Why Theory

The Symptom

83 snips
Mar 16, 2025
Dive into the intricacies of psychoanalysis as Ryan and Todd explore the concept of symptoms, contrasting therapeutic approaches with deeper insights. They discuss how repressed desires manifest in our lives and consider the transformative power of embracing symptoms for personal growth. Topics range from love across class divides in classic cinema to the societal critiques embedded in disaster films, ultimately highlighting the importance of community and reflection in our struggles. Discover how films like 'Cars' can connect us emotionally while tackling big ideas!
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INSIGHT

Defining Symptom

  • A symptom in psychoanalysis is a sign and substitute for an instinctual drive satisfaction that remains in abeyance.
  • It's a consequence of repression, both indicating it and expressing the repressed drive.
INSIGHT

Banality of Repression

  • Repression is a necessary, mundane brain function, not a nefarious act of pushing down trauma.
  • Symptoms develop from this banal repression, where important things get tangled with everyday functioning.
ANECDOTE

Emma's Case

  • Freud's patient, Emma, couldn't enter stores alone after two clerks laughed.
  • This linked to a past trauma of sexual assault by a laughing shopkeeper, showing how banal events become symptomatic.
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