Infantile sexuality and Freud's legacy

Translations of summary

The topic of sexuality and infantile sexuality, though less frequently discussed by psychoanalysis in recent decades, has received renewed attention for some years. The intention of this paper is to share some reflections around the role of infantile sexuality in our thinking, how we encounter it in our work with patients and in clinical material. Through reference to questions put forward by Freud (1905) in Three Essays, this paper takes into consideration some areas of the debate that has developed on the subject of infantile sexuality, starting from Freud's original intuition, including various hypotheses on the genesis of the sexual drive. The author will concentrate on two specific points. Firstly, how infantile sexuality – as a permanent dimension of the subject's existence – unfolds in the relationship and is deeply influenced by it. And that is how in childhood and adolescence, infantile sexuality ushers in parental sexuality – just as, in the case of our patients, infantile sexuality ushers in the analyst's sexuality. The second point pertains to the temporal dimension within which infantile sexuality is inscribed. The hypothesis that the author proposes is that infantile sexuality may be understood in the specific time of psychoanalysis [Nachträglichkeit], distinct and different with respect to the linear, evolutionary dimension.

Die infantile sexualität und freuds erbe

Nachdem die Themen Sexualität und infantile Sexualität in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten seltener diskutiert wurden, widmet man ihnen seit einigen Jahren wieder größere Aufmerksamkeit. In diesem Beitrag werden Überlegungen zu der Rolle vorgestellt, die der infantilen Sexualität in unserem Denken zukommt, sowie zu der Frage, wie wir ihr in unserer Arbeit mit dem klinischen Material unserer Patienten begegnen. Unter Rekurs auf Fragen, die Freud (1905) in den Drei Abhandlungen formulierte, wendet sich der Beitrag Bereichen der Diskussion zu, die sich über das Thema infantile Sexualität entwickelt hat – beginnend mit Freuds ursprünglicher Erkenntnis und Hypothesen zur Genese des Sexualtriebs. Der Beitrag konzentriert sich vor allem auf zwei Aspekte. Erstens auf die Frage, wie sich die infantile Sexualität – als beständige Dimension der Existenz des Subjekts – in der Beziehung entfaltet und tiefgreifend von ihr beeinflusst wird. Auf ebendiese Weise führt die infantile Sexualität in der Kindheit und Adoleszenz hin zur elterlichen Sexualität, so wie im Falle unserer Patienten die infantile Sexualität zur Sexualität des Analytikers hinführt. Der zweite Aspekt betrifft die zeitliche Dimension, in die sich die infantile Sexualität einschreibt. Die Autorin vertritt die Hypothese, dass die infantile Sexualität in der spezifischen Zeit der Psychoanalyse (Nachträglichkeit) verstanden werden kann, die von der linearen, evolutionären Dimension abgegrenzt und von ihr unterschieden ist.

La sexualidad infantil y el legado de freud

Si bien el tema de la sexualidad, y de la sexualidad infantil en particular, ha sido tratado con menos frecuencia en las últimas décadas en el ámbito psicoanalítico, está recibiendo renovada atención desde hace algunos años. La intención de este trabajo es compartir algunas reflexiones sobre el lugar de la sexualidad infantil en nuestro pensamiento: sobre la manera en la que aparece en nuestro trabajo con pacientes y en el material clínico. Aunque se hace referencia a las cuestiones planteadas por Freud en los Tres ensayos (1905), se toman en cuenta algunas áreas del debate que se desarrolló posteriormente sobre la sexualidad infantil, comenzando con la intuición original de Freud e incluyendo distintas hipótesis acerca de la génesis de la pulsión sexual. La autora se centra en dos cuestiones específicas. En primer lugar, examina cómo se despliega la sexualidad infantil, en cuanto dimensión permanente de la existencia del sujeto, en la relación analista‐analizando, y es profundamente influida por esta. Es así como durante la infancia y la adolescencia, la sexualidad infantil abre paso a la sexualidad parental, del mismo modo que, en el caso de nuestros pacientes, la sexualidad infantil abre paso a la sexualidad del analista. El segundo punto se vincula con la dimensión temporal dentro de la cual se inscribe la sexualidad infantil. La hipótesis planteada es que esta puede entenderse en el contexto del tiempo específico del psicoanálisis [Nachträglichkeit], diferenciado y distinto de la dimensión lineal, evolutiva.

