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Some Paths Towards Psychotic Alienation
1, Via Ramazzini 7, 20129, Milan, Italy. franco.demasi@fastwebnet.it.
American Journal of Psychoanalysis
|October 25, 2017
Summary
Mental alienation involves the mind detaching from reality and retreating into a fantasy world, causing dehumanization. This dissociation often begins in infancy, leading to a gradual loss of contact with the human world.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Mental alienation is characterized by detachment from psychic reality and withdrawal into an alien world.
- This phenomenon leads to progressive dehumanization and remains unsettling in clinical practice.
Observation:
- Alienating withdrawal into sensory fantasizing often follows a prolonged period in a dissociated world.
- Initially, both the real and alien worlds coexist in the patient's mind.
Findings:
- The hypothesis suggests that dissociation from psychic reality, underlying psychotic alienation, originates in early childhood psychic withdrawal.
- This dissociative state is evident in young children who frequently inhabit fantasy worlds.
Implications:
- Understanding the infantile origins of dissociation is crucial for addressing mental alienation.
- Early intervention may prevent the progression of alienation and dehumanization.
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