what they learned The current world has continuous counts about relationships as children would serve

Prof. (Dr.) Nilanjana Sanyal, Head, Department of Psychology, Calcutta University. This lecture was delivered as 29th Girindrasekhar Memorial Lecture' on 10th April 2004.

3_9 3 8 _ SAMIKSA SAMIKSA NILANJANASANYAL NARCISSUS AND OEDIPUS : THE CHILDREN OF PSYCHOANALYSIS IN RELATIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE them well until they died. Today that on their perception of the rewards they receive contexts of life would be discussed in the light psychology school, view early development as assumption is no longer valid. There are more from the relationships and their perception of of several different theoretical formulations. proceeding from an undifferentiated, objectless people in the world and we travel more widely. the costs they incur, as well as their perception The basic frame would be drawn on the two and narcissistic stage, through a transitional The organizations we work for are more of what kind of relationship they deserve and Greek myths of 'Narcissus' and 'Oedipus' as stage, to the establishment of true object complicated, the communities we live in are the probability that, they could have a better adopted by Freud to relate the focal points of relations some time after eight months of age. bigger and some of our institutions—notably relationship with someone else. In other words, 'self-centered' and/or 'triangular' or Psychoanalysts, of the object relations school marriage- are less stable. We need to go on we buy the best relationship we can get, one heterosexual orientations in relationship bond. like Balint, Fairbairn, Klein, Winnicott and that gives us the most value for our emotional others have developed the relational aspect of learning about relationships all our lives and According to Freud (1940), the child currency. The basic concepts of social Freud's ideas. They regard the infant's tie to can no longer rely upon an immature and develops relationships with others when the exchange theory are reward, cost, outcome the mother as primary, but usually emphasise uninformed response to the people around us. demands and frustrations imposed by the and comparison level (Second and Backman, that the first attachment is to a part object, If we deliberately improve our understanding external world and the limitations of his inner 1964). Rewards are the positive, gratifying particularly the mother's breast. The new-born of relationships, we can become more resources force him to seek satisfaction and aspects of the relationship that make it is not capable of whole object relations and adaptable, miss fewer opportunities to have an comfort from without. Only then does the child worthwhile and reinforcing. All friendships and has no idea of person constancy. In contrast interesting and happy life and use more of our become social and at all concerned with the romantic relationships have some costs to the Freudian theories of an early narcissistic, abilities to greater effect. well or ill-being of others. To him, the new- attached to them-—the outcome of the passive, objectless stage, many of the object- born infant is like one asleep in a primal state While there are many different kinds of relationship is a direct comparison of its relations theorists stress the infant's of absolute narcissism. From this comfortable relationships, we are mostly concerned in the rewards and costs and comparison level relates inlentionality and his contribution to the quality enclosure, which is sustained by the brooding ones involving our husband or wife, our parents, to one's expectation level in a relationship. If of the first relationship. The whole process of mother's warmth, the baby extends feelers into children, brothers or sisters, friends, colleagues a given relationship doesn't match this such analyses needs deeper probing to unfurl the outside world 'much as the body of an or neighbours. Together we belong to the expected comparison level, they will be the dynamics of relationship bonds. At this amoeba is related to the pseudopodia which it groups and organizations such as families, unhappy and unsatisfied. In contrast, people juncture of heavy weighted theoretical concepts puts out' (Freud, 1914, p.75). Amoebae, 'those institutes and neighbourhoods where most of who have a low comparison level would be let us take a tread on a lighter mood of simplest of livings organisms... put out our activities take place. In relationship happy in the same relationship, because they reviewing the relevant myths. protrusions, known as pseudopodia, into which parlance, it is often easier to see the expect relationships to be difficult and costly they cause the substance of their body to flow differences between these relationships, rather (Aronson. Wilson and Akert. 1997). The myth of Narcissus- -Narcissus was than the similarities. Some go smoothly, while over" (Freud, 1916-17, p.4 I 6). These a thespian, the son of the blue nymph Lei nope The way we relate to others is seen in others generate anger or anxiety. Some are elongations into which the substance of the whom the River God Cephisus had once terms of simple economic theory. Each person with people we like, others with people we body extends... can be retracted at any time encircled with the windings of his streams and is at the centre of a system of resources, a feel indifferent towards or dislike. Because so that the form of the protoplasmic mass is ravished. She gave birth to a child with whom 'mini-economy' of which he is the manager. each individual is unique, it seems as if each restored (Freud, 1917, p. 139). According to one could have fallen in love even in his cradle He can obtain what he wants only by relationship is different. In each relationship him (1940, p. 150) Throughout the whole of and she called him Narcissus. Even as a child increasing the value of the resources in his set, each individual has his own reasons why life the ego remains the great reservoir from anyone might excusably have fallen in love system. Positive feelings tell him when his a particular relationship is important to him. which libidinal cathexes are sent out to objects with him and when he reached the age of value is increasing and negative feelings when In fact it is difficult to imagine a world without and into which they are also once more sixteen, his path was strewn with heartlessly his value is decreasing. Amidst the intricacies relationships or the benefits of relating to other withdrawn, just as an amoeba behaves with its rejected lovers of both sexes, for he had a of relationship formation, as a result of early people. The background against which to see pseudopodia'. Freud's ideation hints that stubborn pride in his own beauty. Echo, the training or fixation of libidinal energy at certain relationships, therefore, is that of human need. relationship most probably is endogenous talkative nymph, fell in irresistible love with developmental stage, people often react to or process initially, where absorption of outer Narcissus and stealthily followed him through The simple notion that relationships operate ignore their feelings and respond to a set of reality is done by the developing child in its the pathless forest to be near him. She was on an economic model of costs and benefits, unconscious needs called the 'hidden agenda' own way. Later on development occurs ruthlessly rejected by him. She spent the rest much like the market place, has been expanded that colour their basic relationship formats in through an interpersonal process of mutual of her life in lonely glens and pined away for by psychologists and sociologists into complex later years. In the present discussion, the differentiation and individuation out of a love and mortification till she died. theories of 'Social Exchange'. Such theory psychoanalytic source of these hidden agenda primary attachment bond. states that how people feel (positively or or basic needs affecting relationship and their One day, Narcissus sent a sword to Some Freudians, particularly of the ego negatively) about their relationships will depend manifestations in normal and pathological Ameinius, his most insistent suitor, after whom

40 41 SAMlKSA SAMIKSA NILANJANASANYAL NARCISSUS AND OEDIPUS : THE CHILDREN OF PSYCHOANALYSIS IN RELATIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE the river Ameinius is named, it is a tributary of ultimately he plunged a dagger in his breast the river Helisson, which flows into the and as he gazed into the familiar waters said Using the concept of 'Narcissus Myth', in held to characterise human beings from the Alpheius. Ameinius killed himself on Narcissus' his last words 'Ah youth, beloved in vain, psychoanalytical tune, the origin of the child's cradle to grave (Bowlby, 1976, p.203). Such threshold, calling on the gods to take revenge farewell', and expired. He laid down his weary tie to the mother, as initial relationship bond theories, while agreeing on the one hand, that on Narcissus for his treatment to both of his head on the green grass and death closed the can be explained in the light of two sets of the neonate does not have a concept of person admirers and of the spirits of the waters and eyes which so admired their owner's beauty. theories (1) Attachment Theory (Bowlby, constancy and, on the other, that he is an active the woods. 'May he himself fall in love with 1958) and (2) Object Relation Theory being capable of initiating responses in other Freud took this popular myth and (Balint, 1969, Klein, 1952, Winnicott, 1957a). people, differs over the importance of the another, as we have done, with him! May he constructed a theory of 'primary narcissism' too be unable to gain his loved one?' Unlike dependency relations, both attachments breast relationship and stresses the nature of which was pivotal to his theories of child and object-relations refer to the affectional ties the 'interaction' between the mother and the Artemis heard the plea, and made Narcissus development and adult pathology. In between one person and another 'specific' infant, Hence, interpersonal interaction is fall in love, though denying him love's relationship perspective, an interesting individual. Whereas dependency implies non- stressed from the beginning of life. Dr. consummation. At Donacan in Thespia he came connection, observed by Freud, has been specificity, transience, immaturity and Bowlby's view, the primary function of upon a spring, clear as silver and never yet drawn between narcissistic self-love and an helplessness, object-relations and attachments attachment and the reciprocal maternal disturbed by cattle, birds, wild beasts or even impoverished sense of self that affect self are enduring, extremely discriminating and behaviour is the protection of the infant from by branches dropping off the trees that shaded image as well as relationship patterns with bridge gaps in space and time. They are not predators. It is viewed that without a secure it, and as he cast himself down, exhausted, on others. For many of us, the wish to love and incompatible with independence and maturity. attachment, exploration tends to have a the grassy verge to slake his thirst, he fell in to be loved by another remains unfulfilled. At Attachment theory stresses the long term detached, restless and hyperactive quality. love with his reflection. While he sought to the same time, our efforts towards self- nature of attachments, their strong positive Inherent in such a theory, is the notion that the quench his thirst, another thirst grew in him sufficiency seem equally vain. Both endeavours affect and their pervasive effect on other first infant-mother relationships creates that and as he drank, he was enchanted by the lead to isolation, flaming the query in the form behaviors. Although in all three of these, structure which governs later attachments. beautiful reflection that he saw. He fell in love of 'How can I love, be loved and yet be self relationships, the importance of the earliest Ainsworth and her colleagues (1978) with an insubstantial hope, mistaking a mere possessed?' Freud's clinical observations exchanges between mother and infant is identified three types of relationships between shadow for a real body. As he lay on the bank, together with psychoanalytic model of stressed, nevertheless dependency relations are infants and their mothers. Infants with a he gaz.ed at the twin stars that were his eyes, development stressed the relational nature of conceived of as, secondary to the mother's secure attachment style typically have at his flowing locks, his smooth cheeks, his the Greek myth of Narcissus and Echo. We gratification of the infant's basic drives, such caregivers who are responsive to their needs ivory neck, his lovely face where a rosy flush are told about the relationship between a as hunger and warmth. and who show positive emotions when stained the snowy whiteness of his complexion, sixteen-year old youth, Narcissus, and his lover- interacting with them. These infants trust their admiring all the features for which he was admirer, Echo. This adolescent relationship is The distinction between attachment theory caregivers, are not worried about being himself admired. Unwillingly, he desired himself, grounded in the early relationship between the and object relations theory is more subtle. abandoned and view themselves as worthy and and was himself the object of his own approval, infant Narcissus in his cradle and his mother Infact object-relations theory provides a bridge well liked. Infants with an avoidant at once seeking and sought, himself kindling Leiriopc. The term narcissism thus describes between Freudian drive theory and attachment style typically have caregivers the flame with which he burned. At first he a love-relationship. In the light of this contemporary attachment theory. Although in who are aloof and distant, rebuffing the infant's tried to embrace and kiss the beautiful boy interpretation, the later relationship between his later works, Freud stressed the enduring attempts to establish intimacy. These infants who confronted him. He did not know what Narcissus and Echo might serve to illustrate importance of the infant-mother tie, his desire to be close to their caregivers but learn he was looking at, but was fired by the sight, some of the pathologies which result when an emphasis on orality, the drive theory and the to suppress this need, as if they know that and excited by the illusion that deceived his early, unconditionally admiring relationship is libido theory, tended to obscure the primacy attempts to be intimate will be rejected. Infants eyes. Presently he recognised himself, and lay perpetuated. Echo is a young woman 'who which he also accorded to attachment bond. with an anxious/ambivalent attachment gazing enraptured into the pool, hour after hour, always answers back' and Narcissus a young Attachment theory of Bowlby (1969): style typically have caregivers who are telling himself 'I am in love, and see my loved man who spurns the admirers who pursue him. Attachment behaviour in Bowlby's inconsistent and overbearing in their affections. one, but that form which 1 see and love, 1 Echo is trapped in a primitive relationship of formulations, is conceived as any form of These infants are unusually anxious, because cannot reach'. My love himself desires to be mirroring and echoing in which she cannot behaviour that results in a person attaining or they can never predict when and how their embraced: for whenever I lean forward to kiss initiate dialogue, it would seem, it is this type retaining, proximity to some other differentiated caregivers will respond to their needs. The the clear waters he lifts up his face to mine of fused relationship from which Narcissus and preferred individual, who is usually key assumption of attachment theory is that and strives to reach me. But only a little water seeks unsuccessfully to free himself and conceived as stronger and/or wiser. While the particular attachment style we learn as keeps us apart. Grief was destroying him and thereby 'came to know himself. specially evident during early childhood, it is infants and young children stays with us

