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Related Experiment Videos

Freud, The Birthing Body, and Modern Life.

Rosemary H Balsam

    Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
    |September 14, 2017
    PubMed
    Summary

    Psychoanalytic thought has historically overlooked the psychic impact of the female body, despite early recognition by Freud. This oversight persists, impacting our understanding of sexed bodies and gender today.

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    On the Natal Body and Its Confusing Place in Mental Life.

    Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association·2019

    Area of Science:

    • Psychoanalytic theory
    • Psychology
    • Gender studies

    Background:

    • Freud initially recognized the psychic significance of female biological sex and childbearing.
    • This understanding was later obscured by a male-centric view, despite challenges in the 1920s-1930s and 1970s.
    • Psychoanalytic thought generally fails to acknowledge the female body's impact on the mind, relegating it to fantasies or "women's issues."

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine the historical neglect of the female body in psychoanalytic thought.
    • To explore the implications of this neglect in light of contemporary understandings of gender multiplicity.
    • To re-evaluate psychoanalytic concepts concerning natal sexed bodies and their articulation with gender.

    Main Methods:

    • Historical analysis of psychoanalytic literature.
    • Critical review of theoretical developments concerning sex and gender.
    • Clinical case conceptualization in contemporary psychoanalysis.

    Main Results:

    • Freud's early insights into the female body's psychic impact were marginalized.
    • A persistent bias has led to the underestimation of the female body's role in psychological functioning.
    • Current psychoanalytic frameworks struggle to integrate the significance of biological sex with enacted gender.

    Conclusions:

    • Psychoanalytic theory requires a significant revision to incorporate the embodied experience of biological sex.
    • Understanding the interplay between natal sex and gender is crucial for contemporary clinical practice.
    • Addressing this theoretical gap is essential for a comprehensive psychoanalytic understanding of human subjectivity.

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