Speaking in the Claustrum: The Psychodynamics of Stuttering

Abstract

The author outlines the psychoanalytic theory of stuttering and, discussing material from the analysis of a stutterer and its transference and countertransference processes, puts forward a new hypothesis of the psychodynamics of stuttering in conjunction with Meltzer's theory of the claustrum. He argues that the stutterer is working out intolerable experiences of separation from the primary object and a resulting catastrophic experience of the oedipal situation through an unconscious fantasy in which anal qualities are conferred on the internal maternal object by a predominating hatred. The intrusive identification of parts of the self in the maternal rectum gives rise to a claustrophobic experiential world in which all obstacles that are encountered between self and object must be eliminated. The anal-sadistic object space of the claustrum is projected on to the external object space and thus also on to the mouth as the origin of the sound envelope, where it produces both a lifeless sound envelope and a torn content, i.e. stuttered sounds, words and sentences. Correspondingly, a dead speech melody and broken words have their parallels in object relations that are characterised by an attack on linking and by psychic withdrawal.

What Causes Stuttering?

“…In the 20th century, stuttering was primarily thought to be a psychogenic disorder. Consequently, psychoanalytical approaches and behavioral therapy were applied to solve possible neurotic conflicts (Plankers 1999). However, studies of personality traits and child–parent interactions did not detect psychological patterns consistently associated with stuttering (Andrews et al 1983).…”

His mother‐tongue: from stuttering to separation, a case history

“…He suggests that 'the stutterer is working out intolerable experiences of separation from the primary object and a resulting catastrophic experience of the Oedipal situation' which results in anal qualities being 'conferred on the maternal object by a predominating hatred'. He understands the sound space as 'the very first psychic space' and stuttering as a disorder in which the 'anal-sadistic object space of the claustrum is projected on to the external object space and thus also onto the mouth' (Plänkers 1999).…”

Mucanje kod dece: dometi psihološkog teorijskog pristupa i tretmana sa osvrtom na ulogu školskog okruženja

“…Uloga osećanja samoefikasnosti kod mucanja, potvrđena je u tretmanima koji se bave samomodelovanjem i uticajem sopstvenih verovanja na ponašanje (Bray & Kehle, 1996, 1999. Utvrđeno je da negativni stavovi i subjektivne prognoze o uspešnosti u govoru doprinose intenziviranju mucanja.…”

“…Značaj se daje osećanjima koja su neprepoznata i /ili nesaglasna -strah,privrženost,ljutnja, bes. Novija psihoanalitička shvatanja (Plänkers, 1999) uzimaju u obzir različita psihoanalitička učenja (npr. Malcerovo) i mucanje povezuju sa traumom odvajanja i fiksacijom na predeo usta.…”