42 SAMIKSA 43 SAMIKSA NILANJANA SANYAL NARCISSUS AND OEDIPUS : THE CHILDREN OF PSYCHOANALYSIS IN RELATIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE

throughout life and generalises all of our These early relationships are a primary Identification presupposes some notion of seeming misfortune was a blessing, because relationships with other people. determinant of our personality and the quality linking. Linking depends upon a sense of any child born to Jocasta would become his of our interpersonal functioning (Hutchison, continuity, of bridging, which arises in the murderer. In Aeschylus's play, Lains is told, Attachment theory emphasises different 2003). Gradually we acquire the capacity to context of holding. Linking precedes both "Do not beget a child; for if you do, that child patterns of behaviour to those conceptualised form trusting attachments with others. This is introjection and projection, that is both will kill you'. Lains therefore, put Jocasta in psychoanalysis by reference to the oral, anal, known as object constancy, stable object incorporation and evaluation. For Winnicott, away, though without offering any reason for phallic and genital stages and their respective relations result in our ability to form stable linking represents the earliest holding his decision, which caused her such vexation contributions to the development of object- relationships. relationship, for Balint, the mental idea of linking that having made him drunk, she inveigled him relations. A primary attachment behaviour is represents the mutual interdependence of into her arms again as soon as night fall. grasping, the development of which in the early, Klein (1952) was perhaps the first analyst mother and infant. In object-relation theory When nine months later, Jocasta was brought synchronous stage of relationships may mark to focus upon the infant's active contribution context, narcissistic pathology results not from to bed of a son, Lains snatched him from the an important step in the individuation process. to the earliest relationship and to allocate to disruptions in the primary affectional bond nurse's arms, pierced his feet with a nail and, Freud tended to emphasise the 'narcissistic' him a substantial degree of autonomy. The between mother and infant to which the binding them together, exposed him on Mount gratifications in the child's achievement of negativity in a child, she describes does not mother contributes, but from envious and Citacron. Yet the Fates had ruled that this boy motor skills. This achievement afforded by a take the form of a passive withdrawal or even omnipotent attacks made by the infant upon should reach a green old age. A Corinthian successful grasp is, a differentiation away from of a homeostatic organisation in order to the link between his mother and himself. Balint Shepherd found him, and brought him to synchronous and mirroring interactions. For it reproduce the lost-intrauterine state, it takes (1969) opines that primary object-love is not Corinth King Polybus. King was childless and is the baby's successful grasp of an object an active form as the infant projects his pain oral, anal and/or genital. It is not linked, to the gladly welcomed the infant and adopted it as which inserts the outside world into the intense, and anxiety into the mother. The function acts erotogenic zones, 'but is something on its own'. his own, giving it the name of Oedipus largely exclusive play between himself and his as a container to the infant's pain and her (swollen-foot) in commiseration for its painful The idea of a primary affectional bond and mother (Bowlby, 1958). In the Greek myth, main function is to modulate the persecutor)' treatment. the death of Narcissus coincides with the failed nature of his existence. of an intense, loving relationship between grasp. He does not die because he falls in love mother and infant was and still today, novel to Oedipus grew to manhood, the honoured Kernberg and Rosenfeld (1964, pp.332-337) with himself, but because he falls in love with the psychoanalytic theory of early infancy. prince of Corinth and loved foster son of have studied narcissism as it relates to the a phantasm—his mirror image which is Bowlby and Balint's view of infant-mother those whom he supposed to be his true first object relationship in the construction of ungraspable. The narcissistic relationship is attachment thus can be seen as a development parents. But by chance he came to hear, which the infant takes an active part. Balint's static, it abhors change and can end only of one of Freud's ideas of a state ol primary again from the mouth of Apollo's ministers, (1969) concept of primary love refers to an through its own destruction. union between the infant and his surroundings the terrible prediction concerning him. Again, infant-parent relationship based upon a mutual and as a variant of object-relations theory—a as his parents had done, he sought to give lie Object relation theories—The basic interdependence of the two. Balint's point is variant, however, which emphasises the to the oracle. He fled from Corinth, resolved assumption of object relations theory is that all that the infant's early mental life is formed in positive, harmonious and interdependent nature never again to set on his supposed father and people naturally seek relationships with other the context of a relationship. The environment of the relationship in general canvas of life. mother as long as they lived. His wanderings people. The term object relations is to which the infant relates, which is optimally brought him to Thebes where now all was Now once again we would move to the synonymous with interpersonal relations. An harmonious and continuous, might be called in calamity and confusion. King Lains had been second context of another significant object is another person but may also be the Winnicott's (1960, pp. 48-49) terms 'the holding killed by an unknown traveller on a lonely psychoanalytic myth—the Oedipus, in order mental image of a person that we have function of the mother'. Taking off from road; the city was in the grip of a deadly to draw its implications in our relationship incorporated into our psychological selves. This Balint's concept of 'primary love', Rosenfeld monster, the sphinx, who pitted her ferocity context. is a psychodynamic theory of human ultimately argues that object-relatedness is against the units of man, destroying all who development that considers our ability to form characteristic of the most primitive state of The Oedipus myth—In some version of failed to answer her cunning riddle, and none lasting attachments with others to be based on infancy delineated by the concept of primary this much interpreted myth we are told that could answer it. But in Oedipus the creature early experiences of separation from and narcissism. He claims that primary narcissism even before Oedipus was born, his life was met her match. He answered her riddle and connection with our primary caregivers. We may be incorporated into object-relations clouded with the presage of disaster for destroyed her power and so was received internalise our early relationship patterns, theory, through the concepts of infantile Apollo's oracle had nothing but ill to foretell joyfully into Thebes as her king and heir to meaning that our first relationships make such omnipotence and part object-relations. He also of him. Lains, who was grieved by his the house and fortune, a happy man, a wise an impression on us that they determine how points out that identification is an important prolonged childlessness, secretly consulted the and resourceful man and (save for one sharp, we approach relationships from that point on. feature in narcissistic object-relations. Delphic oracle which informed him that this encounter on his journey from Corinth to

44 45 SAMIKSA SAMlKSA NILANJANA SANYAL NARCISSUS AND OEDIPUS : THE CHILDREN OF PSYCHOANALYSIS IN RELATIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE

