New Books in Psychoanalysis
Udo Hock, "The Enigmatic Messages of the Other: On the Work of Jean Laplanches" (Psychosozial-Verlag, 2024)
Jan 26, 2025
Udo Hock, a distinguished German psychoanalyst and translator, dives deep into the enigmatic work of Jean Laplanche. He discusses key themes such as the influence of others on the unconscious and the complexities of infantile sexuality. Hock proposes a transformative shift in psychoanalysis that critiques traditional views and emphasizes external influences. He also unpacks distinctions in unconscious types, explores transference dynamics, and advocates for a return to a nuanced understanding of Laplanche’s theories, enriching the discourse within psychoanalysis.
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Quick takeaways
- Udo Hock explores how early relationships and interactions with significant others shape the unconscious, influencing behaviors and desires throughout life.
- Laplanche's novel approach to transference suggests that analysts communicate enigmatic messages which significantly affect the therapeutic relationship and patient understanding.
Deep dives
Primacy of the Other and Sexuality
The concept of the primacy of the other encapsulates that the unconscious experience is primarily shaped by interactions with others, emphasizing that initial influences come from external figures rather than inherited traits. This notion extends to the idea of infantile sexuality, which transcends mere unconscious drives, representing a complex, diverse eroticism characterized by polymorphism. Udo Hock elucidates that these enigmatic messages from adults carry implicit sexual content, further complicating the child's understanding of these interactions. This foundational principle establishes how early relationships mold our unconscious and subsequently influence behaviors and desires throughout life.
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