Chapter 2. Elements of Psycho-Analysis

Psychoanalytic theories suffer from the defect that, in so far as they are clearly stated and comprehensible, their comprehensibility depends on the fact that the elements of which they are composed become invested with fixed value, as constants, through their association with the other elements in the theory. This phenomenon is analogous to the phenomenon of alphabetic script where meaningless letters can be combined to form a meaningful word. The elements in Freud's theory of the Oedipus situation, for example, are combined by their association to form the narrative of the Oedipus myth, and so achieve a contextual meaning that gives them a constant value. As elements in a description of a realization that has been already discovered, this is essential to their usefulness as components of a theory that is to be used in the illumination of realizations yet to be discovered, it is a defect because the constant value impairs the flexibility needed.

The abstractions intended to be elements of psychoanalysis should be capable of combination to represent all psychoanalytic situations and all psychoanalytic theories. For this to be true the chosen elements must be essential in the sense described on p. 12. I propose to devote discussion to this topic before pursuing the problem of abstraction1 of which the solution is so important if the elements chosen, as the elements of psychoanalysis, are to be capable of use in the construction of theoretical systems. The first step is to consider what phenomena of those present in analytical practice appertain to the elements of psychoanalysis. We may proceed by following three courses:

1. We may search for the elements as their secondary1 qualities occur and may be recognized in psychoanalytic experience.

2. We may search for the elements as their representations occur and can be isolated in psychoanalytic theory.

3. We may investigate procedures 1 and 2, and combine them as a source from which to abstract elements.

I shall con