Thebes) a man of peace. He married Jocasta immediate. Words may wound or soothe but and third, an effect of environmental bond between the child and parents opens up and sons and daughters were born to them. they do not physically strike or stroke. influences. the vistas for 'objective' self in having realistic adjustment in life. In these tales, the point is There passed some fifteen years of Freud brought the myth of Oedipus to the Freud said that the Oedipus complex offers made that the fold is not enough. However, seeming prosperity. But beneath the deceptive notice of the general public and the the child only two possibilities of satisfaction: 'good', mother is not the world. A symbiotic or surface a hideous depth of shame and infancy psychoanalytic world through his formulation one, the identification with one parent and two, narcissistic child need not ask questions. of the 'Oedipus Complex'. The complex the relinquishment of the other. The child who lay concealed. The gods could no longer brook Externality does not exist. Such a child remains maps out the vicissitudes of triangular wishes to replace one parent and to set up an in silence then affront of Oedipus' unwilling contained within the maternal space. Perhaps, relationships which have their origins in the exclusive relationship with the other is sins. Pestilence and famine brought Thebes mother has produced everything in anticipation, relationship between the child and his two compelled to repeat the painful experience once more to the verge of utter extinction. In thereby eliminating the child's formulation of a parents. The child wants to get in between his which he seeks to avoid—the experience of their despair her citizens cried to their king for request. yet more proofs of his infallible resource, and parents. This wish entails the idea that he gets exclusion. Renunciation forces the child from to their gods. Chief among them Apollo, for rid of one parent, so as to enjoy an exclusive the pain of exclusion. A person might get In the Oedipus Rex, the curious young man light and healing in their wretchedness. In the love relationship with the other. The resolution married on an oedipal premise, the primary leaves home to seek out the oracle for himself. course Oedipus came to know his past and of this dilemma has far-reaching implications motive being to get in on an intimacy from Between the riddle and its solution lurk the became full of grief, rage and recourse. The for the child's view of reality. In order to come which he or she has been excluded. But the twin dangers of incest and chastity. The chaste revelation of the part prompted Jocasta, to die to terms with the 'reality principle', he must marriage is a disappointment because the man will not ask the question, he conforms. at her own hand. At the sight of Jocasta's abandon his early attempts to organise the primary wish is not to be with one another The incestuous man will not accept the answer, hanging, Oedipus ripped the brooches from her world about him in accordance with the person but to be part of a couple which is he is a social menace. In the search for novelty, grown and plunged them down into his 'pleasure principle', (Freud, 1911), through ready-made. At about five years of age, the complexity and riddles, for participation in an eyeballs. Despite his strong urge to go through which his selfish or 'narcissistic' wishes and young child, who has been torn by the conflict intellectual world, for the delineation of the banishment, in tune with the oracle, the needs are fulfilled. The Oedipus complex is between his oedipal wishes and his narcissistic area of personal responsibility and projection— miserable but allegiant law-follower, Oedipus resolved or 'dissolved' by a renunciation of attachment to his penis, eventually gives up these issues revolve around the child's stood for truth and justice and acknowledged childish, sexual wishes, which are inherently the 'object-cathexes' which are then 'replaced independent approach to the world This the futility of suicide (Walling, 1947). anti-social and by an 'identification' with the by identifications'. These identifications lead independence in mental frame prompts one to parent of the same sex. The little boy no longer to the formation of the super-ego which is the go for relationships in a matured objective Psychoanalytically the Oedipal phase is wishes to eliminate his father but to be just internalised parental authority. In identification perspective. linked with the age of enquiry and exploration like him. with the father, the boy attempts various sexual which begins when the child is able to crawl The specific use of these two myths was Freud linked the resolution of the Oedipus attacks on his mother but gives these up, under and is well underway when the child takes his to illustrate a particular type of relationship complex with the castration complex. This the threat of castration which has an first steps. This stage progresses with the between the child, the family and the outside entails a renunciation, not only must the child 'extraordinarily' powerful traumatic effect on child's pronouncements of the T and the world. Tragedy may ensue when these give up the fantasy that he can have an him(Freud,1939, p.79). concomitant development of language and his relationships go wrong, but it is not the exclusive relationship with the parent of the use of identity as a secure base for exploration. Hence from all these explorations of necessary outcome of cither the first intense, opposite sex, he must also accept that there is It culminates with the comprehension of the mythical concepts it is well assumed that two-person attachment or oedipal development, an objective order of things, which he will never 'reality principle', which is associated with the relationship bonds have roots in psycho- per se. In open reality, there is most probably, completely understand or control. In some capacity to relate to an order of things outside biological frames of a child. Mythical tales nothing fateful, tragic or condemning about the cases, this realisation is experienced as a the area of subjective control and wishes. In metaphorically offer hints to understand the Oedipus complex, provided that the challenge castration or narcissistic blow. The blow is Sophocles' play, we are told that Oedipus' psychic determinants behind a specific of the riddle is not immersed in deception or to the child's budding feelings of power and downfall is brought about by 'blind deeds'. relationship context in life. In the tales of generative social pollution. Thus with the curiosity and to the satisfactions, gained by Actions are taken because of a lack of 'narcissus' and 'Oedipus' the contributory roots traditional, psychoanalytic models of learning. understanding. The acquisition of language to relationships seem to be bifurcated. In narcissistic and Oedipal stages, it is hard to allows the child to participate in an interpersonal Freud gave several accounts of the origin narcissistic frame, the emphasised self envisage how a healthy and lively child ever world of ideas. The child and his parents are and function of the castration complex. The orientation in relation to mother only indicates gets out of them and progresses. It is also freed from communication through action. The complex is first, an agent of regression or the priority of 'subjective', self, whereas in difficult to see how an infant would break out relationship becomes less intense and destruction, second, a hereditary phenomenon Oedipus complex perspective, the triangular of the mirroring relationship. To do so, one

46 47 SAMIKSA SAMlKSA NARCISSUS AND OEDIPUS : THE CHILDREN OF PSYCHOANALYSIS IN RELATIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE NILANJANASANYAL needs to develop objective emotional maturity from and within social bond, the man becomes WATLING, E.F. (1947). Sophocles the Thiban (1960). The theory of parent-infant enjoying the fruits of sociality, but being little intensely detached and personal. Hence, the Plays. Penguin Books. relationship', in "The Maturational internally detached. developmental shift from narcissistic to object Processes and the Facilitating WINNICOTT, D.W. (1957a). The child and the In psychoanalysis, there is an assumption relation, from symbiotic to accommodative Environment—Studies in the Theory of family: First Relationships, London, that knowledge develops in a context of realistic adaptation leads to ultimate mental Emotional Development, 1965, New York, Tavistock Publications. separation, pain and frustration. This maturity. The obvious repercussions are International University Press, Inc. knowledge helps one to spread the wings of expected in relationship bonds that the man relationship to accommodate significant people picks up in life. Basically thus, a child's around to form a nest of cosy, supposedly explorations flourish not in conditions of comfortable life. Development thus proceeds privation and frustration, but within a secure from intensely social to the personal bond. attachment. The secure child then approaches Separation individuation of attachment bond the external world of multidimensional leading to proper object relations ultimately relationships with an intense and in Einstein's invites attainments of maturity in relation— word 'holy curiosity".

References

AINSWORTH, M.D.S.; BLKHAR, M.C.; WATHRS, (1916-17). Introductory lectures on E. AND WALL, S. (1978). Patterns of psychoanalysis, Part III. Lecture 26, SE 16, attachment: A psychological study of the pp. 412-430. strange situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. (1939). Moses and Monotheism, SE ARONSON, E.; WILSON, T.M.; AND AKERT, R.M. 23, pp. 7-137. (1997). Social psychology, Longman. (1940). An outline of psycho-analysis (1938), SE 23, pp. 144-2()7. BALINT, M. (1969). 'Trauma and Object Relationship', International Journal of HUTCHISON, E.D. (2003). Dimensions of human Psychoanalysis, vol'.50, pp. 429-35. behaviour. 2nd Edition. Sage Publications, New Delhi. BOWLBY, J. (1958). The nature of the child's tie to his mother. International Journal of KLI-IN, M. (1952). 'On observing the behaviour Psychoanalysis, 39, pt.5, 350-373. of young infants', in Klein, M., Heimana, P., Isaacs, S., and Riviere, 1. (1952). BOWLBY, J. (1969). Attachment and Loss. Vol.1, 'Developments in Psycho-analysis', pp. Attachment, The Hogarth Press, London. 237-271, London, The Hogarth press. BOWLBY, J. (1976). 'The making and breaking LAKH, T. (1981). Relationships Michael Joseph, of affectional bonds'. The British Journal London. of Psychiatry, 130, 201-210. RosHNi-HLD, H. (1964). 'On the psychopathology Freud, S. (1911). Formulations on the two of narcissism: a clinical approach'. principles of mental functioning, SE12, pp. International Journal of Psyco-analysis, 45, 215-226. pp. 332-337. (1914). 'On narcissism', SE 14, pp. SHCOND, RE, AND BACKMAN, C.W. (1964). Social 69-102. Psychology, New York: McGraw Hill.

49 48 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA THE DIALOGUE WITH DEATH - A CLASSICAL PSYCHOANALYTICAL APPROACH TO AGGRESSION Sarala Kapoor

It is the fascinating world of unknown that has always attracted me towards Psychoanalysis. In due course of my personal analysis I was quite amazed to find (that) along with libidinal drive, there is also a death and destructive drive which aims clearly at destruction hut ultimately merges in some "unknown" blissful state, which in fact remains indescribable. This Paradox, on the one hand, wishing to live and on the other hand wishing to destroy the object of love and the self together, needs to be understood at scientific level. It is undoubtedly a very difficult question to answer at the scientific level. It is an unending curiosity and indomitable courage on the part of Sigmund Freud, that this question of libidinal and death drive appeared to the fore for scientists to deal with. In my view it is rather unfortunate that psychoanalysts, who followed Freud, have not explored this phenomena to its worth. The object of my present paper is to show the evolution of the concept of aggression from the frail and subjugated traces in the service erf the life instinct to the status of Mortido in classical psychoanalysis. That, how two apparently conflicting drives, viz. Libidinal and aggressive drives which actually work in harmony and not in dichotomy. It is the proportion that matters.

The Evolution of the idea of aggression negativity demands a boundless condition of the mind. Such a mind has enormous breadth. The history of evolution is the history of It gives 'negativity' a 'depth'- -i.e. possible continuity, but a sudden leap in this evolution, alternative without which whatever depth mind changes its direction. The history of human acquires is utterly superficial. The state of mind is a cyclic order of two elements—active negativity empties all contents, so it creates a and passive forces. Contarary to common condition of blankness, A passive mind is a observation, where aggression is considered blank state. Negative soil supplies necessary as negative vis-a-vis passive, 1 would like to depth to positive attitude towards reality to show in this paper its active and positive grow. contribution for the development of human behaviour. Thinkers fail to recognize themselves just as a chain in the whole line of evolution. It The question of aggression is always remained an enigma for them to distinguish cosidered as Negative, but 'negative' is not between life and death despite their knowledge identical with passivity. Passivity arises from that one generates the other—like same crop an inert condition of the mind, whereas is coming again and again.

Sarala Kapoor, Psychologist/Psychoanalyst, Calcutta Pavlov Hospital & Institute of Psychiatry, Kolkata. This paper was delivered as 30th Girindrasckhar Memorial lecture, on 21st May, 2005.

