This book argues that Freud's theory of the traumatic neuroses can provide a 'conceptual bridge' between the Lacanian idea of an 'inaugural' or 'founding' trauma that constitutes the human subject and the more popular idea that trauma is brought about by external events, for example, war or sexual violence. It proposes a new reading of Freud's theory which draws on Lacanian concepts, including the Real, jouissance, the idea of 'suture', and Lacan's 'deconstruction' of Freud's drive theory. It also argues for a 'cybernetic' reading of Lacan's theory of language, which he outlined in his second Seminar; and for a reappraisal of Freud's concept of Nachträglichkeit as a way to facilitate a better understanding of the retroactive nature of trauma and its relation to language and the drive.

In doing so, it offers a challenge to key assumptions underpinning the dominant discourse of trauma, which is exemplified in what the author terms 'the PTSD paradigm'. In particular it challenges the idea that trauma is something that simply 'happens' to human beings and that its effects that can be eradicated through the construction of various forms of trauma narrative, for example, in psychotherapy and different types of collective histories. In the development of this argument the author also draws on the work of Jean Laplanche, which has previously been under-utilised in mainstream Lacanian theory and practice.

This book sheds new light on the relationship between the traumatic effects of the signifier and the impact of the 'external' world. It will be of interest to practitioners, as well as to students and scholars of psychoanalysis and philosophy.

Demonstrates the relevance of Freud's theory of the traumatic neuroses to the contemporary field of trauma Offers an important challenge to the dominant mental health discourse on trauma Links Freud's drive theory with Lacan's theory of jouissance ('drive-jouissance')

Autorentext

Leslie Chapman is a psychoanalyst based in north Hampshire, UK. Dr Chapman has a particular interest in trauma and psychosis and how these link to the teachings of the later Lacan . His clinical work within this field formed the basis for his PhD thesis which was on the topic of traumatic neurosis and its relation to Freudian and Lacanian theory. He also has a great interest in how psychoanalytic ideas can be used within the fields of ideology, politics and culture. Since 2011 he has been actively writing on these subjects, including published journal articles on corporate stress and burnout, the Taylorisation of talking therapies, and the cultural trauma of the Great War.

Inhalt

1. Introduction: an empire of trauma?.- 2. The traumatic neuroses.- 3. The pleasure principle and its vicissitudes: from psychophysics to cybernetics.- 4. An inaugural trauma?.- 5. From trauma to drive-jouissance.- 6. Trauma, Nachträglichkeit, temporality and history.- 7. Conclusion: psychoanalysis rehabilitated?.