[The search for meaning--the subject and freedom, a psychoanalytic contribution].

Abstract

Behaviour or symptoms of neurotic nature are characterized as actions provided we succeed in uncovering their "secret motives" by construction or reconstruction. I. e. we may say insofar we succeed in describing the "whither", the "what for" (S. Freud), to which necessarily belongs "from where" (s. Freud, 1916/17, p. 284, 277) we find sense in nonsense. We also say, that sense already was in existence insofar defense mechanisms were operating preventing its overt expression. But we say sense and rationality have been constituted insofar something, which has never been translated into conscienceness, was raised to the level of language. Both processes take place during the psycho-analytic situation. The following preconditions are apparently necessary for their realization: a) the experience of the acknowledgement of a basic drive-wish by the therapist. This event has the character of evidential nature and as to this is in itself preverbal. Nevertheless we need a verbal phrasing of the corresponding interaction and the accompanying emotion in order that both may be included into the executive power of the ego, i.e. the subject. The strict obedience to the rules of a setting which bind both, patient and therapist at the same time. Because of this a firm basis exists which cannot be doubted. It forms the common background object (J. Grotstein) by which and through which both partners of the dialogue may be "at-one" with one another and to which they may also return insofar further developmental events of their interactional process produce alienations and is pushing them to turn to different external objects. Insofar processes as just alluded to take place, the subject is predicated in a play of argumentated reasoning. And if secret motives and hidden reasons concerning the presented modality of the subject's actions are understood, the subject itself realizes, that it has its origin not in its products but in a negation, in a "zero" position which in itself is a equivalent of freedom. In order that interpretative work in the service of the aims just mentioned may become possible, there are some other preconditions to be fulfilled by the therapist: a) the attitude of "evenly hovering attention" (S. Freud) because it is this attitude which makes the therapist receptive for emotional cathexis, originating in the patient's unconscious.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)