51 SAMIKSA SARALA KAPOOR THE DIALOGUE WITH DEATH - A CLASSICAL PSYCHOANALYTICAL APPROACH TO AGGRESSION A person thinking of his own death, is to destroy and to get back magically when he thinking of the destruction and disintegration wants —sort of "doing---undoing" mechanism according to Freud, "always represents itself preservative needs. The true prototype of the of his body and of the cessation of experience, or in game like 'hide and seek'. through ideas or images even in unconscious", relation of hate are derived not from sexual whenever we try to imagine our death. We That is why he said, they (instinct) are "most life (alone) but from the ego's struggle to it takes time to develop the enrich important and most obscure element of preserve and maintain itself (1915). Freud can only, as Freud said, "perceive that we connotation of the term. Unless the child really survive as spectators"; any attempt to psychological research". It is more so when it recognized it later as that of "positive survival understands the constancy of the object, it will comes to death instinct. The whole problem of value". It remains in constant relation with eliminate this spectator is bound to fail. It is be difficult for him to understand the found to fail because as long as we do aggression was treated by psychoanalyst only instinct of self preservation and its first positive disappearance of the object. It rotates around in the context of sexual development either as equation he made with health, where healthy imagining, we are still present. It may be very the axis of object (constancy)—change closely associated with "voidness" and or the perversion of it in (sadism and masochism) hating ego helps to dissociate and to find new (separation) —object (destruction)—object or displacement of objects (Homosexuality or object. He was so hesitant that he could never encounter with "nothingness". It is like merging. This destruction is always seen as a disintegration of the individual's body, and the fetish),but never as an independent drive in its think about an innate aggressive instinct clearly personal loss, so the fear is the logical reaction own right. It was only after the world wars but always associated it with something in the association of his experiences. Psychologically to it. When we fear death, we actually fear we never die. It is the death of the body, not and personal agony that led Freud to think service of libido. He says "at the higher stage something that is unknown and inaccessible to about it, but then also he was hesitant, lest it of the pregenital—sadistic - anal organization, of the psyche. One never dies. One ever our senses. Our previous losses prepare us to remains or wished to be remained either not be identified with his personal grief and the striving for the object appears in the form imagine what is in store. So, the death is not difficulties and not in objective scientific spirit, of an urge for mastery to which injury or dormant in thinking or memories or manifest in the cessation of activity but it is state that creation. This wish or belief in one's immortality In 1915, he proclaimed for the first time about annihilation of the object is a matter of follows cessation. No one can ever know, what the "amount of brutality and cruelty forced indifference. Love in this form and at this has given rise to cultural mask, religious rites "extinction" feels like. What we understand and our present day civilization to deny upon the civilized world," this he explained in preliminary stage is hardly to be distinguished by some approximate experiences are like terms of unconscious guilt universally shared from hate in its attitude towards object. And complete end of life. Death is never conceived "catalepsy" marked by a singular absence of as "unified" internally consistent structure. It by all human beings. He wondered but could not until the genital organization is established, volition, i.e. whole body or parts would remain not account for it in any other way, which does love become the opposite of hate". changes with time and age, right from the in any position in which it is placed; or temporary separation to eternal lass. It is an operates outside the field of self preservative " licstasy" marked by radiant visionary In 1920 he said, "the attribute of life were undifferentiated slate of space and time. It is function where sadism emerged as the primary expressions; or the most near one is "trance"— at sometime evoked m and inanimate matter extremely difficult to derive from what one external manifestation of the Thanatos. that resemblance the hibernating condition of by the action of a force of whose nature we experiences during life time to the formulation animals -the state of complete and ideal state In terms of the history of the emergence,of cannot formulate/conceptualize. It may of a concept of death. It essentially is a non- of mental inertia". In any case it remains a Thanatos it is important to recognize the perhaps, has been a process similar in type to experience. If can be explained only in terms frame of mind- ---not experience, but simply an significance and limits of the kind of that which later caused the development of of "like" or "near" death experience. It inference. What we understand is the loss. So, 'aggressiveness,' Freud explained in Instinct consciousness in a particular stratum of living remains an alien void for us. Most of our the fear of death comes from the inner loss of and its vicissitudes. One can see the matter. The tension which then arose in what knowledge is based on reasonably well formed object relationships. A child also fears death in presence of anger throughout the evolution of had been an inanimate substance endeavoured inferences and so is about death. Near death terms of threat to life as animals do. It carries libidinal development. Though at the very to cancel itself out. In this way the first instinct experience is psychic pain and aggression. the survival value for the species. beginning of life, aggression was not present came into being: The instinct to return to the When out of his hostile impulses, the child in the form of hatred or anger but simply in an inanimate state "We become aware of it only wants to destroy the object totally. So by natural "indifference". It is only when discomfort is when it comes to life. In Beyond the pleasure Psychoanalytical concept deduction, he wants to dissociate/ or separate felt and satisfaction is not reached that principle he explained," it seems then that an himself with the object out of rage. The child Freud emphasized the fundamental aggression comes in the focus. That is why it instinct is an urge inherent in organic life to gets or wants to get it back as soon as the importance of death as the organizing principle was then denied as a full status of the instinct restore an earlier state of thing which the living wish is satisfied. So, the idea of rebirth is the of organic and psychological life. Initially he as it showed it only when a wish was entity has been obliged to abandon under the most primitive type of thought process; where was resistant to give death a full status of threatened. He asserted that "the ego hates, pressure of external disturbing forces, i.e., it is "appearance—disappearance" decides the instinct like that of libido. He accepted the abhors and pursues with intent to destroy all a kind of organic elasticity or to put it another control over hostility to destroy with the gradual importance of aggression as a force working objects which are a source of unpleasant way, the expression of the inertia is inherent in development of thought process in terms of behind all creations but that remains secondary feeling for it, without taking into account organic life". It follows then that "the "magic", e.g., an intentional direction of hostility and subjugated to sexual instinct. The instinct whether they mean a frustration of the sexual elementary living entity would, from its very satisfaction or the satisfaction of the self beginning have had no wish to change. If

5 2 SAMIKSA 5 3 SAMlKSA SARALA KAPOOR THE DIALOGUE WITH DEATH -A CLASSICAL PSYCHOANALYTICAL APPROACH TO AGGRESSION conditions remain the same, it would do no can be explained in terms of behaviour which cells where one cell helps to preserve the life death represents an end point—the final and more than constantly repeat the same course is adapted and attuned to particular of another and community of cells can survive logical culmination of an organic process. There of life". Instincts are therefore "bound to environment. According to Freud, an instinct even if individual cells have to die. Life instinct can be no desire to die apart from the desire accept them and tend towards change and has a particular force and impetus to action, or sexual instinct which are active in each cell to eliminate tension. Therefore, "the job of the progress, but in fact they are trying to reach the tension does not arise from the external take the other cell as their object, that they mental apparatus is to keep the quantity of an ancient goal... The truth that knows no world but from within the organism, the aim partly neutralize the death instinct, that is the excitation present in it as low as possible or at exception is that everything living dies for being to release the impulse. It needs an object. process set up by them, in those cells and thus least to keep it constant," to which, in 1895, he internal reasons"—becomes inorganic once The aim and object of instinctive behaviour preserve their life while the other cells do the defined, as the tendency to keep intracerebral again—then we shall be compelled to say that," can be altered through repression or same for them, and still others sacrifice excitation constant. He could not accept that the aim of life is death" and looking backwards sublimation. In human beings the expression themselves in performance of this libidinal there could be tendencies more primitive and that inanimate things existed before living ones. of instinct is considered to be infinitely variable. function. The germ cells themselves would independent than it (pleasure). Freud was much troubled by the inability of behave in a completely narcissistic fashion". The circuitous path to death, faithfully kept In Beyond the pleasure principle, he said, his original libido theory to explain some human At psychological level, Eros assimilates all to by the conservative instinct, would thus, "The compulsion to repeat is something derived behaviour that goes beyond his much acclaimed the far reaching elements and complicates life present today the picture of the phenomena of from the most intimate nature of the instincts pleasure principle. Earlier he was much and preserve it at the same time. The problem life. This state of inertia is always out of the and he declares that it is powerful enough to influenced by Fechner's biological principle of of origin of life would remain a cosmological field of consciousness and hence of experience. disregard the pleasure principle, but even in constancy as the goal of living organism one. And the problem of goal and purpose of So war only makes us aware of aggressive examples of "artistic play and artistic imitation (meaning to maintain an equilibrium). The aim life would be answered only dualistically. Life drive, but it "does not tap reservoir of innate (acting) do not spare audience from the most of libido was always to achieve fulfillment but is but a preparation for death and has its own aggressiveness". This tendency in man are painful experiences and can yet be felt by them a normal tendency was seen in human beings instinctual drive towards its end. It operates found almost everywhere in his all activities. as highly enjoyable". Such examples are not to defer such pleasure. He thought that to be silently and seen in self- destructive behaviour. Initially, Freud attributed it to ego evidence of "the operation of tendencies a simple act of prolonging actual pleasure that In human relationships, hate is frequently a instinct,"whose function it is to assure that the beyond the pleasure principle, i.e. tendencies is orgasm. But this theory could not explain fore runner of love, but also that in a number organism shall follow its own path and to ward more primitive than tt and indenendpnt of it many other factors like traumatic neurosis, of circumstances hate changes into love and off any possible ways of returning to inorganic (Shakespear's tragedy) anxiety dreams, sadistic behaviour and besides, vice versa. The change is purely internal and existence other than those which are immanent there was compulsion to repeat as if one is object plays no part in it. The hostile attitude in the organism itself and operates silently The life process of the individual, "leads compel to mastery something intolerable, has no prospect of satisfaction that is—it is with the 'noisy Eros', where a portion of it for internal reasons to an abolition of chemical where "doing -undoing" of certain acts were replaced by a loving attitude for which there is comes to light as an instinct of aggressiveness tensions, that is to say, to death, where the clearly noticed. This led him to proposed the more prospect of satisfaction possibility of and destructiveness which is sometimes felt in union with the living substance of a different concept of destructive tendency working behind discharge so the transformation is not straight masochism, that is to return to an earlier phase individual increases those tensions introducing each activity, which he explained as a drive. but comes through identification with the of the instinct's history. Such self destructive what may be described as fresh "vital The goal of which is to restore the previous object. Perhaps this was the realization that behaviour, however, is no longer destructive in differences", which must then be lived state of affair, that is, the return of the matter engulfs Freud and kept him preoccupied with itself but now serves peaceful Thanatos, oil....The dominating tendency of mental life to its unorganized inorganic state. It supports libido. He enlarged the concept of libido from striving to abolish biological tension in total and perhaps of mental life in general, is the only the biological explanation of death. Freud's life instinct to Eros and included all drives to accord with the internal life process of the effort to reduce to keep constant or to remove original line of biology and physiology which survival as well as the instinctual sexual drive individual. internal tension due to stimuli (the nirvana he started in the year 1895(project for the but he could not virtually extend death instinct principle) a tendency which finds expression The biological death instinct robs man of scientific principle). He explained death as the further till world wars,and its source motives beyond the pleasure principle (55-56). In his capacity for innate aggressiveness but posits biological incident that there was a natural aim and object were left unexplained. Beyond the Pleasure Principle, he clearly stated the need for lasting social suppression in so correspondence between the physical death and Aggression was a part of it but libido remained that, "man docs not destroy for the sake of far as displaced aggression can borrow the the drive of the human personality to accept dear to him. Libido was characterized by the destruction. He wishes only to return". He primal motive power of Thanatos (Stepnasky). this, even to seek it unconsciously in a mixture tendency to bring together the dispersed showed a very ambivalent attitude towards it The basic concept of biological instinct is to of biological fulfillment and resignation with its fragments of living substance,and to repeat the when, "by defining the tension to be eliminated survive (both self and race) through concept of death instinct. The biological concept creation of life—in order to equate the by Thanatos as a phylogenetic developmental reproduction. Following the line of Darwin it of life favours the mutual relationships of the traumatic loss of inorganic existence. To him, end—before all else-organic phenomenon he

