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Related Experiment Videos

Defect and recognition in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex.

Lee Whitman-Raymond1

  • 1Simmons College School of Social Work, USA. leewhitman-raymond@msn.com

American Journal of Psychoanalysis
|December 6, 2005
PubMed
Summary

This study examines how feelings of defect lead to shame and a desire for recognition. It suggests individuals both avoid and seek to confront unbearable aspects of themselves, driven by a need to be known.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • The paper investigates the complex interplay between perceived personal flaws and subsequent emotional responses.
  • It introduces a clinical case of a young woman experiencing distress over infidelity, which she finds inexplicable.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the connection between experienced defect, shame, and the longing for recognition.
  • To apply Christopher Bollas' concept of "the unthought known" to understand self-perception and avoidance.

Main Methods:

  • A clinical vignette of a patient presenting with infidelity is analyzed.
  • Psychoanalytic concepts, including "the unthought known" and Oedipus' myth, are used for interpretation.

Main Results:

  • Parallels are drawn between the patient's experience, her adoption history, and Oedipus' fate.
  • The study posits that individuals are motivated to both avoid and seek knowledge of their "defects".

Conclusions:

  • The longing for recognition and being known is a key motivator in confronting unbearable self-aspects.
  • Understanding "the unthought known" is crucial for self-recognition and integration.

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