Bion’s unique contribution to the theory of representation: autistic states, unrepresentability and the problem of recognition

ABSTRACT

For some time, Bion’s unique version of a theory of representation appears to have been overlooked. A close reading of his ideas, however, provides crucial insight into the existence of a concomitant relationship between recognition and representation. To elucidate this notion, I explore the problem of representation and recognition in autistic states, with the use of two clinical cases of child psychotherapy. In both examples, the child’s struggle to coordinate sensorial information was hampering their ability to create a sensorial engram, which if successfully formed would enable a matrix bearing the unique shape of the object to remain, in times of its absence. The process of object recognition is possible when the external object reappears before this matrix and there is a good enough resemblance between them. In contrast, if the child has difficulty coordinating perceptual information and the object fails to assist in this task, an amorphous engram is established in the psyche, to which any entity in external reality can fit. In this way, every inanimate object can become a substitute for a memorable alive object. As a result, a child cannot recognise their significant other and may remain in an undifferentiated state of merger and non-existence.

KEYWORDS:

• Bion
• representation
• autistic states
• recognition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The implication of this statement is not that an individual experiences pleasure or happiness when in a state of psychosis, but that there is a tremendous urge to avoid the pain of loss at all costs.

2. Bion defines catastrophic change as ‘a subversion of the order or system of things; […] in the sense that it is accompanied by feelings of disaster in the participants; […] in the sense that it is sudden and violent in an almost physical way.’ (Bion, 1965, p. 8).

3. All the parents of the children described in this article have read the paper and given their consent to use the clinical material and for publication of this paper.

4. Unfortunately, these capacities may be hampered, in the case of parental depression, for example, or following premature separation due to hospitalisation etc.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yaakov Roitman

Yaakov Roitman, PhD, clinical psychologist and supervisor, in private practice, Mazkeret Batya, Israel. His area of interest comprises childhood trauma, autistic spectrum disorders and childhood psychosis.