5 4 5 5 SAMlKSA SAMIKSA SARALA KAPOOR THE DIALOGUE WITH DEATH - A CLASSICAL PSYCHOANALYTICAL APPROACH TO AGGRESSION actually led it to a psychological impossibility". In Beyond the pleasure principle, Freud of infantile sexuality but as innate tendencies state: not cathected with interest, it is only He was quite aware of the fact that, "No stated, "if not plausible to suppose, sadism is in which are "equally potent and not subservient when discomfort is felt and satisfaction is not substitute or reactive formations and no fact a death instinct which under the influence to sexual instinct". They (love—hate) did not reached automatically that aggression comes sublimation will suffice to remove the repressed of the narcissistic libido has been forced away arise from any common source, but have in focus. This may perhaps be the reason why instinct's persisting tension. Unable to achieve from the ego and has consequently only different sources and their course of aggression was not given a full status of instinct the final "regressive" satisfaction, the organism emerged in relation to the object. ****whatever developments but towards a common goal of earlier, as it becomes visible or felt into was forced to advance in the only direction in the original sadism has undergone, no mitigation self preservation. existence only after the satisfaction of a wish which the growth was "free forward", in order or inter mixture. We find the familiar that has threatened. And the attempt to escape In Totem and Taboo, he found the same to find a permanent and irreversible regression ambivalence of love and hate in erotic life" all kinds of pain thus appear as a separate ego "latent hostility" at the root of the primitive where all tensions are absent and can be (54). In 1905 (when) aggression acquired a function existing apart from the quest for man's fear of the dead, where a dead person termed as a 'constant gratification' or Nirvana. partial status of instinct and in terms of sexual gratification. erogenous zones,the source of aggressive becomes much more dreadful than living. The Nirvana principle was the name suggested impulses was believed to be annually conviction that the soul of the dead would In 1915, it becomes clear,"The ego hates by Barbara Low (1920) for the purpose of situated,though the first reaction is invariably return as a demon during the mourning, is abhors pursues with intent to destroy all objects explaining mental function that reduces being an 'oral splitting away'. Violent muscular nothing but a projection of one's hostility as which are source of unpleasant feelings for it excitation to its least, and which is, functionally contractions of the mucous membrane—a pain well as satisfaction that he is no more. This is without taking into account whether they mean supposed to be identical with pleasure principle, which must also produce "highly pleasurable further explained by a shift in oedipal a frustration of sexual satisfaction or of the but 'whose aim is to conduct the restlessness sensations". Such purposeful aggression situation—an aggressive primal crime—the self-preservative needs, indeed it may be of life into the stability of the inorganic state". coincides with the social valuation of bowel source of all religious and morality or in psychic asserted that the true prototypes of the relation Nirvana principle has undergone a movement. It becomes the first "gift" the child ambivalence (1913). Thus, the universal scar of hate are derived not from sexual life but modifications in living organism, through which consciously parts as an expression of left by the "original parricide" decides how the from the Ego's struggle to preserve and it has become pleasure principle, but they are compliance: and its retention analogously ego adapts to the external prohibitions of its maintain itself. He further elaborated it in not same in fact. Since, "there are expresses hostility. From such a combination social organization. Here he dissociated ego following years. unquestionably states of increasing tensions from its sexual impulse to a non—zonal cruelty which are pleasurable (e.g. sexual excitations) ol organic and social v; tauuri eiuei'.ues anal In Bcvond thr PI"{• <:•!>•/• »rirri"!r b/' But that was only a partial status of aggression and these (pleasure-unpleasure) are quality of sadistic" process of object destruction. described tiros and Thanatos as 'component as instinct; where cruelty conies more from a state may be related to a temporal instincts whose function is to assume that the In Instinct and its vicissitudes, while the wish "to do away" with the father rather characteristics (rhythm) of the changes in the organism shall follow its own path to death, explaining the nature of such social valuation than the wish to possess the mother. It was quantity of excitation present the pleasure and to wards off any possible ways of returning specially in reference to ambivalence, he dearly considered as a partial status of the instinct. In principle, thus becomes the modification of the to inorganic existence other than those which stated, "The attitude of love and hate cannot 1913, lie further said, though man rebelled Nirvana principle which is to be attributed to are immanent in organism itself. He be made use of for the relations of instincts" against father but he tells us, it is ultimately the death instinct and pleasure to the life recognized its positive survival value in self to their objects, but are reserved for the woman for whose sake he rebelled. That is instinct". As Marcuse (1955) explained it as preservation. This was first time that he relation of the total ego to the objects, but it why he could not remain open to Adler's view, "strengthening Eros which absorbs the equated 'aggression' with health (L=D) which happens only in case of pleasure (mostly apart from its inadequate structure; and to objective of the death instinct itself". Nirvana may turn pathological in self reproaches, sexuality). The relation of unpleasure seems which he was very much emotionally resisted. reconciles with the reality principle and leaves delusional expectation of punishment and in to be... the sole decisive one". The ego hates ambivalence (L

5_6 57 SAMlKSA SAMlKSA SARALA KAPOOR THE DIALOGUE WITH DEATH - A CLASSICAL PSYCHOANALYTICAL APPROACH TO AGGRESSION

indispensable to our conception. Thus, "the man survives in our unconscious mind, "that obscure sense of guilt which mankind has which made it difficult either to have a death instinct can partly expressed itself as an does not believe in its own death. It behaves subjected to prehistoric times. The original sin scientific assumption of the process in terms instinct of destruction directed against the as if it were immortal. What we call our was an offence against God—the father, the of inevitability of the process or in terms of external world and other organisms" in the unconscious—the deepest strata of our minds primal crime of mankind must have been a metapsychological / axiomatic principle. form of sadism and partly on to self in-the made up of instinctual impulses knows nothing parricide, the killing of the primal father of the Though human mind was never at rest. It had form of masochism by increasing his pain that is negative, and no negation; in it primitive human horde, whose mnemonic always bothered it in terms of mastering the bearing threshold. In meta psychological sense contradictions-coincide." images were later transfigured into the deity fear associated with it. It was quite clear in it always remains as abstract negatively toned Death was the necessary outcome of the but his own death was certainly not imaginable his own writings the ambivalent attitude he concept in this sense, the first world war was life that everyone owes nature a death and and real for him". showed in regard to this where he always not only a socio historical phenomenon, it was must expect to pay the debt— "...death was Despite-such a wide scale experience of concluded in favour of life. In 1937, he also an assault on Freud's "well equipped, well natural, undeniable, and unavoidable. In reality history, of aggression, war and personal remarked, "... it is not a question of an respected and impenetrable fort of libido". All we behave as if it were otherwise so we react agony, Freud was "repelled by the possibility antithesis between an optimistic and these came to him as the "admixture of deeply to death and adapt a special primitive of an operative aggressive instinct that could pessimistic theory of life. Only by the psychoanalytic insight and the reality of war attitude towards death". Accident, disease, old be intrinsically destructive and 'cruel' on such concurrent of mutually opposing action of the (that)could only make for depressing fatalism. age, and epidemics all reduces death from a global and 'adult scale'. It was perhaps his two primal instincts—Eros and the death The saddest thing about it is exactly the way necessity to a chance event. Whatever we do love for life and or his unconscious guilt (being instinct—never by one or the other alone, can we should have expected people to behave to console ourselves either by avoiding criticism a member of the human species) that did not be explained the rich multiplicity of the from the knowledge of psychoanalysis" (letter of the dead person, mourning, writing on allow him to take a clear stand on the matter. phenomena of life". to Lou andreas salome). He felt depressed by tombstone or justifying his misdeeds etc. in the In order to master (his) unconscious guilt and The history of aggression and Freud's disillusionment of the unity of the civilized name of a dead person. The dead does not anxiety, he took shelter in to "flight to continued ambivalence towards these two society, He wrote, "....it has brought to light need it. it is important for the living ones. In developmental reality" necessary for Ego's instincts and his tilt to life left many open almost incredible phenomenon: the civilized face of reality, war swept off our conventional self preservation. He felt terribly shattered, questions—like, why it is so difficult to develop nations know and understand one another so beliefs so it is an "inevitable result of all these as if war robbed human beings from their a harmonious relation between the two little that one can turn against the other with that we should seek shelter in the world of narcissistic gleam ol being a "civilized instincts? After all every creation needs a force hate and loathing" (1915). War consists "in fiction, in literature, and in theater as a species, his triumph over racial differences and force always needs some object tobe the destruction of the illusion. We welcome compensation for what has been lost in life." and impartiality of science. It revealed our exercised upon. What we have to think about, illusions because they spare us unpleasurable Freud accepted it only as a 'beginning'. As he instincts in their utter nakedness which we perhaps, is, how to make narcissism feelings and enable us to enjoy satisfaction said "only in war when the death will no longer thought had been tamed for ever". His hope accountable to the ego in reference to these instead". But it shatters us when it collides be denied. Accumulation of death (during war) for life was more high when he recognized instincts. As Prof. Moses rightly pointed out, with reality. Despite constructive social puts an end to the impression of chance, only the ardent urge to build everything once "the phenomena like war and holocaust touches possibilities "emotional vicissitudes" and then "life has indeed become interesting again; again; and perhaps on more firmer and richer on the archaic dimensions which are closely constructive potential of the "susceptibility to it has recovered its full contents". This may ground than before. It is only at the end of connected with the death instincts and are not culture "man remains a creature of elementary sound contradictory but this was the attitude 1930, that he took a clear stand, "... that the sufficiently merged with libido tobe able to impulses. He resignedly accepted it as the taken also by primitive men who seriously inclination to aggression is an original self sustain living object relationships". War is the essence of human nature. It "consists of recognized death as the termination of life on subsisting instinctual disposition in man... explosion of a structural sickness of mankind instinctual impulses which are of an elementary the one hand, and denied and reduces death to and... it constitutes the greatest impediments as a whole. nature, and which are similar in all men which nothing on the other'. He welcomes to civilization.... This aggressive instinct is the aim at the satisfaction of certain primal needs. somebody's death or annihilation whom he derivative and the main representative of the M. Garcia like Freud found solution in These impulses in themselves are neither good hated. He was crude and passionate about death instinct which we have found along side creation. When it comes to your death which nor bad. We classify them in relation to need killing. He killed as a matter of course. The of Eros and which shares world dominion is certain but exemption may be made in my and demands" (SE 14, pg 280). A large amount instinct which is said to restrain other animals with it." While wondering over death that case. Such an statement makes the fear visible. of it remains raw and primitive which compels from the killing and devouring their own species why it acquired such a "late acquition" in our So, he says, "A covert fear of dying would civilized people to behave in a "cultivated need not be attributed to him". He further field of knowledge even at conceptual level, keep destructive impulses alive and thus be a hypocrisy". Thus ensuring the "imperishability added that "human history is nothing but full of he found an hypothetical explanation in the secret front of creation.The creation of values of primitive mind (Stepnasky). The pre-historic series of murders, it may be attributed to the manifest phenomena, the resistance towards actually postpones death.One likes tobe

