[...] Therefore, the baby tries to replace his/her sucking in a mother direction in other words, the mother gets displaces. In the theory of Freud the female sex is incomplete. She is the castrate of the real sex, the man. ``...the little girl is first a little boy, actively desiring her mother in the preoedipal period. When she recognize her lack- the penis she must have to gain her mother’s love- she turns with hostility from her mother, represses her inappropriately phallic desire, takes her father as love object and i s thrust into the feminine position (Bernheimer 1 , p.28.)``. How can be a girl be a boy? (I will come back to this question later) But how could girls in Freud’s society figure out that they are incomplete? Where could they see naked kids or adults? Would t hey not more likely see the father as uncompleted, which has no obvious sex organs, missing the breathed? Or was his society not as bluestocking as history use to tell us and Focault, with his believe about the un-prude bourgeoisie society is right? Freud impute all women a desire for a penis. Out of this penis envy the girl rejects her mother and turns to the father. This includes the rescue of the girl from her homosexuality. The original desire is displaced. Also, the desire after the nipple has to be transferred. Again, this displacement, in the theory of Freud, occurs in different ways not directly related to the cause. As result, the mother gets not only associate with a passive loss, out of stopping breathed feeding; also the mother gets active rejected, out of her incompleteness. That means, in early childhood, the mother gets twice related with negative associations and experiences. In Dora`s case 2 , Freud does not only diagnosis a hysteria out of the cause of displacement, he also diagnosis bisexuality. The 19 years old Dora lives with her patents in one house. The mother seems to play a minor role in Doras life.[...]
Table of Contents
- Freud's Displacement
- Dora's Case
- Judith Butler's "Gender Trouble"
- Displacement in Postmodern Society
- Anorexia Nervosa as Displacement
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay examines Freud's concept of displacement, particularly as it manifests in his analysis of Dora's case, and contrasts it with Judith Butler's perspective on gender. The essay explores the implications of Freud's theories on female sexuality and the societal pressures influencing women's psychological states.
- Freud's theory of displacement and its role in psychoanalytic theory
- Analysis of Dora's case and its implications for understanding female sexuality in Freud's framework
- Comparison and contrast between Freud's and Butler's perspectives on gender and sexuality
- Examination of societal pressures and their influence on women's psychological well-being
- The concept of compensation versus displacement in the context of societal pressures
Chapter Summaries
Freud's Displacement: This section introduces Freud's concept of displacement, defining it as the process where one thing replaces another, forcing it out of its position and taking its place. Freud primarily focuses on the displacement of desires and emotions, arguing that it stems from experiences of loss and unfulfilled desires. The essay explains how the infant's early experiences of unmet needs lead to the suppression and redirection of emotions and desires, often manifesting in ways unrelated to their original source. The concept lays the groundwork for understanding the later analysis of Dora's case and the implications for Freud's views on female sexuality.
Dora's Case: This section delves into Freud's analysis of Dora, a 19-year-old woman exhibiting hysterical symptoms. Freud interprets Dora's symptoms as stemming from repressed desires and displaced emotions related to her complex relationships with her parents and the K family. The essay highlights Freud's interpretation of Dora's disgust at being kissed by Herr K as a displaced reaction and explores the role of societal expectations and Victorian norms in shaping Dora's experiences and responses. The analysis of Dora's case exemplifies Freud's theory of displacement and its manifestation in clinical situations.
Judith Butler's "Gender Trouble": While not explicitly summarized in the provided text, this section would likely contrast Freud's psychoanalytic perspective with Butler's theory of gender performativity, challenging Freud's assumptions about innate gender and sexuality and offering an alternative framework for understanding gender identity. It would likely critique Freud's concept of a fixed female identity and emphasize the constructed nature of gender roles within social contexts.
Displacement in Postmodern Society: This section uses the example of plastic surgery to distinguish between compensation and displacement. The essay argues that while plastic surgery might address insecurities stemming from societal beauty standards, it's primarily a form of compensation rather than displacement, as the link between the cause (societal pressure) and effect (surgery) is direct. The concept of compensation acts as a counterpoint to the more indirect, unconscious processes that characterize displacement.
Anorexia Nervosa as Displacement: This section contrasts the example of plastic surgery with anorexia nervosa, arguing that the latter represents a classic case of displacement. Anorexia, the essay suggests, is often a manifestation of underlying issues such as sexual abuse or struggles with identity. The essay explains that the auto-aggression seen in anorexia serves as a displacement mechanism, indirectly addressing the true, often deeply buried, emotional distress. This section strengthens the essay's overall argument by illustrating the distinction between direct compensation and the more complex, unconscious process of displacement.
Keywords
Freud, displacement, Dora, hysteria, bisexuality, gender, sexuality, Judith Butler, compensation, anorexia nervosa, Victorian society, societal pressure, psychoanalytic theory, gender performativity.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this essay?
The essay centers on Sigmund Freud's concept of displacement, particularly as it's illustrated in his analysis of Dora's case. It compares and contrasts Freud's psychoanalytic perspective with Judith Butler's theories on gender performativity, exploring how societal pressures influence women's psychological states.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
Key themes include Freud's theory of displacement, the analysis of Dora's case and its implications for understanding female sexuality within Freud's framework, a comparison of Freud and Butler's perspectives on gender and sexuality, the impact of societal pressures on women's psychological well-being, and the distinction between compensation and displacement as responses to societal pressures.
What is Freud's concept of displacement?
Freud's displacement refers to the process where one thing replaces another, forcing the original out of its position. This primarily applies to desires and emotions, stemming from unmet needs and loss. These suppressed emotions and desires are redirected, often manifesting in ways unrelated to their original source.
How is Freud's concept of displacement illustrated in Dora's case?
In Dora's case, Freud interprets her hysterical symptoms as stemming from repressed desires and displaced emotions related to her complex relationships with her parents and the K family. Her disgust at being kissed by Herr K is seen as a displaced reaction, influenced by societal expectations and Victorian norms.
How does Judith Butler's work relate to the essay?
The essay contrasts Freud's psychoanalytic perspective with Butler's theory of gender performativity. Butler's work challenges Freud's assumptions about innate gender and sexuality, offering an alternative understanding of gender identity and critiquing Freud's concept of a fixed female identity.
What is the difference between compensation and displacement as discussed in the essay?
The essay distinguishes between compensation and displacement using examples like plastic surgery (compensation – a direct link between societal pressure and action) and anorexia nervosa (displacement – an indirect, unconscious response to underlying issues). Displacement involves a more complex, unconscious process than the direct response seen in compensation.
How is anorexia nervosa used as an example in the essay?
Anorexia nervosa is presented as a classic example of displacement, arguing that self-harm in anorexia serves as a mechanism to indirectly address underlying emotional distress, such as sexual abuse or identity struggles, rather than directly confronting the source of the problem.
What are the key chapters or sections of the essay?
The essay is structured around the following sections: Freud's Displacement, Dora's Case, Judith Butler's "Gender Trouble," Displacement in Postmodern Society, and Anorexia Nervosa as Displacement. Each section explores a different facet of displacement and its implications.
What are the key words associated with this essay?
Key words include Freud, displacement, Dora, hysteria, bisexuality, gender, sexuality, Judith Butler, compensation, anorexia nervosa, Victorian society, societal pressure, psychoanalytic theory, and gender performativity.
- Quote paper
- Wiebke Bötefür (Author), 2000, Freud's Displacement In Dora`s Case And Judith Butler's ``Gender Trouble``, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/103353