La sexualité infantile et l'héritage de freud

Bien qu'au cours des dernières décennies le thème de la sexualité et de la sexualité infantile n'ait été que rarement l'objet de discussions en psychanalyse, on constate néanmoins depuis quelques années un regain d'intérêt pour cette question. L'auteure de cet article se propose de partager quelques réflexions sur le rôle que joue la sexualité infantile dans notre pensée, ainsi que sur la façon dont elle se manifeste et dans notre travail avec les patients et dans le matériel clinique. A partir des questions soulevées par Freud dans les Trois essais (1905), l'auteure examine certains aspects du débat autour de la question de la sexualité infantile, à commencer par l'intuition originaire de Freud et ses différentes hypothèses sur la genèse de la pulsion sexuelle. L'auteure centre sa réflexion sur deux points spécifiques. Le premier point a trait à la façon dont la sexualité infantile – une dimension constante de l'existence du sujet – se déploie dans la relation tout en subissant son influence. C'est ainsi qu'au cours de l'enfance et de l'adolescence, la sexualité infantile se mêle à la sexualité parentale – de même que dans le cas de nos patients, la sexualité infantile imprègne la sexualité de l'analyste. Le deuxième point porte sur la dimension temporelle inhérente à la sexualité infantile. L'auteur émet l'hypothèse que la sexualité infantile se ferait entendre dans le temps qui caractérise la psychanalyse [Nachträglichkeit] et qui se distingue de la dimension linéaire de l'évolution.

La sessualità infantile e l'eredità di freud

I temi della sessualità e della sessualità infantile, che sono stati meno frequentati nel dibattito psicoanalitico degli ultimi decenni, da qualche anno a questa parte ricevono una rinnovata attenzione. Questo lavoro intende proporre e condividire alcune riflessioni sul ruolo che la sessualità infantile ha nel pensiero psicoanalitico e su come la incontriamo nel lavoro clinico con i pazienti e nel materiale clinico. Facendo riferimento alle questioni avanzate da Freud nei Tre Saggi (1905), prende in esame alcune aree del dibattito che si è sviluppato sul tema della sessualità infantile, a partire dall'originale intuizione di Freud, includendo alcune ipotesi sull'origine della pulsione sessuale. L'autrice si concentra su due punti specifici. Primo, come la sessualità infantile – in quanto dimensione permanente dell'esistenza del soggetto‐ si sviluppa in un contesto relazionale, dal quale è profondamente influenzato. E questo è il modo in cui nell'infanzia e nell'adolescenza la sessualità infantile introduce la sessualità genitoriale, proprio come, con i nostri pazienti, la sessualità infantile introduce la sessualità dell'analista. Il secondo punto riguarda la dimensione temporale nella quale si inscrive la sessualità infantile. L'ipotesi proposta dall'autrice è che si possa comprendere la sessualità infantile nel contesto temporale specifico della psicoanalisi [Nachträglichkeit], distinto e differente dalla dimensione evolutiva lineare.

Key words:

• sexuality
• infantile sexuality
• trauma
• nachträglichkeit

1. Translated by Gina Atkinson M.A

1. Translated by Gina Atkinson M.A

Notes

1. Translated by Gina Atkinson M.A

2. This is a term introduced by French authors (Cahn, 1991). Beyond geographical connotations, it is a useful term in that it insists on the process of assumption of one's own personal subjectivity, which involves internal and external factors and their articulation in an individual's mental functioning. According to Cahn (1991), the process of subjectivization does not replace the model of infantile neurosis/transference neurosis, but completes it and broadens it, attempting to keep together the contrast and, simultaneously, the profound interdependence that binds the various registers of development in their synchronous and diachronic dimension. I utilize this term here because, in contrast to the term development, it excludes the idea of a linear and progressive temporality.

3. I cannot discuss here such a complicated and significant paper of Freud's in elaborating the sadomasochistic theme and the role of fantasy versus memory and reconstruction. These topics have been the focus of the attention of many authors and many texts (Laplanche, 1992; Mahony, 1997; Modell, 1997; Novick and Novick, 1997; Quinodoz, 1997 – to cite only a few examples). What I am pressed to emphasize is the gradual shift away from the point of view that neurosis represents the negative of perversion, and towards the idea that perversion is a complex psychic operation that, analogously to neurosis, is generated through compromises between impulses and defences.

4. In this article, I am not taking into consideration Lacan's theory on need and desire, correlated with the concept of lack, since it is very specific and would require a separate discussion. The fact remains that French authors are deeply influenced – though to varying degrees – by Lacanian theory.

5. As Bollas (2000, p. 47) writes: “If the mother finds breast‐feeding unacceptably sexual and withdraws her cathexis of the infant's desire, then she will convey this to the baby”.

6. In the Three Essays, Freud consistently utilizes the term puberty to refer to the bodily and psychic changes that occur in this phase. The term adolescence will be introduced subsequently into the language and thinking of psychoanalysis. While Freud (1905) describes puberty as the moment at which changes are set in motion that “are destined to give infantile sexual life its final, normal shape” (p. 207), later, the complex processes of restructuring are included under the term adolescence, processes that take place within the individual at the time of pubertal changes.

7. This was a case in supervision with me.