5 8 59 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA SARALA KAPOOR remembered by many unknown people across impenetrable as the fateful forms. It is indeed the globe, and death in psychological sense astonishing that "savages'1 can achieve such a occured when one is no longer remembered sober dispassionate outlook in these matters by anyone." as they actually do". It is, perhaps this reason "ARE PSYCHOANALYTIC CONCEPTS RELEVANT IN A only that Yudhisthara felt obliged to answer GLOBALIZING WORLD?" Conclusion Yaksha's question:"what is the most wonderful thing in this world?" with, "it (death) is the Zahid H. Gangjee For common man death even aggression most wonderful phenomenon, [{very day and comes always as a constant threat to his day after day. animals and human beings are This paper questions the relevance of Psychoanalysis in a globalizing world. integrity.I feel one with Maliiiowsky when he passing out of life, but we do not think of The continuous pressure to achieve 'excellence' ignores deep rooted asks, "who of us really believes that his own death. We think thai we shall never die. What psychological difficulties. It explains how knowledge of psychoanalysis helps bodily infirmities and the approaching death is can be more wonderful than this?' executives, organizers to improve group relationship, group dependency and a purely natural occurrence, just an insignificant community behaviour in the light oj Transference. event in the infinite chain of causes? To the We ignore death, we do not accept it as a most rational of civilized men health, disease, state of quilitude and bliss- -the ultimate aim Thank you very much for inviting me to be advances in science & technology. Thanks to the threat of death float in a hazy emotional of Mortido a concept later developed by post here with you. I am experiencing a sense of T.V., people can actually see what is mist, which seems to become denser and more Freudians' parallel to Libido. my life having come 'full circle'. When I was happening almost anywhere in the world. The a Class X student I visited a school friend of internet has made information and knowledge mine. His father had a very well stocked instantly available world wide. Telephony has library and I came across an introduction to become cheaper and the mobile phone has References psychoanalysis by Dr. Girindra Shekhar Bose become accessible to even the vegetable seller which the family gifted to me as I showed at the local market where I shop. Alongside KKUD, SiciMUNU, SH. The complete destructiveness, Penguine Books. great interest in it. Pouring over it I was this, commercial organizations have fascinated by Freud's concepts of the 'globalized". They buy raw materials and hire Psychological works of S. Freud. Translated Middlesex, 1974 i-ioorvlo rv>...-,••(".,,-In.-,. ->.-.,! cwll <• ni •" • l-vo.-o '••-• >K,< by james Siraeiiey, Pub. From the i iogarln 1 ~ ' ', * • * ' •. ' ' Press. London, 1981 ed. Vol. I-XXIV STI-:PNI-:SKY, P.H. A history of aggression in particular, dream analysis. It triggered off a life world provided the price, quality and profits long passion for psychology which led me to make sense. Sovereign national boundaries are HRICH The Aruno!T!v c^f H'?TTVIH Freud. N.Y. In lor. Univ. Press, inc.. 1977. doing my B.Sc. (Psy. Flons.) and a M.Sc. in not so 'solid' anymore. Intense competition is Applied Psychology. Today, I am getting an a hard reality and the customer truly is king. I couldn't he recollected properly The author is apologetic if arty name from reference list he omitted. Since ii is lo.si ai opportunity to honour the man who started it In such a changed world, are the concepts with pace numbers. all foi me. and practices that originated with Freud When I look back at the beginning of my towards the end of the 19th century and work life as a teacher at St. Xavier's College developed in the first half of the 20th century and a Counsellor at the Bureau of Vocational still ivicvani'' For the rest of this lecture 1 & Educational Counselling, Calcutta, I realize intend to share evidence to show that as the that the world was less complex and certainly world has changed so too have psychoanalytic less stressful. India was comparatively isolated concepts without losing their fundamental from the rest of the world and though this had bases. They are beinn more widely applied ils downsides (we could not access the latest literature being published world wide), it also cocooned us from the pressures and surprises The Impact of Globalization on that are daily occurrences in a globalizing Individuals, Croups & Organizations world. I have had the good fortune of visiting Today we live in a world shrunken by the countries to the Hast and West of India. Over

This paper was delivered as 31st Girindrasekhar memorial lecture, on 25th June 2005.

60 6 1 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA ZAHID H. GANGJEE "ARE PSYCHOANALYTIC CONCEPTS RELEVANT IN A GLOBALIZING WORLD?" the past decade or so, one notices a individuals, groups and organizations make stem from undetected or ignored psychological describe the therapist's role under five main 'homogenization' of manifest culture. The sense of what is happening to them and difficulties, coaching can actually make a bad heads and acknowledges that it is similar to shopping malls, restaurants, displays of food, working out more effective responses. Though situation worse. In my view, the solution most "the principles described by other analytically the way people dress, the tunes of the music I will be covering each one separately in order often lies in addressing unconscious conflict trained psychotherapists who regard conflicts they listen to - all appear the same no matter to bring focus, in reality they are not when the symptoms plaguing an executive are arising within interpersonal relationships as the if one is in Paris or Kuala Lumpur. Behind separated. Individuals work in groups within stubborn or severe". Having graphically key to an understanding of their patient's these manifest changes lie huge changes that organizational contexts. illustrated actual cases where coaching had problems, who focus on the transference and are taking place in society. The extended gone wrong and where he was called in to who also give some weight, albeit of varying family is disintegrating. Even nuclear families Working with Individuals help, Berglas expands on the problems that degrees, to a patient's earlier experience with are losing their potential for providing For the past 5 years or so, my associates occur when untrained people are let loose on his parents." emotional renewal. Each family member is too and I have been receiving requests to help an organization as Coaches. "The issue is In this section, I would also like to focus on busy earning money or completing chores and managers deal with behaviours that were threefold. First, many executive coaches, the entrepreneurial personality. Globalization youth are busy 'hanging out' with their peers. proving dysfunctional at the work place. especially those who draw their inspiration has changed the rules by which businesses For adults, there is little time left to relax or to Meetings with these individuals reveal that - in from sports, sell themselves as purveyors of succeed and a number of individuals in India spend with friends. many cases - we had to work at levels much simple answers and quick results. Second, have become successful entrepreneurs. Governments have moved away from being deeper than merely changing manifest even coaches who accept that an executive's However, in a number of cases, I have been nurturant to becoming "business like". behaviors. Given the pressures to 'do well' in problems may require time to address still tend asked to consult with such enterprises, Government departments have to financially highly anxiety provoking and lonely to rely solely on behavioural solutions. Finally, typically being told that "there's a problem at justify their existences and citizens have to pay circumstances, managers often regress to executive coaches unschooled in the dynamics the top team level" or "we seem to be stuck for services that were earlier subsidized. earlier stages of their careers and try to of psychotherapy often exploit the powerful and are not able to move forward". In each of At work, the psychological contract respond in past ways to totally new situations. hold they develop over their clients. Sadly, these cases, I have had to do intensive one-to- between the individual and the organization has A number of them also get fixated and tightly misguided coaching ignores - and even creates one work with the entrepreneur before the changed. Organizations themselves are under hold onto behaviours that had seen them - deep-rooted psychological problems that team or the organization could move forward. severe competition not knowing when a new through so far but were not proving successful often only psychotherapy can fix. My own experiences have mirrored the technology or a cheaper country will put them in current roles. We often had to help them Fortunately, this problem is being widely findings of Kets de Vries ('The out of business. Their cultures, therefore, redefine their self-concepts - pictures they held recognized and organizations like the Tavistock Entrepreneurial personality' in "Organizational emphasise "deliver or perish". It is an era of about themselves and what they could do and Institute of Human Relations, London are Paradoxes", 1988). He describes the continuous downsizing and 're-engineering' could not do - that were left over from earlier holding courses to train those involved in entrepreneur as "that individual instrumental in and individuals don't know if the next week stages of life including childhood. Executive Coaching2. Participants are exposed the conception of the idea of the enterprise and will bring them the dreaded 'pink slip'. It gives The need to beware of Executive Coaches to concepts, experiences and processes based the implementation of this idea." (pg.l 13) who 1 rise to a stance of 'every man for himself who are not trained in dealing with such cases on psychoanalysis. For example, extracts such is required to fulfill three functions; innovation, which causes havoc in organizations where has begun appearing in management literature. as "Attachment, communication and the management-coordination and risk-taking. It is roles are by definition interdependent and The Harvard Business Review (June 2002) therapeutic process" from J. Bowlby's book in the discharging of the second function (viz. where team working brings more productive has a hard-hitting article by Steven Berglas 'A Secure Base' (1988) are required reading. management-coordination) that the symptoms results. One often hears managers say, "I've titled "The Very Real Dangers of Executive In it Bowlby says, "A therapist applying start appearing. never been so rich in my life or so unhappy". Coaching". He writes "I believe that in an attachment theory sees his role as being one Because of certain typical childhood and In such a fast changing, complex world alarming number of situations, executive of providing the conditions in which his patient teenage experiences which I shall not go into there are people who try to escape the anxiety coaches who lack rigorous psychological can explore his representational models of here, entrepreneurs have a adriving ambition of puzzling out effective responses by looking training do more harm than good. By dint of himself and his attachment figures with a view [which] may be viewed as a need to contradict for, or offering, 'quick-fix' solutions. However, their backgrounds and biases, they downplay to reappraising and restructuring them in the strong feelings of inferiority and helplessness. reality seems to be catching up and over the or simply ignore deep-seated psychological light of the new understanding he acquires and Hyperactivity becomes a way of covering up past few years there has been a resurgence of problems they don't understand. liven more the new experiences he has in the therapeutic passive longings. Passivity changes into activity psychoanalytic concepts and methods that help concerning, when an executive's problems relationship."(pg. 138). He then goes on to as a reaction against anxiety", (pg. 123). This

