Related Experiment Videos
The symbol of telephoning.
Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Telephoning can serve as a symbolic substitute for masturbation, reflecting complex psychological meanings. This highlights the diverse latent functions of communication technologies in patient behavior.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Clinical case studies explore the symbolic meanings of communication methods.
- Telephoning is examined as a behavior with potential psychological underpinnings.
Observation:
- Two clinical excerpts detail a patient's use of telephoning.
- The patient's telephoning is presented as equivalent to and symbolic of masturbation.
Findings:
- Telephoning is shown to function as a symbolic representation of masturbation.
- Multiple, complex latent meanings associated with telephoning are identified.
Implications:
- Understanding symbolic communication is crucial in psychotherapy.
- Telephoning may fulfill psychological needs beyond its primary function.
- Further research into the psychodynamics of communication technologies is warranted.