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Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
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Volition and will in psychoanalysis.

W W Meissner1

  • 1Psychoanalytic Institute of New England, USA. meissner@bc.edu

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|October 20, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study explores the concept of will in psychoanalytic theory, defining it as an ego-self executive function that initiates motivated actions. Will

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Area of Science:

  • Psychoanalytic Theory
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Psychology

Background:

  • The concept of 'will' has a complex history in philosophical thought, significantly influencing early psychoanalytic theory.
  • Sigmund Freud's views on will were integrated into his broader psychoanalytic framework.
  • Subsequent developments in psychoanalysis have continued to explore and refine the understanding of will.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role and function of the will within psychoanalytic theory and practice.
  • To trace the evolution of the concept of will from philosophical traditions to contemporary psychoanalysis.
  • To analyze the operational mechanisms of will as an executive function of the ego-self.

Main Methods:

  • Historical analysis of philosophical texts influencing Freud.
  • Examination of Freud's writings on the concept of will.
  • Review of subsequent psychoanalytic literature concerning the will.
  • Functional analysis of will in terms of intellective preference and executive functioning.
  • Analysis of will as an efficient cause of motivated actions within the ego-self.

Main Results:

  • The will is identified as a crucial executive function of the ego-self, responsible for decision-making, choice, and action initiation.
  • Will operates as the efficient cause of motivated actions, directing behavior towards specific goals.
  • Will-driven decisions and choices, while primarily organized through secondary process, can manifest consciously or unconsciously.
  • The study discusses manifestations of will in psychopathology and its role within the psychoanalytic process.

Conclusions:

  • Will is fundamentally determined and directed by motivational influences.
  • Understanding the will's executive functions is key to comprehending psychoanalytic theory and praxis.
  • The interplay of conscious and unconscious processes in will action has implications for psychopathology and therapeutic interventions.