1 1 am referring to the male gender not out of a sense of discriminating against the female gender but for ease of readint 2 I am grateful to Dr. Richard Mindcl who showed me some of the literature being used to train Coaches in the U.K.

62 6 3 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA ZAHID H. GANGJEE ;'ARE PSYCHOANALYTIC CONCEPTS RELEVANT IN A GLOBALIZING WORLD?" reactive mode impacts the •management- themselves in their roles as members, are et al, eds 'The Large Group: Therapy and A consultant has to work at the deeper coordination' function adversely. There is very aware that their group is part of a larger Dynamics'. Josey-Bass, 1974). Whilst this unconscious levels. No amount of surface level little formal structuring or delegation with system, etc. Bion termed this type of behaviour can often be seen in religious team working exercises and concepts will get clearly defined roles. The entrepreneur's sophisticated and mature group as the W movements, it can also operate in a the members to work interdependenlly. 'hunch' becomes the final conclusion. Vision or (work) group. commercial organization whose very existence strategies are seen as 'impractical' (ollcn But Bion also observed that very often is under severe threat. M. Quinn ("Deep Working at the organizational Level experienced as 'imprisoning' at the groups regressed to a more primitive stage Change: The Leadership Within") writes of the Last month I was lucky enough to be gifted unconscious level). Unless work is done with where the members all behaved as if they 'legions of the walking dead'- members of an a very interesting book tilled "Organization in the entrepreneur himself deeply examining his unconsciously shared the same primitive organization whose market is rapidly shrinking the Mind: Psychoanalysis. Group Relations, past and his real motivations, the top team assumption. Me hypothesized 3 types of basic who band together and work harder and and Organizational Consultancy". It is a begins to lose the best professional members assumption groups. hinder doing the same (non-productive) things collection of writings by David Armstrong in the hope that they will be acquired by a and are replaced by 'yes' men. The enterprise 1. Basic assumption Dependency (ha I)): The (Hdited by Robert French. The Tavistock Clinic 'saviour' organization or saved by a benign lurches from one short-term gamble to another. group behaves a> if one member is all- Series, 2005). In the first chapter "Organization change in government policy neither of which Intervening through in-depth counseling can powerful and all-knowing. Members feel in the Mind: an introduction", Armstrong is likely to happen. free I he entrepreneur from his past and he can that he alone can solve the group's concisely explains what organizational steer the enterprise to realistic success. consultants refer to as "the Tavistock problems and feel a sense of being secure As societies continued to change rapidly tradition". "This 'tradition' seeks to bring and protected by him. Individual members and globalization intensified, W. Gordon Working with Croups together insights from psychoanalysis, group become un>kiiled and contribute less and Lawrence, Alastair Bain and Laurence Gould relations, and open systems theory, to We have long known that individual less as they feel their leader 'already published a paper titled "The Fifth Basic understand and address organizational behaviour is not really individual behaviour. know;". Assumption" (Free Associations 1996, Vol. 6 Man is a social animal and for his very dilemmas, challenges, and discontents, as 2. Basic assumption Failing (ba P): Here (he Part 1 No.37, pp: 28-55). They called it basic existence needs to be in groups. Through the presented by individual role-iioiders, teams, or group behaviour centres around supporting assumption Me-ness (ba M). Here members processes of projection - introjecting - acting whole organizations. Recently, k has come to 1wo members (of anv sex) ;\* if ihev will "act as if the group had no existence because ;>_ re 1 erred :o as sy>Leii!.s psyctiociyiiamicsm Dili, Ii!U! V[UUU:>> display !>chd V U,Hll S iililt UO Hot produce the Saviour - either a person or an it it did exist it would be the source of really belong to them. I became aware of this (pg 2). lie also clearly articulates the dilemma idea that will MIIVC their problem. The group persecuting experiences. The idea of 'group' is (>xri

() 4 6 5 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA ZAHiD H. GANGJEE

of a psychoanalytic approach to working with when an individual is sharing his dream, BOOK REVIEWS organizations" which 1 am very briefly other members are not allowed to analyze it summarizing below. but to free associate to it (or parts of it). 'MEN, WOMEN, PASSION AND POWER: GENDER ISSUES IN PSYCHOTHERAPY' BY MACUIIU:, MARIE. This continues for sometime and then the Armstrong reminds us that the consultant New York, Bruner - Routledgc, 2004, 2nd edition. must pay attention to and interpret the members are encouraged to work out for emotional experience between himself and the themselves what themes and patterns have client - who could be an individual, a group or emerged. This am be a very powerful The hallmark of today's social science hate relationship between the two disciplines. the total organizational membership. This diagnostic intervention as the 'truth' that has scholarship is the attempt to integrate diverse Of course there is no one version of experience always contains a factor of how been repressed emerges. methodologies and theoretical legacies from feminism, nor a single mode of psychoanalysis. the client emotionally experiences the different disciplines. Psychoanalysis has proved One can just recall Lacan's famous comment organization and what the organization puts Conclusion to be a meeting ground of many disciplines. to his friends that they may be Lacanian, but into the client. This emotional experience is a In India, Dr. Gouranga F Chattopadhyay While in the first half of the last century Lacan himself is a Freudian. So, for any author "function of the inter-relations between task, was the first to offer Working Conferences psychoanalysis was operating mostly within the plunging in this area, a challenging task is to structure. culture and context (or based on the Tavistock tradition. He began in clinic, it has come up since the seventies as a categorize to one's purpose the multitude of environment)" and the position and cole taken 1973 whilst at the 1JJV1 Calcutta and continued powerful tool of viewing any social pattern. theories available, yet not lo lose sight of their by each member. "The aim of a psychoanalytic for two decades. After his return from Pioneer masters like Levi-Strauss, Foucuult, veridicality. Vlaguire ha.s nicely completed this approach to working with organizations is to Australia in I()9C), he again began offering Bettelheim and many others have been from task in the short span of the first chapter. In introduce the client to this world-wilhin-a- them but the response was mixed. In 2004, he different disciplines—anthropology, history, the second and the third chapters she has world" which help.s lo work out what kinds of invited me to jointly direct an International literature. discussed how psychoanalysis has alternately interventions will benefit the organization most. Group Relations Conference (new term for While Freud never directly wanted to emphasized the paternal and maternal roles in There are no interpretations of tiic (personal) Working Conference) titled "Managing contribute to 'gender psychology', the erotic development of the child, and its spiritual inner world of the client. The focus is on the Transformation of Self and Organization in a and violent passions ot women and men have connection with the contemporary leiniinsi "'organization-jji-lhe-inind" , on ihe "leliiU.dii^s.s Globalized Hconomy" to be held in February assumed their scholastic status through the thought has been succinct!}' suggested. These of a person-in-rolc to a system". 2005. Four months before the GRC, ail TS discipline of psychoanalysis from its very 1 irst three chapters comprise die first pan oi There is yei another exciting area that h;is places were booked. In February 2006. inception. Strangely, in the early decades of the volume itself -the "Theories of female and recently evolved - Social Dreaming. W. Rosemary Viswanaih and I un. jointly directing the twentieth century the feminist movement male sexuality'. Gordon Lawrence (Experiences in Social another GRC with the same focus. We have in America and later in Europe were flourishing Dreaming", Kamac, London, 2003) has drawn started receiving nominations from India and side by side the development of psychoanalysis. The second part of the book deals with attention to the fact that dreams not only abroad even before (he brochure has been But the two seldom met and when they met 'Contemporary debates in clinical practice'. contain an individual's unconscious material but published. they reacted to each other in wrath - the Here the first two chapters, that is the fourth also whal is be-in i> picked up from tho social The tille of this lecture is "Are feminists condemned the notorious but perhaps and the liltii chapters arc particularly well context in which he lives, if one sees it in the Psychoanalytic Concepts Relevant in a misinterpreted notion of anatomy being destiny, written and carry on the legacy of the logic light of what Armstrong says about Globalizing World?" f hope I have been able to and the psychoanalysis condemned feminism forwarded in the earlier two chapters. They organizations contributing to the emotional present enough evidence that they certainly as shallow and reactivcly defensive, if not bring the psychoanalytical notions in experiences of its members, it is easy to are. As the world has become more complex indicative of unresolved penis envy. It was juxtaposition lo recent debates in gender understand how dreams can become a rich and inicr-related, practitioners oi Juliet Mitchell who strongly advocated the studies, tor example in the context of source of understanding whal is really psychoanalytic concepts have been able to connection between the two. Later bridge- masculinity crisis and discuss whether men are happening in an organization. Alastair Bain has develop and appropriately contextualize the builders were feminist psychoanalysts like really fragile and if women's sexuality truly elucidated this in a fascinating paper "The concepts so that their applications are growing Nancy Chodorow, Dorothy Dinnerstein, Judith contain a mystical power. In concluding these Organization Containing and being Contained and providing new meanings and resolutions to Butler. Now feminism and psychoanalysis are two chapters, the author's feminist bias shows. by Dreams; The Organization as a Container individuals, groups and organizations. allies; books are being written on their She considers some amount of femininity being advantageous for men's mental health, while of Dreams f 1)". Once again, thank you for inviting me to connection. Marie Maguire's book is an addition she does not really prescribe a solution for the The methodology consists of 'teaching' present Shis lecture and having the opportunity to the series, revolving around the intense love- organizational members how to remember of honouring Di\ Girindra Sckhar Bose the and record their dreams. Next morning. pioneer of psychoanalysis in India. SAMIKSA

