The Question of the Self and Self-Esteem

In the present paper, the concept of 'the self' is clarified from a psychoanalytic point of view. This clarification is undertaken in a twofold manner. On the one hand, this concept is negatively determined through a criticism of Kohut's and Schafer's recent work. It is argued that each, in their own way, do not serve to further psychoanalytic understanding but seek to change its direction and its grammar, its way of speaking. Both points of view are seen as 'retrogressive' in that they recreate many of the old conceptual antinomies of the various philosophies of consciousness of which Freud was quite aware and felt he had begun to resolve in his understanding and exploration of the drives and the unconscious. On the other hand, a positive contribution is offered wherein the self is conceived of as a fifth structural instance of the psyche as a whole, and is explicated as having both structural and dynamic properties. Given this positive account a metapsychology of self-esteem is offered. The conclusion is drawn that a distinction should be made between defence mechanisms and affective dispositions, such as self-esteem, where the latter are considered to be more 'successful' and 'appropriate' psychic defences. A provisional conclusion is reached that the self is most adequately understood through the psychoanalytic investigation of its affective dispositions and affectivity in general.