6 6 SAMIKSA BOOK REVIEWS BOOK REVIEWS

women enshrined in mythical stereotypes, as on perversions and differing desires again GlJILT-RliVENGES REMORSE AND RESPONSIBILITY• AFTER FREUD BY ROHERTO SPEZIALK-HACUACCA. she considers their wcllness much more suffer from the same hurried approach. Published by Brunncr-Routledge, Hove and New Yorke. dependent on realistic social changes. The sixth Considering the size constraint of a book, it chapter discusses one very significant aspect would probably have been better if these two Guilt occupies a very important place in notable works are—--on the shoulders of Freud, within therapy - that of the relation between off-discussed chapters were sacrificed in psychoanalytic literature. It is a mental state- The King and the Adulteress, A reintcrpretation the therapist and the client. Discussing her own favour of elaboration of the earlier ones a state of discomfort. But it is beyond that. Its of Madame Bovaxy and King Lear. case examples, Maguire posits a few points in Maguire concludes that in the context of legal, moral concepts have been debated. Spread over eleven chapters the work opposition to the Viennese Maestro. For culture the maternal and paternal power needs Sometimes it refers to a state of being guilty covers various aspects of most complex area example, she questions whether male patients to be revisited. Here feminist perspectives can and feeling guilty as has been said in of human behaviour the world of guilt as it really idealizes the female therapist in guide the psychoanalyst. The power relation, interpreting Shakespearian 'guiltiness'. 'Guilt' seen from lime immemorial to the present and sexualized love as resistance to change, or they so poignantly present in our daily discourse has been linked, as author puts it, to error how altogether differently it could be analyzed. utilize the societal power relations in needs to be integrated in the dyadic relation of across ages from Homer to present day. In the course of presentation of cases and transference also, giving rise to hostile, even analysis. Yet. and despite the scope of and Historically 'Guilty person' has replaced the their detailed discussions, the relevance of the sadistic modes of transference. The problem occasional hint at a radical amalgamation of 'tragic man', the sense of Guilt in (he individual different schools of thoughts in psychoanalysis of countertransference on the part of the realities from both sexes, Maguire regresses has remained unnoticed. This was a necessity have been discussed and as such female therapist and the problem of same sex back to a final solution in feminine experience to find out 'guilty person' rather than to Freud,Melaine Klein and her followers (not transference—countertransference relation are only: "Men need to find a place for themselves understand the 'guilt stricken' person, to being disciple) like Donald Winnicott with also discussed. However, this important area in the realm of 'feminine' emotionality and maintain govcrnability, rules of law and to respective thoughts in (his are;! of guilt have has been dealt with within a space of three childcare if women are to move out of their control destructive impulses. As author puts it come up in great details. It also deals with the pages. A few more pages would have made conventional roles. But it is women themselves 'Our entire civilization has indeed been built success and failures of analyst. justice to it. The seventh chapter compensates who must find new ways of speaking for and on the ethos of guilt and responsibility.' The therapeutic relationship between the the loss. It deals with false memories of sexual about their sex, a new language and imagery The present book views guilt in a way analyst and the patient has many similarities abuse and is an article in depth. Here the to express the previously hidden aspects of deviating from traditional one and maintains with that of religious obedience. But the basic between re a iiiO iaiua.w ilieti e \j 14.:i loners,

68 69 SAMIKSA SAMIKSA BOOK REVIEWS confidence in man's ability to throw off ties' discussed in detail. Freud, A. (1936). 77jt' L".go and the Mechanisms of Defence, London : Hogarth expresses the belief that human being has the The book will be an enriching study for not Press, 1937. potential to liberate him. only professionals like psychoanalyst, The meaning of 'responsibility' in psychotherapists, and psychiatrists but also for Freud, S. (1937a). Analysis terminable and interminable. S.I:.. 23. psychological term in relation to guilt ;iv.d its any educated reader who is interested in the _.. (1937b). Constructions in analysis. S.li. 23. implication in psychoanalysis has been complex subject of 'Guilt'. Wallerstein, K.S. (1972). The future of psychoanalytic education. /. A'ncr. Psyclioanal. Tapas Bancrjcc Assn., 21 : 561-606. "Happy Nook" Weiss, S. (1975). 1 he effect on the transference of 'special events' occurring /Y7/2HCTP Phase IV Kasha, Golpark, Kolkata7()0 107 during psychoanalysis. //.'/. /. Psi/choaiud., 56 : 69-75. Winnicott, U.W. (I960). Fgo distortion in terms of true and false self. In 'The PHOBIA - A RI-ASSI;S.SMI-NT HY GAKCJI DASCUI'TA, Ennr.i) HY S. MOKCAN, 2006, An Overview Mai uralionai Processes and Ilie I'acililalin^ rjivironinent. London. Hogarth Press, 1975 : 140-152. Phobia-a reassessment edited by Sian Morgan by Richard Hvans. Discussions on the structure is a distinct and prominent flower in the of brain and neurological system throw light on Quotations must be carefully checked tor accuracy. It should be within inverted emerging garden of Encyclopedia of the physiological basis of phobia. The genetic commas. Author's own emphasis in quotations must be indicated as, ital mine. Psychoanalysis series. The book published by establishment of phobia is also interestingly put A brief abstract (not exceeding 200 words) must accompany each article. H. Karnic (Books) Ltd.. London 2003 is the 6th forward. venture puts light on the specific regime of The discussions on Freud and post All accompanied works like charts, tables, figures, drawings and photographs are to psychological problem as in the 4th volume the Freudians over phobia enrich the text be submitted in original. These should measure 22.5 x 14 cm. main emphasis was on Lgo. Inside a very considerably. The book effectively walks on the The editor reserves the right to alter the accompanied works (keeping its original simple cover die book holds si i'liificant "liill: •:cc".vzv.':\\ !;>r>?v H' phnhi-' and anxictv form intact; suitabie to the >pacc av.iii..H>!e m [\n- .UUIIUU. contributions made by prominent figures on the Attention to a fundamental difference in Freud different perspectives on phobia. The analytical and Jung's constitution on phobia and anxiety The editor does nor assume any responsibility for the opinions and statements presentation would not make commoners supplies the fuel to think critically. "Father", as expressed by the contributors. phobic to the subject matter while it definitely one of the cause of phobia logically and calls for attention from people related to the significantly readclress to a symbol under the Articles published in the journal become the copyright of the Indian Psychoanalytical discipline. conflicting schools of Freud and Lacan. Various Society, and cannot be republishecl elsewhere either in the original or in any Iranslaled form without the permission of the Council of the Society. The main focus of the book is on the origin perspectives on agoraphobia and clauskophobia and personal, mythological and culiural meaning discussed in the light of current formulation on livery contributor will receive two copies ol the issue of the journal in vvhi: h his conskuction of femininity arc extraordinary of phobia instead of a ver) expected article- appears along with 10 reprints ol the article tree of charge. therapeutic or treatment related approach. approaches. Literally, the book addresses to raise the In this book phobia is presented variously- The management regrets its inability to return the manuscripts of unpublished articles. awareness of common man regarding phobia, as evolutionary expression of biological fears, Books for Review. The journal has a book review section. Two copies of each book to liberate it from the confines of the as a perceptual deficit, as symbol of unresolved may be sent to the Book Review Editor, Indian Psychoanalytical Society, 14, Parsibagan psychologist's world. Practically general Oeuipal difficulties, as a symbolic substitute of Lane, Ivolkafa-7Gu Guv. consciousness and understanding of the absent father and also a defective disorder would provide a relatively effective communication. keatment of the same. The editors efforts are Finally, by considering phobia from different commendable is this regard. perspectives, presented in the book it maybe One of the most striking chapters of the helpful to formulate new approaches to attack book is on the biological perspective introduced and teat the same. Printed by Dr. Tant Kumar Ch.Hterjee from The Indian Press Private Limited. 43A, Lenin Sarani, Kolkaln-700 013. Phone 2244 4265/60-61/.Wl

7 0 SAMIKSA ISSN 0971-3492

GIRINDRASEKHAR BOSE (1886 - 1953)

Founder Indian Psychoanalytical Society 1922 14 Parsibagan Lane, Kolkata - 700 009. India Phone :91 33 2350-8788 E-mail: [email protected]